Are you disabled in any way? Do you have even the smallest blemish? A mole or a birthmark maybe? Do you know anyone who is? A friend or relative? That girl or boy down the street with a squint? Even just a little bit disabled? How about that lame man or that woman with a harelip or someone needing to wear spectacles?
In fact, given that no one is perfect, doesn't everyone have a defect of some sort?
Here's what the Christian god thinks of imperfect people:
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.
For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous, Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded, Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken;
No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the Lord made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.
He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy. Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the Lord do sanctify them.
And Moses told it unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel.
Leviticus 21:16-24
Profanity, also known as swearing, cursing, coarse language, foul speech, strong language, dirty words, 'cussing', bad words, bad language, adult language, vulgar language, inappropriate language or simply language, is language that is strongly impolite or offensive in many situations. It can show a desecration or debasement of someone or something, or show strong or intense emotion. Profanity can take the form of words, expressions, gestures (such as flipping the middle finger), or other social behaviors that are construed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, obnoxious, foul, desecrating, or other forms.
Apparently, being even slightly disabled is a profanity. Disability of even the slightest degree is offensive to the god of the Christian Bible. After all, who wants to look at someone with a flat nose, or a dwarf, or someone with a mole on their face? So make sure imperfect people stay out of the Christian God's sight won't you. Above all don't let them anywhere near an altar. Remember not to let children with blemishes or handicaps take those offerings along for Harvest Festival. That would really piss off the Christian god.
Of course all women are banned from approaching the altar too, presumably because being female is considered a defect, a blemish or an imperfection, or maybe all three.
And it's not just humans with blemishes, defects or disabilities that the Christian God finds repugnant; cattle too are repulsive if not perfect. Maybe it reminds him of his infallible mistakes.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whatsoever he be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, that will offer his oblation for all his vows, and for all his freewill offerings, which they will offer unto the Lord for a burnt offering;
Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats. But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you. And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the Lord to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.
Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed, ye shall not offer these unto the Lord, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar unto the Lord. Either a bullock or a lamb that hath any thing superfluous or lacking in his parts, that mayest thou offer for a freewill offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted.
Ye shall not offer unto the Lord that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut; neither shall ye make any offering thereof in your land.
Neither from a stranger's hand shall ye offer the bread of your God of any of these; because their corruption is in them, and blemishes be in them: they shall not be accepted for you.
Leviticus 22:17-25
And it gets worse! That last verse shows that the Christian god regards 'strangers' as corrupt and blemished even, as though merely being foreign is a defect - which is basically what a lot of flag-waving, right-wing, jingoistic nationalists believe, of course.
Makes you wonder why Christian churches don't have signs on their doors saying "No Cripples, Defectives or Foreigners!", but then to be consistent, they'd have to prohibit women too and that would cost an enormous amount in lost donations.
All this is rather strange, considering the Bible claims the Christian god created everything. Obviously, whoever was making that stuff up assumed a creator god would be inordinately vain and more than a little insecure, and that, not being very good at this creating thing, it would not want to be reminded of its mistakes. In fact, it looks like the author assumed the Christian god would be very much like a despotic male Bronze Age tribal leader with a personality disorder, probably much like the sort of powerful people the author was used to.
It seems the 'timeless and eternal' Christian god has a personality which is firmly fixed in the pre-wheel Bronze Age. That's the problem with having a religion from the childhood of mankind which is more a fossil relic than a living, developing and evolving thing.
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I feel a little stupid pointing this out, but the place for offerings is an 'altar', not an 'alter'.
ReplyDeleteYes, I know, I'm pedantic and lame, but if I were making this (or any other) mistake, I'd want to know.
I really love your work, your scholarship is impeccable and your writing is so clear and easy to follow.
Sorry about this nitpick.
Thanks. Missed that one.
ReplyDeleteOnly one was perfect for the altar... which isn't needed now...
ReplyDeleteI don't suppose you'll risk explaining why God didn't know that when he wrote these rules.
DeleteNor do I suppose you'll risk commenting on the biblical god's obvious repulsion at the disabled people and animals it supposedly created.
But, hey! Why would I expect a religious apologist to risk honesty? There seems very little evidence of them ever having done so before.
Why answer when your presuppositions about my ability to risk explaining, or better yet, honesty- I'll seek out a more civil, user-friendly site (if such exists)- I'd like to say that I'm ducking the issue, but really, it's your attitude. Thanks, though for your opinions (honestly).
ReplyDeleteOkay bub, these are laws concerning the priests. It's quite funny how you twist and turn scriptures. People who are capable conducting priestly duties.
ReplyDeleteLaws concerning the priests. - As these priests were types of Christ, so all ministers must be followers of him, that their example may teach others to imitate the Saviour. Without blemish, and separate from sinners, He executed his priestly office on earth.
What manner of persons then should his ministers be! But all are, if Christians, spiritual priests; the minister especially is called to set a good example, that the people may follow it. Our bodily infirmities, blessed be God, cannot now shut us out from his service, from these privileges, or from his heavenly glory.
Many a healthful, beautiful soul is lodged in a feeble, deformed body. And those who may not be suited for the work of the ministry, may serve God with comfort in other duties in his church........
The manner you explained is eisegesis. Wrong hermeneutics bub......... Try again.
I think people will understand why you chose to remain anonymous.
DeleteCan you point out which of the verbatim Bible quotes was/were wrong please, and explain how you know what it/they should have said?
Many thanks.
And off he flounced...
Delete