Posts tagged ‘law’

February 15th, 2010

Lesbian and Gay Strangers Get a Marriage License

New York residents Kitty Lambert and her partner Cheryl wanted to get married, so they went to the Clerk’s office and asked for a marriage license. A group of people also went with them to protest the state’s recent defeat of a bill that would grant gays and lesbians the right to marry.

With news cameras rolling, Kitty then turned to the crowd and asked for any male who would be willing to get married to her. A gay man named Ed stepped forward and volunteered.

Kitty’s point in approaching the City Clerk for a marriage license is that there is no religious basis for marriage, and it serves only as a legally binding contract in our society. Instead of being offered the ability to receive a license with her long-term partner, she was able to secure a license with a virtual stranger, strictly based on their gender. (source)

Kitty and Ed say they will not actually marry until they are allowed to with the people they truly love (and actually know). Because it should be about commitment and partnership, not gender. Brava, Kitty!

Check out the Buffalo, NY news coverage for more shots of this moment.

June 3rd, 2009

God’s Justice is Anti-American

Image by jemstone

Image by jemstone

Christians declare God’s perfect justice (Zephaniah 3:5 [show] The LORD within her is righteous; he does no injustice; every morning he shows forth his justice; each dawn he does not fail; but the unjust knows no shame.
This text is from the ESV Bible. Visit www.esv.org to learn about the ESV.
; Psalm 37:28 [show] For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
This text is from the ESV Bible. Visit www.esv.org to learn about the ESV.
; 2 Thess 1:6-9 [show] since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, (ESV)
This text is from the ESV Bible. Visit www.esv.org to learn about the ESV.
). But how does God measure up against the imperfect American justice system?

YHWH’s Justice

You are guilty until proven innocent. The laws you are supposed to follow were collected over time thousands of years ago in another culture, but you’re screwed because the laws can’t be amended, reviewed, or doubted. You were born guilty–deserving eternal torture and punishment for something you cannot control. The only way for you to be saved from this terrible pain and suffering is for the judge to kill an innocent person instead of the guilty one. But don’t worry, the innocent guy only stays dead for three days, so it’s only a really bad weekend.

American Justice

You are innocent until proven guilty. The laws you have to follow are agreed upon by your local/state/federal governments instead of just one person; if there is confusion, there will be a final word on what’s okay or not okay to do. Revisions are also possible for the betterment of society. If falsely accused for a crime you did not commit, you can appeal to a higher court. You have a right to be judged by a jury of your peers. You cannot be prosecuted for thought crime. Punishments are not eternal, and only the criminals are punished for their own actions.

P.S. I admit, we all know the American justice system is a bit messy; but its ideals are still better than the theocratic alternative. Oh, and if you’re not American, I’m pretty sure your scenario would be very similar. That is, unless you’re from North Korea.

April 23rd, 2009

Stone Me

If I was living under Mosaic law today, here are the offenses for which I would be put to death:

Cursing Parents
For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him. Leviticus 20:9 [show] For anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood is upon him. (ESV)
This text is from the ESV Bible. Visit www.esv.org to learn about the ESV.

– What can I say? I’ve been angry at them before.

Working on the Sabbath
Whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Exodus 31:15 [show] Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death. (ESV)
This text is from the ESV Bible. Visit www.esv.org to learn about the ESV.

– I’m pretty sure I’ve played Pick-Up-Sticks on the Sabbath before ;)

Premarital Sex (girls only)
. . . If, however, this charge is true, that evidence of the young woman’s virginity was not found, then they shall bring the young woman out to the entrance of her father’s house and the men of her town shall stone her to death, Deuteronomy 22:20 [show] But if the thing is true, that evidence of virginity was not found in the young woman, (ESV)
This text is from the ESV Bible. Visit www.esv.org to learn about the ESV.

– What if I get hymen replacement surgery so nobody will know? Oooh, sneaky.

Worshipping any god but Yahweh
If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that . . . hath gone and served other gods, and worshiped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded; . . .Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die. Deuteronomy 17:2-5 [show] "If there is found among you, within any of your towns that the LORD your God is giving you, a man or woman who does what is evil in the sight of the LORD your God, in transgressing his covenant, and has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun or the moon or any of the host of heaven, which I have forbidden, and it is told you and you hear of it, then you shall inquire diligently, and if it is true and certain that such an abomination has been done in Israel, then you shall bring out to your gates that man or woman who has done this evil thing, and you shall stone that man or woman to death with stones. (ESV)
This text is from the ESV Bible. Visit www.esv.org to learn about the ESV.

– Atheists are totally immune to this. Godless heathens FTW!

Girls who are Raped within the City Limits
If there is a girl who is a virgin engaged to a man, and another man finds her in the city and lies with her, then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city and you shall stone them to death; the girl, because she did not cry out in the city . . . But if in the field the man finds the girl who is engaged, and the man forces her and lies with her, then only the man who lies with her shall die. Deuteronomy 22:23-25 [show] "If there is a betrothed virgin, and a man meets her in the city and lies with her, then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones, the young woman because she did not cry for help though she was in the city, and the man because he violated his neighbor's wife. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. "But if in the open country a man meets a young woman who is betrothed, and the man seizes her and lies with her, then only the man who lay with her shall die. (ESV)
This text is from the ESV Bible. Visit www.esv.org to learn about the ESV.

– On a serious note, I was date raped when I was 18. I wasn’t engaged to be married, but I didn’t cry out for help. Does this mean I would be put to death?

Blasphemers
And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death. Leviticus 24:16 [show] Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death. (ESV)
This text is from the ESV Bible. Visit www.esv.org to learn about the ESV.

– Oh come on, duh. I’m totally irreverent these days.

Anyone Who Tries to Deconvert Yahweh Worshipers
If anyone secretly entices you–even if it is your brother, your father’s son or your mother’s son, or your own son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your most intimate friend–saying, “Let us go worship other gods,” . . . you shall surely kill them; your own hand shall be first against them to execute them. Deuteronomy 12:6 [show] and there you shall bring your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution that you present, your vow offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock. (ESV)
This text is from the ESV Bible. Visit www.esv.org to learn about the ESV.

– Does it count if I just try to make them think? Another win for Godless Heathens!

Check out Debunking Christianity for a list of offenses (from which i stole these references) for which you might be stoned. It’s like a sick game of BINGO.