Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Open Letter to Kansas Legislators on Religious Freedom


Dear Kansas Legislators,

Thank you so much for passing a bill that allows people in Kansas the freedom to exercise their religious beliefs and discriminate against homosexuals. For it is written in the Bible that, "a man laying with another man is an abomination"  in Leviticus 20:13.

I'm wondering if you would also take up the cause for other things mentioned in the same book of the Bible? For example, Leviticus 19:19 states "...nor shall a garment of mixed linen and wool come upon you." I think this might also extend to cotton-polyester blends: (Ma'am? I believe your socks might not be 100% cotton, and that is an offense to my religion. I'll have to ask you to remove your socks and cast them upon the ground before I serve you this coffee.)

Leviticus 11:12 states that whatever is in the water that doesn't have fins or scales is an abomination, so we really need to crack down on people who eat the wrong kind of seafood: (Oh heavens me, do I smell SHRIMP on your breath? I'm sorry, but even with cocktail sauce, shrimp is STILL WRONG!! You will have to go home, purge, and brush your teeth before I can change the oil in your car.)

Leviticus 23:3 states that we shall do no work on the Sabbath, so we need to show people who work on Sunday what they deserve: (Hey young man, didn't I see you hard at work when I came into that waffle shop for breakfast last Sunday? You should NEVER serve waffles on Sunday. We all know maple syrup is from Canada but we live in KANSAS and love JESUS! Now get out of my liquor store!!)

Leviticus 19:9 states that it is wrong to harvest the very corners of a field of crops. It doesn't say how round you should leave the corners, but you know people cut them too tight: (So farmer Ted, you sure are proud of that new harvester aren't you? Turns pretty tight corners, doesn't it? Yeah you're a sick man. We all know you are just trying to get EVERY LAST SHRED OF WHEAT FROM YOUR FIELDS!!! Sorry but you'll just have to get that prescription for your cholesterol medication elsewhere!! I'LL  BET YOU'VE BEEN EATING SHRIMP, TOO!! THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE HIGH CHOLESTEROL!!!! REPENT FARMER TED!!! REPENT!!!!!)

I could go on with plenty more examples of sinful behavior from the Bible that needs attention from the good folks of the Kansas Legislature. Of course it might take days, weeks, or even months to draft and pass additional legislation like this, but don't we all want to exercise our religious beliefs?

Or perhaps we can just let people exercise the religion of their choice in their homes and churches as the founding fathers intended but not force that religion onto others. Perhaps we shouldn't pass legislation that encourages people to practice bigotry in the name of religion. Perhaps we should concentrate on legislation that seeks to improve the economy rather than demonstrate how backwards and narrow-minded Kansas is.

20 comments:

  1. Bravo!!! I am sick and tired of folks who cherry pick from the bible to support their beliefs. And why on earth should we consider passing laws based on the bible?? It's full of contradictions and, as you so humorously point out, full of absurdities.

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  2. well spoken, Cat Man!!! Agreed. Don't forget, no cheeseburgers either. (Thou shalt not eat of the kid boiled in its mother's milk!)

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  3. VERY well said! BTW...tattoos are WAY an "abomination" according to the Bible as well!

    Preacher's Kid

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    1. ...as are tube tops and flip flops. As a Certified Hot Babe, let me express my appreciation to those restauranteurs who enforce the "no shirt, no shoes, no service" policy. After all, what Certified Hot Babe dining on oysters in a fine dining establishment doesn't want to see a man in an Armani shirt wearing designer shoes and no pants?!

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  4. Very interesting post. I read the bill. As one of “those” people and by that I mean a "Christian" (gasp) I do understand how and why this happened. I will admit it is over kill. I ask that you at least consider what I have to say. Not to change your view on this issue, but to use your influence to promote a coming together of the minds, to find some common ground, and perhaps head off what I fear is becoming a war of ideology. A really bloody one.
    Im a 52 year old black female. I understand discrimination. I really do. I have many friends who are gay and I love each and every one of them. But I disagree with their lifestyle. They know this. They also know that I have compassion for their situation. But we are talking about behavior here. This is no different to me than my own daughter living with her boyfriend. I also disagree with her life style. My disagreement has no effect on my love for her. She knows this. That law was forged out of fear. Fear of an intolerance that is growing in this country. I use the word intolerance as it should be used, as in, not to "tolerate" something that you disagree with. If I agree, what's to tolerate right? I, as a Christian, am "tolerant" of the gay life style. I can have my views and still have my friends. But, the new PC definition insists that being "tolerant" is to agree or at least be neutral. If you disagree you are intolerant and promoting hate. If you are crazy enough to express your views in public you may be accused of spewing hate speech. This new repurposing of this word promotes division. It's scary, at least to me. Being a Christian is core to who I am. I cannot and I will not only be a Christian on Sunday morning and in my home. I am a Christian (or try to be one lol) at work, at the grocery store, at the park, everywhere. We must find a way to peacefully coexist in the spirit of real tolerance and love. (Borrowing from Covey) seeking first to understand, then to be understood would be a good start.

    P.S.

    Your videos are so friggin funny!



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    1. I am reading along and I hit this: "I have many friends who are gay and I love each and every one of them."

      I paused to tell myself "I know what is coming."

      ... and it did.

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    2. Um . .ohh... I am a heathen and I dont think the bible is actually telling the truth becuase if it was, Adam and Eve would be duckbilled platypussies . . .

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  5. Imposing "tolerance" is how the government can work to create equal rights for all of its citizens. Imagine if the bill had been worded with "Christian" instead of "homosexual." "You want me to photograph your wedding? Not if you are Christian." "No health benefits for your Christian spouse, thank you very much."

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    1. There is no such thing and should not be a such thing as equal rights for every single person literally. There are many things I cannot and probably should not be able to do legally because of my age, physical limitations etc. There are far more restrictions for my 11 yr. old nephew and there should be. It is in fact the government that makes these distinctions. I would agree that we are all entitled to civil rights which are not the same thing. Again, I think the bill is over kill. I can speak to it because I read it. Reading things like this for yourself is something I highly recommend. Just the facts Jack:)

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  6. Or! We let private companies serve whoever they want! Brilliant!

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  7. I agree that legislating religion is stupid, and I certainly don't agree with Christianity myself, but it always helps to understand the people who you are arguing against, otherwise you are at risk of committing a Straw-Man. The writings of Paul are part of the Bible (even tho they should not be) and so his word is the Word of God as much as any other part. He tells us that God told him that the dietary laws are repealed (so eating shrimp is no longer an abomination). Jesus told the high priests that the labor laws are repealed (he didn't mention harvesting the corners, but he did mention working on the Sabbath, and that prohibition of it was repealed). Blended fibers were not mentioned in the new testament either, either to renew or the repeal the law. The big thing is: Paul does say that homosexuality is also a sin, renewing the old testament prohibition. Actually, it can be argued that what Paul is condemning is acting contrary to your god-given orientation for the sake of convenience, but most people don't read it that way.

    So, criticisms of legislating Biblical morality are very useful, but I think that you need to look for another reason why they are wrong. Try this on for size: "The United States is not, and never has been, a Theocracy. The only nation in this world that is a theocracy is Iran. If you want to turn this country into a copy of Iran, please admit it, so that we can lynch you."

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  8. I like you, sir. I find myself in the uncomfortable position of being a Christian who believes that the statements in the bible about homosexuality are widely misinterpreted and very much relative to culture at the time, and so I'm often trapped between Christians who think the government exists to force other people to conform to their idea of morality (hint: it doesn't) and people who backlash against them by condemning Christianity as a whole (though to be fair to them, the religion is mainly represented to the public by ignorant, bigoted outspoken people, so who can blame them?)
    I sympathize with other Christians and I'm not going to try to tell them what to believe is or isn't wrong, but I don't believe the government has any place in legislating "sin".
    anyway, what I'm trying to say is that the point you made is the one I believe we should focus on.

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  9. Dinah Kudatsky, of MassachusettsFebruary 13, 2014 at 12:06 PM

    Dear Paul,
    Thank you once again for your wisdom and wit (when they're laughing, they'll be less inclined to come after you with pitchforks). Every rational person joins you in puncturing the cherry-picking hypocrisy that seems to flourish at the hard right (but so wrong) spectrum of political thought. Your voice is needed, in Kansas, and anywhere where devolution is threatened. And here is President Bartlet (of "West Wing" fame), cheering you on as well (the fun begins at about 1:40) ! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYaewOBGybw

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    1. Thanks for that WW clip--I'd forgotten about that one! Paul did pull a Bartlett with this letter--rock on!

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  10. I saw this law and shook my head. I grew up pentecostal, so I'm kind of used to some of the more hokey Christians, but I just don't get why people are losing it over gay marriage. I am a Christian, and while I personally may not be gay, or entirely agree philosophically with some of said group, honestly that doesn't matter. I do believe that churches who don't agree with this should not be forced to hold wedding ceremonies for gay couples, but beyond that, my, or anyone's religion has no bearing upon how the constitution should be interpreted. I honestly can say that I am all for gay people being able to be married, and I really don't get all of the fuss. But enough whining on my part. Paul, you're a great guy, and your videos really brighten my day. Never stop!

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  11. Please read this whole post before deciding I've lost my mind.

    The same Paul they like to quote Re: homosexuality... and various other theological hurdles.... says in Colossians 4:22: Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters.....The book of Philemon is the letter Paul included when he returned a runaway slave to his master.

    Pre-Civil War, these are the verses that were used to defend a horrible practice. It gives me encouragement that we as a culture have figured out that slavery is wrong...even though the Bible says it's OK.

    It's not really that big a logical jump to apply the same theory to the passages on homosexuality. This ship called Christianity has never changed course easily, but it does eventually.

    How curious to me that I write this post on St. Valentines Day. He is credited with performing marriages after the Holy Roman Emperor had declared them illegal. It reminds me of the 100s of St. Valentines active in the church today. Historical precedent is that Love wins. Happy St. Valentines Day.

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  12. I'm not gay, but I have no issue with anyone who chooses to love another person be they same sex or not. Gay people don't get to a certain age and think "Oh, I think I'd like to be gay" They just are born that way, God made them that way and I want to believe in a loving all encompassing God. I like Bishop Desmond Tutu feel I wouldn't actually want to go to a heaven that is discriminatory on what kind of 'love' is acceptable. Love, is true and deep and honest and should be celebrated and encouraged whoever we choose to love. Anything else is negative and unhelpful in an already fearful and on edge world. Sorry but I just don't get it. I believe truly in a loving God. Everyone to their own in relation to culture, religion, love choice. The only thing I have difficulty accepting are those who forcefully try to make someone believe they're doing wrong just because it doesn't fit in with their beliefs.

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  13. The LGBTQ community humbly thanks you for your support. Oh and the cat videos rock!!

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  14. Hi!
    This is my first time here. Can someone point me towards the tennis courts.
    Thanks!

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  15. Ginger needs to set her sights on local office, make changes at the local level first!

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