...does this mean Levitcus is bad theology? 

No.  Only the stuff that doesn't support his cause.

I was thinking of you when I wrote that Tom -- thought it might give you a chuckle.

A lot of christians think the New Testament "writes over" the laws of the Old Testament, even though Christ said it didn't. And even more importantly (from a church establishment perspective) Paul said it didn't.  Eating pork isn't OK under new testament law, it's just moved from major sin to minor sin. Et cetera.

If you follow the big laws (like not comitting murder) then the minor laws (like dietary rules) are less important. You should follow them, but you're not damned (or excluded) if you don't.

Somewhere along the line it got inverted (for some ) to the point that during the inquisition people ate pork to prove they weren't jewish.  Totally ignoring the fact that christians weren't supposed to eat it either.

As for Obama saying that people should approach discussions on subjects like abortion with an understanding that religious arguments will fail to appeal to a lot of people? Well, duh. What Dobson fails to understand is that in a secular democracy with a multitude of world views (which the US is, despite what he may wish) common ground can only be achieved througharguments that don't require religion.

Not to sidetrack this into a religion thread...!

Before any of the books of the NT were written, the followers of Jesus held a council (circa 49 c.e.) to decide the very hotly disputed matter of whether they were obligated to follow Jewish Law or not. The decision was that you could follow Jewish Law, but that you didn't have to. So, pork and shrimp were fine -- as well as no circumcision!

Back to politics....

Michael:

I knew that (16 years of Catholic education I picked up a few things)!  But Dobson's point in the article I posted got my lawyerly brain working and I saw a little joke to make!

Geoff, did you see any discussions of the latest major religion poll yesterday? According to its findings, something like 3/4 of Americans believe that religions other than theirs lead to eternal life.

Down by the 50% mark? Muslims and Evangelicals.

Geoff, did you see any discussions of the latest major religion poll yesterday? According to its findings, something like 3/4 of Americans believe that religions other than theirs lead to eternal life.

I heard about that but haven't read anything about it.  I'm not terribly religious so I don't get too involved in the religious threads on the site.  I generally try to be respectful of others religious beliefs (or the absence of belief) without pushing my own.  This poll you reference shows some degree of inter-faith tolerance.  Makes me a little hopeful.

This poll you reference shows some degree of inter-faith tolerance.  Makes me a little hopeful.

***

Indeed!

I miss Mike on the forums, I hope he is OK.