Leviticus evil?

@deepthought said

By contrast, it is an objective fact that Leviticus 20:13 was part of ancient Hebrew law and that there were similar laws in other cultures.

As a matter of fact the ancient Israelites were pretty unusual in this regard. Almost none of the really ancient law codes mention it, although there are gaps where tablets are broken or missing, so we can't be sure. ...[text shortened]... are known to have been, and so the Hebrews banned it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyrian_law

Disapproving of it, condemning it, alienating it, banning it is "one" thing, executing people for it is another. I concede that, if I had lived in those times, I might have believed it was morally sound to kill homosexuals.

@eladar said
Leviticus instructed the Jews to execute homosexuals. Was this instruction evil?


There, I threw a bone.

Interesting to see is Suzi will give a direct answer to this question. She has not done so in the past, so I am not holding my breath now.

It was part of the first covenant with man (Mosaic Law), but it was not part of the second covenant with man (Christianity).

Which covenant do you believe is of greater concern to Christians?

Please note that I do not intend to answer your question as you stated it because it is a ridiculous nonsense question, filled as it is with your personal bias.

Nevertheless, I have answered your question.

@suzianne said
Nevertheless, I have answered your question.

Have you?

"Was this instruction evil?"

Was your answer "Yes" or "No"?

@fmf said
Have you?

"Was this instruction evil?"

Was your answer "Yes" or "No"?

My answer was my answer.

Feel free to read it, over and over, if necessary, until you get it.

Until then, stop boring me.

@suzianne said
My answer was my answer.

Feel free to read it, over and over, if necessary, until you get it.

Until then, stop boring me.

When the ancient Hebrews were stoning a gay man to death, was it, in your view, a morally sound act? If you say "Yes it was", or "No it wasn't", unequivocally, either way, it's OK. You don't have to worry. People have all manner of views here.

@eladar said
Leviticus instructed the Jews to execute homosexuals. Was this instruction evil?

Yes.

-Removed-

"Evil" refers to certain kinds - or degrees - of morally unsound behaviour. I believe it is a social construct, not a supernatural one.

Any definition of "evil" is going to be subjective. The word "evil" is best used simply an adjective that is more loaded up with disapproval than the word "bad". I think it is misleading and unhelpful to think of it in terms of it being 'a thing'.

Any law that deems something "evil", and dictates what the retribution for it should be, is going to create objective facts on the ground regarding 'crime and punishment' in that jurisdiction as would opinion surveys or the like [e.g. most people believe X is "evil" and their religious and political leaders agree].

Aside from that, what is "evil" and what is not "evil" is something for each of us to address using our moral compasses and the process falls within the realm of subjectivity.

I would suggest that "evil" is egregious immorality ~ i.e. deceit, damage or coercion ~ and gratuitous, sociopathic action that is gravely detrimental and/or damaging to others, and which stems from an abject lack or even absence of empathy and compassion.

So, I'd say that executing homosexuals was "evil". No doubt, most morally primitive ancient Hebrews 1,000s of years ago would have disagreed.

1,000s of years from now, there may well be people looking back at the moral code I believe in and calling it primitive or wrong or even "evil". There may be people alive now who would agree.

@suzianne said
My answer was my answer.

Feel free to read it, over and over, if necessary, until you get it.

Until then, stop boring me.

Still not holding my breath.

By the way I understand what you are saying. You are saying that from your modern Christian perspective it was evil.

-Removed-

You are as bad as FMF.

@eladar said
You are as bad as FMF.

If people are 'bad' for flagging your intellectual weakness then the world is surely filled with bad people.