Arbitrary enforcement of religious law is unfair. I loved Andrew Bernardin's discussion of homosexuality and Leviticus on his blog last Friday. Go read “Biblical Ignorance” at a A Daily Dose of Doubt. Actually, go read the rest of the blog too. He’s an excellent writer and posts every weekday.
Arbitrary enforcement of religious law is funny. After reading Andrew’s musings about Leviticus, I had to hunt up a letter addressed to Dr. Laura that circulated in 2000. It was as amusing to read it the second time as it was the first.
Finally, arbitrary enforcement of religious law won’t help you get sex. Sami* refused to drink because it violated his religious principles. This was fine. I mind people who don’t drink far less than I mind people who drink far too much. However, as we were sitting together by the fountains in Trafalgar square, he propositioned** me. This was confusing.
I just don’t trust people who won’t drink for religious reasons yet want to have sex with me. It seems like such an odd mix. Yes, we will follow random law from this part of our religion, but no, we’ll ignore another random law that just doesn’t suit us so much. This is probably my issue with most people’s observation with religion. It feels arbitrary. I suppose this is fine, but it’s not for me. So, a note to the religious: fine, be arbitrarily devout... just don’t expect to get some from me as well.
* Somewhat random, met-on-the-street person with whom I spent two evenings while visiting London last summer. I run into all sorts of amusing characters while traveling.
** He was rather French, so propositioned likely isn’t the correct word. Wooed. I was wooed by Sami in Trafalgar square. For the French men I run into, it seems to never be sex, but always "make love." Off-the-top compliments are the norm and they always ask how it feels to have been kissed by a French man. Perhaps some women find this sort of courting charming, but it seems absurd to me and I always have to resist the urge to snicker.
