Thanks for the comments. You are correct, he is speaking about priests in Leviticus. I took a bit of liberty to not point out that distinction as it sounds just as ridiculous either way but thanks for keeping me honest!

As far as Deuteronomy, I hadn’t heard that interpretation and I am sure not many Christians have read the Hebrew text of the old testament. In any case it is crazy to penalize someone for the “sins” of their fathers, especially a kind and loving God.

I was wondering if you could pass my comment on to David and perhaps get his reply about it on your next ‘holey scripture’ podcast segment? I’d really love that, but perhaps I ask too much.

I am a newly ‘deconverted’ atheist from way down under in New Zealand. I love your show but I do have this one critique. Prior to my deconversion from a lifetime of Christianity, I studied at a Seminary. I want people to be atheists and to learn about atheism, of course, but I don’t think it helps our cause to misrepresent Christianity. The best argument is an accurate argument, after all

In Podcast #7 - Religion & Insanity, David mentions Leviticus 21 (about blemished people) and Deuteronomy 23 (about bastards), saying that those people can’t go to church. In my understanding, Leviticus 21 is referring to Priests and in particular verses 10 through 16 have progressed to High Priests. They were the ones who were believed to go into an altar room, the ‘holy of holies’, a place considered so dangerous and sacred that a rope was tied to the High Priest’s leg so that he could be pulled out if he died without somebody else going inside and risking God’s wrath. Today’s translation, if Christians actually used the Old Testament in this manner (which they don’t), might be that Senior Pastors can’t be disabled. I’m not saying that it sounds any less stupid!
Also, David has referred to his own ‘bastard’ status on at least a couple podcasts, rendering him unable to attend church unto the 10th generation. However, at least a couple commentaries that I have read interpret the hebrew as talking about a more significant kind of congregation like an eldership position or even civil office. So, today’s translation of that might be, ‘Christians born of unwed parents can’t hold positions of authority in communities or run for political positions’. That might be a good thing, I wonder how many U.S. Christian politicians have an illegitimate marriage somewhere within 10 generations of their ancestors?

I still think that there are no ways of turning those verses into today’s language without it sounding peculiar, but I can’t help thinking that any biblically literate christians listening to your podcasts might be annoyed rather than gently persuaded by heavy handed use of funny bible verses. Your ‘holey scripture’ segment is always fun to hear though, keep it up.

In reason,
Iain from NZ

David