Gay Marriage License Issue and a TV Show

The Kentucky county clerk who refuses to issue marriage licenses to gay couples on Christian grounds is a Biblical literalist.

If she was a Muslim she would be a Salafist. Like the Saudi clerics who claim the earth is flat or the sun revolves around the earth because the Koran suggests these notions. These are people cut from the same cloth.

All of which made me think of a famous West Wing episode and the way all literalists have to be handled.

You might remember President Bartlett dressing down an evangelical talk show host on her calling homosexuality an abomination. But I always enjoy reminding people what a profound well of inspiration all Holy Books are.

The evangelical talk show host defends her decision by quoting Leviticus 18:22 which reads "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; such thing is an abomination."

Bartlett's answer is to cite specific verses of the Bible to see if she would adhere to those as well.

"I'm interested in selling my youngest daughter into slavery as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. She's a Georgetown sophomore, speaks fluent Italian, always cleaned the table when it was her turn. What would a good price for her be?" 

The verse in question indeed states that "When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go free as male slaves do."

Bartlett is not done yet.

"My chief of staff, Leo McGarry, insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly says he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself or is it okay to call the police?" 

And Exodus 35:2 says "For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a day of Sabbath rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it is to be put to death."

Bartlett:

"Here's one that's really important cause we've got a lot of sports fans in this town: touching the skin of a dead pig makes one unclean. Leviticus 11:7 If they promise to wear gloves can the Washington Redskins still play football? Can Notre Dame? Can West Point?"

Leviticus 11:7

"and the pig, which does indeed have hoofs and is cloven-footed, but does not chew the cud and is therefore unclean for you. 

and 8

Their flesh you shall not eat, and their dead bodies you shall not touch; they are unclean for you."

Bartlett finishes off with two more examples

"Does the whole town really have to be together to stone my brother, John, for planting different crops side by side? Can I burn my mother in a small family gathering for wearing garments made from two different threads?

He does not provide the exact verse but I am here to tell you that he is referring to Leviticus 19:19.

"You must obey all my decrees. "Do not mate two different kinds of animals. Do not plant your field with two different kinds of seed. Do not wear clothing woven from two different kinds of thread."

Incidentally, it was not mentioned in the show but 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 denies the Kingdom of God to homosexuals and to a long list of others like the adulterers, drunkards, thieves, covetous, swindlers, revilers, fornicators etc. are in the same boat.

But you never hear evangelical Christians getting worked up about Banksters who swindles millions of people in fake bubbles or cheating pastors or the dirty financial tricks of televangelists.

Why worry about these things that affect millions of people when you could invoke fire and brimstone on two people for loving each other.