An Open Letter to Marshall Brain
Dear Marshall,
I discovered your online book Why Does God Hate Amputees? this evening through blogsnow.com, and I've read a few pages so far.
There is one thing I wish to comment on at this point. It concerns me that for one of your examples, on the very first page, you say, "Knowing whether God is real or imaginary is important. Here is an example of why: In Leviticus 20:13 the Bible says that we should kill all homosexuals. If God exists and if God wrote the Bible, then we should do that. Our creator has commanded it and we should obey. On the other hand, if God is imaginary, we should discard the Bible because a book that promotes murder has no place in our society."
I realize that you are only trying to make a point, in a very pointed way. What concerns me is the reality that there are people in this world who will look at what you wrote in that paragraph and read it as God's message to them to do violence to certain people.
I would like to request that you use an illustration that cannot be misinterpreted by those who are looking for an excuse to commit acts of violence against people they believe are different from themselves. Could you maybe use an example that has something to do with regulations about food or clothing or sex during menses? There are plenty of verses to choose from.
I realize that by using less violent imagery you might lose some readers. But maybe, just maybe, you will be able to avoid being a catalyst for violence against people who are not heterosexual (and those who are perceived as not heterosexual).
Thanks,
Deb
whydoesgodhateamputees.
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I discovered your online book Why Does God Hate Amputees? this evening through blogsnow.com, and I've read a few pages so far.
There is one thing I wish to comment on at this point. It concerns me that for one of your examples, on the very first page, you say, "Knowing whether God is real or imaginary is important. Here is an example of why: In Leviticus 20:13 the Bible says that we should kill all homosexuals. If God exists and if God wrote the Bible, then we should do that. Our creator has commanded it and we should obey. On the other hand, if God is imaginary, we should discard the Bible because a book that promotes murder has no place in our society."
I realize that you are only trying to make a point, in a very pointed way. What concerns me is the reality that there are people in this world who will look at what you wrote in that paragraph and read it as God's message to them to do violence to certain people.
I would like to request that you use an illustration that cannot be misinterpreted by those who are looking for an excuse to commit acts of violence against people they believe are different from themselves. Could you maybe use an example that has something to do with regulations about food or clothing or sex during menses? There are plenty of verses to choose from.
I realize that by using less violent imagery you might lose some readers. But maybe, just maybe, you will be able to avoid being a catalyst for violence against people who are not heterosexual (and those who are perceived as not heterosexual).
Thanks,
Deb
whydoesgodhateamputees.
