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<DIV><FONT size=4>Michael,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Here is yet another take on your comment.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=4><STRONG>I.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>You: </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>"the woman is pregnant from adultery and is
<STRONG><FONT color=#ff0000 size=6>guilty</FONT></STRONG>."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Bible (translation given): </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>"If a man <STRONG><FONT
color=#ff0000>suspects</FONT></STRONG> that his wife has had intercourse with
another man -- and <STRONG><FONT color=#ff0000>possibly</FONT></STRONG> has
become pregnant"</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Does this mean that you believe that the test for "<FONT
color=#ff0000><STRONG>guilt</STRONG></FONT>" by drinking water infused
with dust from an animal slaughter contaminated surface administered by a
priest is a foolproof test to determine if the woman is pregnant from an from
adulterous relationship?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=4><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=4><STRONG>II.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Does this mean that it is OK to abort a fetus that is the
result of a sinful (adulterous) relationship and not otherwise? If so,
then the right-to-life is not absolute, but depends on the progenitors?
Though the life (fetus) created in an adulterous relationship has not sinned
anymore than one created in a licit relationship, the first somehow has had its
right-to-life abrogated? Isn't that punishing (with a terminal sentence)
an innocent person (fetus)? Is this your concept of fairness and
goodness? Would it be OK to hang Comb-Over Courtney for a murder that
Slowman Farris committed?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Isn't rape by someone other than one's spouse a sinful
(adulterous) relationship? Does a resulting fetus from such a
rape therefore forfeit its right-to-life like the one conceived in
adultery? Shouldn't then the rape generated fetus be cleared for abortion
according to the verses at issue?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=4><STRONG>III.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff size=4></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Does it not strike you as a little odd that in these cases, it
is men making the decision to abort, not the women? </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Notice this translation <STRONG><FONT
color=#ff0000>requires</FONT></STRONG> the man to put his <STRONG><FONT
color=#ff0000>merely suspected</FONT></STRONG> wife through the ordeal.
How easy is it for someone who doesn't like the wife, for example, to raise
a suspicion? Suppose it was your wife. And one of your fellow
Grimfriars said to you: </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>"Cultmaster Wilson has been surreptitiously and lasciviously eyeing your
wife for many months now. He practically salivates at and a bulge
grows just below his middle while looking at her. Two
months ago at the Christ Church Cult annual Pork Lard and Pinto Bean Festival,
Wilson and your wife disappeared into the Cultmaster's chambers for quite a
spell. They were both quite flushed and disheveled when they
emerged. I notice your wife now has the unmistakable glow of
pregnancy. Whose child is she carrying?"</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Does the Bible now require you to put your wife through the
above described ordeal? Would you believe the results? If not, why
not? Or would you simply ignore that passage from the inerrant
Bible? If so, are there any other passages you ignore?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=4><STRONG>IV.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff size=4></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>The above passage describes the ordeal the <STRONG><FONT
color=#ff0000>possibly</FONT></STRONG> pregnant, <STRONG><FONT
color=#ff0000>possibly</FONT></STRONG> adulterous woman must endure. What
ordeal is in store for the man she <STRONG><FONT
color=#ff0000>possibly</FONT></STRONG> had an adulterous fling with in the
context of <EM>Numbers</EM>?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Eagerly awaiting your answers,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>W.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=metzler@moscow.com href="mailto:metzler@moscow.com">Michael</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, March 14, 2006 3:29 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> [Vision2020] Read the Whole Bible</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Courier New" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'">Ralph
writes:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Courier New" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Courier New" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'">2. Intentional abortion. If
a man suspects that his wife has had intercourse with another man -- and
possibly has become pregnant -- he shall take her to the tabernacle, where the
priest will mix holy water with dust off the floor, where animals are
slaughtered for sacrifice, and force the woman to drink it. If she is guilty,
her womb will discharge and her uterus will drop. In other words, she will have
had an abortion (Numbers 5:11-21). <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Courier New" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Courier New" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'">Me:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Courier New" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'">In this case, the woman is
pregnant from adultery and is guilty. It seems we should interpret this in the
broader context of what sort of moral and civic guilt was placed on
adultery. If we condone free sex in our society today civilly (and
perhaps even morally!), then how could one go about applying this particular
passage?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Courier New" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Courier New" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'">Thanks<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Courier New" size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'">Michael Metzler
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<P>
<HR>
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