September 3, 2012Dear Sir,This letter is written partly in response to the person who used the pseudonym “What the Bible really says” to give us a lecture on what he or she perceives the bible says about homosexuality and, of course, referring to it as a terrible “abomination” which according to my dictionary means something “exceptionally loathsome, hateful, wicked or vile”. I would like to address what my Bible says about these dreaded “abominations”, and I will start by saying that when questioned, most of my Christian friends are usually either unable to quote any other “abomination” or they start to waffle. Why is that?Let's start with the first “abomination” mentioned in Genesis 46:34 which refers to every shepherd being “an abomination” to the Egyptians. Wow! I thought that Jesus was a shepherd to his flock? Can we please have a moral explanation as to why shepherds are an “abomination”? Isaiah 66.3 uses the word “abomination” to describe sin in general (of which we are all guilty), and Ezekiel refers specifically to adultery. Proverbs 6 16-18 lists six abominations — “a proud look, a lying tongue, a hand that sheds innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are swift in running to mischief, and being a false witness who tells lies”. Are these loathsome, hateful, wicked and vile “abominations” for which we are condemned to eternal damnation?Yes, the word “abomination” is used in Leviticus to describe men lying with men, but it also says in Deuteronomy that it's an abomination to cheat in the market by using rigged weights, while Proverbs (12:22) refers to dishonesty. Dishonesty? Oh my goodness. We are all doomed! It's an “abomination” to tell lies (Proverbs 12:22), to be proud of heart (Proverbs 16:5) and to cheat in business (Proverbs 20:10 Proverbs 20:23). Cheating in business. Now there's one to ponder! Leviticus goes on to label all sorts of other activities as “abominations”, including eating any kind of seafood without fins and scales (Lev 11:10). If we interpret this literally then we would have to prohibit the catching or eating of lobsters or crabs, or any kind of shell fish. How many of us have committed that “abomination” on a regular basis — in season or out of season? How many of us dig into those shrimp cocktails at receptions and office parties? How many of our fishermen have been assisting others in committing “abominations” all their lives — catching lobsters?Can you imagine a minister thumping on his pulpit to denounce St David's Island fishermen for being loathsome, wicked and vile in providing lobsters and shell fish to all and sundry? Sorry, but the Bible is quite specific. If we take it literally then an abomination is an abomination. On the issue of taking the bible seriously, I would like to point out that there is one terrible sin that is included in the Ten Commandments for which there is no doubt whatsoever of the punishment to be meted out — and that is the sin of “adultery”. Leviticus 20.10, and Leviticus 20.13 in my Bible are completely clear — the punishment is to be put to death. If Bermuda were to decide on a strict interpretation of the bible then I can name dozens of what I call “serial adulterers” who would have to be condemned to death without question. Just to avoid any misinterpretation the Bible also makes it clear that divorcing one partner and marrying another is also “adultery” so proving such cases would be easy.However, adultery is not a crime in Bermuda, and I never hear anyone criticising the morality of those among us who have committed, or who are committing adultery, on a daily basis, nor do I read anything about moving to deny adulterers their human rights. Likewise, the Stubbs Bill decriminalised sexual relations between males in 1995 so homosexuality is not a crime or offence in Bermuda. And before anyone rants on about the lack of morality of Dr Stubbs or those who voted for this amendment to our legislation I can only warn you to be extremely cautious. You may want to check out who supported this amendment and who said it was long overdue!Bermuda has moved forward in this 21st century, and it is no longer permitted under our Human Rights Act to discriminate against anyone because of their marital status, or because their parents were not married. It is high time to give all of our citizens' equal human right and to include “sexual orientation” in the Act. After providing an opportunity to our Christian friends and religious leaders to explain why all “abominations” are not treated equally, I would be delighted to write a further letter with a possible explanation as to why our distant ancestors warned us against those actions that we now refer to as “abominations”.COMMON SENSESmith's