This letter to Laura Schlessinger (aka Doctor Laura) first appeared online in May 2000. It is an attempt to discredit the Bible. The answers found here were formulated and written today, Wednesday August 18, 2010.

The original link for this page is http://loveandtruth.net/dr-laura-answers.html

Dear Dr. Laura,

Answer: I am not Dr. Laura Schlessinger. She hasn't publicly responded to this letter. But you will find here the answers she SHOULD have given.

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to best follow them.

  1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

    Answer: Your friend is mistaken. You can also own Canadians. You can even own Americans. [1]

  2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

    Answer: Before selling your daughter, familiarize yourself also with Exodus 21:8,9. [2] You are not to sell your daughter to strangers. Also, the purpose of selling your daughter is for the buyer to marry her or arrange for her to be married, and see that she is financially looked after for life. If you already know that, then a fair price for your daughter depends on how valuable she is. Here is what some people have been paying. Prices are adjusted for inflation, and most are fairly current.

    If you love your daughter, remember this: the higher the bride price is, the more her husband will value her, and the better he will treat her. Most men treat their cars better than their wives. That's because they pay more for their cars.

  3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of Menstrual uncleanliness - Leviticus 15:19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

    Answer: A woman is responsible to warn others of her status, just as lepers must wear a face mask and cry "unclean" when someone is in the neighborhood. [3] Most women are reluctant to share this information with strangers, but will readily enough tell it to friends and relatives. So, the question is, why are you trying to touch strange women? [4] Don't do that!

  4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Leviticus 1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

    Answer: If your neighbor smells the odor, then you are probably violating the commandment to not sacrifice anything within city limits. [5] Stop doing that!

  5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?

    Answer: You are obligated to report what you see to the authorities [6] and then let the process take over. If you are the only witness to your neighbors sabbath-breaking, then don't bother. First of all, there must be two or three witnesses. There has to be a diligent inquiry by the judges. And then the entire community must be involved in enforcing the penalty. Unless there are 2 or 3 witnesses, police willing to arrest, a judge willing to convict, and a community willing to enforce, then leave your neighbor in peace. Warn him once to repent, and then shake the dust from your feet. [7]

  6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination, Leviticus 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?

    Answer: Both are abominations. Rebellion is like the sin of poisoning. [8] Poisoning carries the death penalty. [9] Choosing to break either of the laws without cause therefore carries the death penalty. [10] When you are dead, you won't care which sin had a greater degree of abomination! [11]

  7. Leviticus 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?

    Answer: If you aren't of the seed of Aaron, you shouldn't be approaching the altar anyway. [12] Don't do that!

  8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Leviticus 19:27. How should they die?

    Answer: Trimming your hair and beard does not violate Leviticus 19:27. [13] In fact, the priests are required to have haircuts. [14] I could blame bad translation here, but you really need to study things before handing out the death penalty.

  9. I know from Leviticus 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

    Answer: Today's footballs are made from plastic, not from pig-skin. Don't worry about gloves.

  10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Leviticus 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Leviticus 24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Leviticus 20:14)

    Answer: You are mistaken. The death penalty, no matter what form, follows the same procedure of 2 or 3 witnesses, arresting police, convicting judge, and enforcing community. Unless otherwise specified, stoning is the standard for the death penalty. You also didn't mention if you had warned him to repent of his evil ways yet. If not, don't delay! The death penalty will spread to you! [15]

I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I'm confident you can help.

Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your adoring fan.

Answer: There is only one who should be adored. [16] Continue with your studies, and focus more on how you can love people rather than who you can kill.

Footnotes

1. Deuteronomy 15
12 And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.
13 And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty:
14 Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith יהוה thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him.
15 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and יהוה thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day.
2. Exodus 21
8 If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.
9 And if he have betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters.
3. Leviticus 13
45 And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.
4. Proverbs 22
14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of יהוה shall fall therein.
5. Deuteronomy 12
17 Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand:
18 But thou must eat them before יהוה thy God in the place which יהוה thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before יהוה thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.
6. Leviticus 5
1 And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.
7. Deuteronomy 17
4 And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel:
5 Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die.
6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
7 The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.
Ezekiel 3
18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Matthew 7
6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Matthew 10
14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
8. 1 Samuel 15
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of יהוה, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
9. Exodus 22
18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
10. Deuteronomy 17
9 And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment:
10 And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which יהוה shall choose shall shew thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee:
11 According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right hand, nor to the left.
12 And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before יהוה thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.
13 And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.
Deuteronomy 21
18 If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:
19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;
20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.
21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
11. Ecclesiastes 9
5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
12. Numbers 16
40 To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before יהוה; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as יהוה said to him by the hand of Moses.
13. 2 Samuel 14
26 And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight.
2 Samuel 19
24 And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace.
14. Ezekiel 44
20 Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long; they shall only poll their heads.
15. Ezekiel 3
18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
16. Exodus 20
2 I am יהוה thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I יהוה thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Matthew 19
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.