How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)
Quote #7
You shall not have sexual relations with any animal and defile yourself with it, nor shall any woman give herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it: it is perversion. (NRSV 18:23)
Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. (KJV 18: 23)
As noted theologian Peter Venkman reminds us, cats and dogs living together is a telltale sign of a biblical disaster.
Quote #8
You shall keep my statutes. You shall not let your animals breed with a different kind; you shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed; nor shall you put on a garment made of two different materials. (NRSV 19:19)
Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee. (KJV 19:19)
When someone quotes Leviticus to argue against gay marriage, you can be sure that this verse against animal mash-ups will be quoted in response. Ligers and turfgrass and blends, oh my!
Quote #9
If anyone of the house of Israel slaughters an ox or a lamb or a goat in the camp, or slaughters it outside the camp, and does not bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, to present it as an offering to the Lord before the tabernacle of the Lord, he shall be held guilty of bloodshed; he has shed blood, and he shall be cut off from the people. (NRSV 17:3-4)
What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp, And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the Lord before the tabernacle of the Lord; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people. (KJV 17:3-4)
When it comes to ritual sacrifice, God wants you to play by his rules. If you want to make your own sustainable hamburgers, you have to take your offering to the Tabernacle first.
Why is God such a stickler for sacred slaughter? Believe it or not, it's a way of preventing violence by teaching people to respect all forms of life. You might feel like God's cool with wearing leather and eating meat, but that doesn't mean you can take killing lightly.