To the editor:

This letter is written in response to Carl Burkhead’s letter which appeared in the Public Forum on April 30. Since Mr. Burkhead finds “cherry picking” from the Bible as a valid strategy for supporting his moral agenda (homophobia), I would suggest he look into several other biblical verses for further inspiration.

For example: “People who have flat noses, or are blind or lame, cannot go to an altar of God.” (Leviticus 21:17-18); “If you find out a city worships a different god, destroy the city and kill all of its inhabitants … even the animals.” (Deuteronomy 13:12-15); “Any person who curseth his mother or father, must be killed.” (Leviticus 20:9); “If a man cheats on his wife, or vise versa, both the man and the woman must die.” (Leviticus 20:10); “Anyone who curses or blasphemes God, should be stoned to death by the community.” (Leviticus 24: 14-16); “Kill anyone with a different religion.” (Deuteronomy 17:2-7).

This is just a sampling of what the Bible tells us. Obviously, it would appear to be unwise today, to utilize the Bible to guide us in our moral, social and judicial laws.

Rodd Hedlund,

Lawrence