We have come a long way since...

I have been watching Best of TVB's The Silver Chamber of Sorrows, a period Chinese serial, on 8TV.

Yesterday's episode showed a rich man's fourth wife caught with his brother's brother-in-law who was staying in the mansion. It was an elaborate plot by his third wife which involved a purported trip by train involving the whole family and servants. The penalty for adultery at the time was death by drowning while in a pig's cage. His brother had to forfeit his rights to the family business just to save his sister-in-law and his brother-in-law.

But in those days, the ultimate loss of face to the rich man made him secretly kidnapped his fourth wife when she was already in the train to go elsewhere. When asked, his reason was simply because she was his wife and he could not have her having affairs even though in other places. Because his third wife who was being divorced, begged him to take her back (she was in love with his brother-in-law but was tricked into marriage 8 years ago, and was just spurned by her ex-love because he was already married) and promised to do whatever he wished, she was given the chance to prove herself by cutting the rope which was holding the pig's cage with the fourth wife in it, letting it fall into a deep well!

Aren't we glad those honour killings were history, though we do come across cases in the news of father or male relatives killing a daughter because of bringing dishonour to her family, in places like Pakistan.

Raja Petra had recently highlighted a letter which showed how silly old rules could be to our present mindset:

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

In her radio show, Dr Laura Schlesinger said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, penned by a US resident, which was posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative:

Dear Dr. Laura:

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and 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 them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination ... end of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.

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

For the rest of the article:
http://malaysia-today.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32659:switch-jew-for-muslim-and-it-would-remain-the-same&catid=20:no-holds-barred&Itemid=100087

Link