The Apostle Malm is so concerned about keeping all the laws in the Old Testament that he made his wife stay home after childbirth because she was unclean and impure. While I am sure the bonding experience was tremendous, the reason behind it was not. I wonder if they actually sacrificed doves or pigeons in their backyard to cleanse her impurities?
An acolyte writes in a question to the Apostle:
Just curious if you believe and follow these commands as well (fyi….of course I am totally against abortion from the moment of conception and not trying to be argumentative; I just wondered your opinion.)
Leviticus 12: 1-8 “A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over. If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding. These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. She is to bring two doves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.” Leviticus 12: 1-8
The Apostle responds:
I have three sons and a daughter beginning in 1979. Yes, we did practice and keep those commands. My wife and child did not go out in public or to services during that time frame, they stayed at home and bonded and rested together. These commandments are very relevant for the health of the mother and child; they prevent exposure to disease until the mother and child are strong enough to resist. A strong and healthy as possible mother is very important to quality child rearing. If you refuse child immunizations, breast feed, avoid commercial baby food [which we have gone without for about 6,000 years] and follow these commandments; you will give your child a big boost in life. Yes, these commandments are to be obeyed; the sacrificial aspect being through prayer and the sacrifice of Christ. And yes, I did abstain during those days. James
Ritual anything is a human construct for religious control of the ritually unclean. It is used to uphold, in this case, patriarchy and male dominance over matriarchy and female power.
ReplyDeleteWomen actually have the real power in this world spiritually and emotionally over men. That is partly why religion, now patriarchial goes to such lengths to keep women "in their place."
Biologically, men are women with more hormones. The conception template is female. It's why we have nipples guys.
Long live the goddess and her power. A spirituality one can live with and does not kill everything that gets in its way.