While I claim no divine understanding or interpretation, the passage in
question is Deuteronomy 22:9 "Do not plant two kinds of seed in your
vineyard; if you do, not only the crops you plant but also the fruit of the
vineyard will be defiled."
In the various churches I have attending, it has been present as being the
restriction of creating hybrid plants and fruits for consumption. You may
say that this is not a correct interpretation. That is your right. I would
say though that unless you have direct evidence to the contrary, it's better
to be safe than sorry. It amazes me how we can require the listing of things
such a MSG and other things on food, but have no law requiring the labeling
of hybrids and genetically manipulated food. While some may consider
themselves to be as knowledgeable as God, and enjoy playing with something
we are still trying to understand, I see no value for such things. Some will
say that with this technology we can make crops that hold up to weather and
insects. This may help the farmers produce higher yields, but at what risk?
Just look at what it did to the cattle in England. In no way am I saying
that we should not continue research in genetics, but studying and trying to
manipulate are two different things. Would you let your child grab the stove
just to see what would happen? Why do we as a society allow such techniques
to be used in science? "Let's see what happens if we do this." This seems to
be the catch phrase. Let's first understand completely what we are doing
before we truly mess up our entire ecology.
Thanks for you patience.
Don P
-----Original Message-----
From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu]On
Behalf Of Robert Schneider
Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2002 8:59 PM
To: asa@calvin.edu
Subject: Re: cosmology & polygamy
Don, where is this passage in Scripture, and what is its context? To whom
is the OT "saying" this?
If we are to apply the Levitical laws to ourselves, we also shouldn't be
eating cheeseburgers or wearing polyester suits. Should we think they also
are not acceptible to God? How far does one take this argument?
Bob
----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Perrett" <don.perrett@verizon.net>
To: "george murphy" <gmurphy@raex.com>
Cc: "Asa@Calvin. Edu" <asa@calvin.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2002 9:30 PM
Subject: RE: cosmology & polygamy
> Good point, but doesn't the OT say not to create hybrid plants? If so,
then
> what makes us think that hybrid/genetic engineered anything would be
> acceptable to God.?
> Don P
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu]On
> Behalf Of george murphy
> Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2002 7:54 PM
> To: D. F. Siemens, Jr.
> Cc: hvantill@novagate.com; rjschn39@bellsouth.net; asa@calvin.edu
> Subject: Re: cosmology & polygamy
>
>
> "D. F. Siemens, Jr." wrote:
>
> > On Mon, 15 Apr 2002 17:43:30 -0400 george murphy <gmurphy@raex.com>
> > writes:
> > >
> > > Agreed. WWJD ist OK as a broad ethical principle (cf. Phil.2:5) but
> > > we have to use
> > > our brains, among other things, to apply it in the situations that
> > > confront us in
> > > the world.
> > >
> > > Shalom,
> > >
> > > George
> > >
> > George,
> > I've always had trouble with WWJD. Jesus would heal the sick, raise the
> > dead, feed the hungry with whatever crumbs were available. I'm not quite
> > sure how the principle behind the cleansing of the Temple would be
> > translated into action relative to at least some of the televangelists.
> > But none of these things are being done by our contemporaries.
> >
> > I note also that many of those who seem to subscribe to WWJD are adept
at
> > truncated quotations. "Judge not" is one of their favorites.
>
> As I said, it should be viewed as a general principle, not a
> detailed
> plan of action. It can be made absurd if it's turned into "What did Jesus
> do?" - we aren't all called to wear sandals or be carpenters. OTOH the
> gospels give us no examples of Jesus having to make decisions about
genetic
> engineering or many of the other ethical problems that we're confronted
with
> today.
>
> Shalom,
>
> George
>
> George L. Murphy
> http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/
> "The Science-Theology Interface"
>
>
>
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