Some of those who commented on an early blog of mine on the Bible and abortion questioned whether a Pagan should address so-called “Christian” beliefs.  Among other points, I answered that when these so-called “Christians” based their political opinions on their reading of scripture, and used those beliefs to support legislation those who believed differently would find oppressive, they left us no choice.  In a free society that means they will have to defend their beliefs against those of us who would just as soon leave them to live as they will, so long as they respect our right to do the same.

Little did I imagine I would get such a clear example of this necessity that when Scott Renfroe in the Colorado Senate compared being gay to being a murderer and then quoted from Leviticus to argue (I do not know any other way to understand him) that being gay deserved the death penalty in his view.

I wonder whether Sen. Renfroe ever ate shrimp…  The SAME source he quotes to justify his personal beliefs about gays also says the following:

Leviticus 11:9-12:

9 These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.
10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:
11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcasses in abomination.
12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.

The point at hand is that when we argue a political position EVERY reason we use to justify our conclusion is up for criticism by opponents.  A man who eats shrimp, or other shellfish, and uses Leviticus for any reason whatsoever to justify a position is at best a hypocrite.