In response to Don Casebolt’s commentary “Religious Roots” (Nov. 10, New Times), it is apparent he/she makes the common mistake of implying a Christian is bound to the levitical and deuteronomical ceremonial and civil ordinances given through Moses for the ancient Jewish tribes. And while the Ten Commandments should be followed, their purpose is to show all of us how badly we fall short of righteousness.

Don fails to mention that the scriptures Yahweh led men to pen are not all commands, but also records of historical events. Some events ... surprise, surprise ... were of people doing stupid stuff. There’s no mention from Don that Solomon’s pursuit of so many wives led to his downfall or that the purpose of the 10th Commandment is not to classify women as property like animals, but to warn against envy.

How about where the Bible says “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her” (that means die for her Don); “So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies” (Ephesians 5); or, “Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her ... the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does” (1 Corinthians 7)? And there are numerous Old Testament verses on how precious a virtuous wife is. The book Song of Solomon paints a picture of a husband and wife’s love for each other.

Christian males are to “be of the same mind as Christ,” and he treated women better than anyone for all time. Don, concerning the Bible, all of us should do a study on rightly dividing the word and having discernment. Keep going!

-- Greg Larson - San Luis Obispo