Lev. 20: You're Dead. Or Cut Off

Well, it's not enough for Israelites just to be told not to do things. God has cooked up some serious punishments that would serve to...keep people in line. By fear.

The Death Penalty

• Sacrificing one's children to Molech - This was big time. The person was to be stoned. I would not want that to happen to me. How prevalent was this? Also, if the community looked the other way as dude sacrificed his kid to Molech, God will set his face against them, and they will be cut off from their people.
• Cursing one's mother and father - this was as serious as killing them
• Both parties in adultery.
• Both parties in sexual relations between a son and his father's wife
• Both parties in sexual relations between a man and his daughter-in-law (perversion)
  
• Homosexual relations (detestable) - I know I'm going to lose my huge contingent of gay readers on that last one, but that's what the Bible says.
• Marrying a woman and her mother...all three must be burned in the fire. (There goes another few dozen readers). The word says this is wickedness.
• A woman and an animal, if the woman approaches said animal for sexual relations
• Being a medium or a spiritist
  

Cut off from their People

• Consulting mediums and spiritists...to follow them was prostitution
• Marrying one's sister and having sexual relations - it is a disgrace
• Having sex with a chick on her period

Be "Held responsible"

• Sexual relations with your aunt - it dishonors both, and you will die childless
• Marrying one's brother's wife - impurity, dishonorable, and results in dying childless.

God then reiterates why he does these things, and lays down these laws. To keep Israel separate, for sure, but also so that people will be nice to each other, and no be perverted. God is holy, so they should be holy. I don't know why God would choose one nation to deal with. Just like God apparently chose one planet to deal with. No where this far does it say life on other planets can come to him.