Leviticus (Part 6)

We’re always looking for ideas to get the most out of Dr. Jeannie’s lessons. With this in mind, the following questions were provided by Marianna Sayeg from the Bible study group at St. Mary’s Orthodox Church in Cambridge, MA. These questions are related to both Leviticus (Part 5) and Leviticus (Part 6).
  1. What central themes underlie the Jewish laws of ritual purity (what was defiling and how did one get rid of defilement)? Why do Orthodox Christians reject these laws?
  2. What were the specific laws of ritual purity surrounding childbirth? What is the significance of the Bible calling Jesus, Mary’s “Firstborn” son? How does this relate to the Orthodox practice of “churching” babies?
  3. Why were Orthodox women told not to come to church during their monthly cycle?
  4. Who is allowed to enter the Holy Sanctuary? What are the misunderstandings surrounding this issue?
  5. Despite Christ’s teachings, what lingering echoes of  the Jewish laws of ritual purity do you see in Christian practices today?

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