UI 018: The Dr. Laura Letter "Crimes and Punishments" (part 5)

Dear Dr. Laura... continued: e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself? h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die? j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev 24:10-16) Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)   So I am doing these three questions covering four different chapters and two books in one part... not because the transgressions are related but rather their supposed consequences. These references are actually common arguments utilized to discredit the Torah as a moral code.  And the truth is that if all you knew were the verses then you should have some real problems with them.  But, just as was the case for my previous posts, the understanding of the verses is possible only if one keeps them in context.  First lets take a look at the Torah says.