Gods, Priests, Taboos: Leviticus 17

Leviticus is God trying to idol-proof Israel. He does it in part using a priesthood and taboos. These counter the existing taboos and priesthoods of the other existing gods. See, behind every "clean-way" is a priesthood, and behind every priesthood is a god. And every culture has gods. In this way, Leviticus helps us ask more subtle practical questions to discern the presence of idols in our lives.