Question about a 3 ton display of the 10 commandments on the doorstep of a state courthouse?

Question

I'm an agnostic trying to build a database of questions and answers not trying to convert anyone, just a question for you to answer please.

The 10 commandments have 4 commandments that are specific to a religion, the judeo-christian religion. Its based on an old hebrew document called Exodus. Something that is specific to that religion is You shall have other gods besides me. This is clearly a monotheistic view.

Why are Christians not interested in pursueing what Jesus said and getting that hung on the walls, he listed the last six secular commandments in Matthew 19:18 Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’(NKJV)

The question I am asking is: Is it really about the 10 commandments and God and morality; or is it about a judge's political career and he thinks this issue will get him votes?

sorry - no other gods before me is the commandment

Answer 1

Its all about the votes. Follow the money too.

Answer 2

I think it is a bit of both. I know of some judges who truly believe in the stand they are making regarding keeping the ten commandments and I am sure there are others who just revel in the issue. For me, personally, I think the fight is silly.
As much as I would like to see the ten commandments posted certain places- I would much rather see the Christians actually living it and walking it out in their lives- there is no better testimony. Some call themselves Christians and are only looking for an fight over something - usually rooted in pride- it doesn't make our arguments for it look all that great. And on the side of the athiests, I wonder how many atheists drive down the road and get offended at passing a church? I mean just because a sign is posted does not mean someone is forcing it on you- if you don't believe it, then don't and move on - why so much hatred and strong feeling about it. You have the right to believe what you believe and each individual person, even government leaders have the right to believe what they want and express it when and where they want, as long as they are not making law that requires you to agree.

Answer 3

I think having the 10 Commandments feeds into the myth that America was founded on Christianity and all of our laws come from the 10 Commandments. This of course is not true, because we've all heard of Hammurabi’s Law Code and the Egyptian 42 Negative Confessions!

This is just a way for Christians to mark their territory and rub it in the faces of other.

In Illinois recently, there was protest to putting up a statue with the title "Demeter over Illinois" because the church leaders thought it would lead to idolatry. (Apparently they don't like driving their Saturns, and they're a bunch of fools have no understanding about art or history!) In the same meeting when this was protested, the same guy suggested putting up the 10 Commandments instead!

Answer 4

"Ye shall have no other gods before me" Does not only mean not to fall down and worship false gods, but not putting other things before Him, such as your career, your posessions, these things that become "gods" in your life. God wants to be 1st. And as far as your last question, I don't completely understand, what are you asking? You think judges want the 10 commandments there for political gain? I would think not, since now-a-days a large majority don't want them there. (and for a side note, the 10 commandments are not there for a "do these or go to hell list" they were given to show us our sin and how we CAN'T keep them on our own. What happens when we try to follow them? We fail. Every time. There is not one that we haven't broken, because even just thinking about commiting adultry, lusting after a man/woman, is doing it in our hearts. This is how we understand we are sinners in need of a Savoir-- Jesus Christ.)

Answer 5

Honestly, I think it's both. All democratic-republic Parliamentary governments are based on the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta, forced King John of England to cede numnerous traditional rights help my the monarchy, including due process, jury by one's peers, freedom of religion, and no taxation without representation. Scholars also agree that it was based on the Ten Commandments. Since the Constitution basically expounds the Manga Carta and the Magna Carta was strongly influenced by the Ten Commandments, these commandments are inexorably enmeshed with our political system. In fact, it is so closely tied that in order to remove all copies of teh Ten Commandment from government buildings it would be necewssary to either remove the intricate work on teh Supreme Court building, which depicts Moses carrying teh Ten Commandments. Either that or raze this glorious monuiment to democracy and our history.

However, today's political system, unlike those in the 13th and 18th Centuries, is built around sound bites & photo ops. Nothing happens politically unless it is shown and reshown on CNN.

Answer 6

You left out the no in no other Gods besides me, and the judge will list all 10 Commandments on the doorstep and not just the ones that will help his political career. I do have a question - what state do you live in?!@

Answer 7

I don't know anything about the judge's position or motivations.

I'm still divided on the issue of whether this instance was inappropriate. Only three of the Ten Commandments are actively viewed as illegal in the U.S., but they do serve as a historical records ... not simply a religious one.

I think our nation is perhaps hyper-sensitive to the potential of government "establishing" religion in contemporary times, and as such maybe seeing more than really exists.

Otherwise, I think the monument is a beautiful piece of art ... I hope it finds a good home.

Answer 8

That statue shouldn't be on the property of the courthouse, the constitution talks about something called the separation of church and state. The 10 commandments have absolutely no business being associated with a state courthouse. Sorry to all the bible huggers out here, but you know its true. Keep your religion in your homes, not in the courtroom.

Answer 9

Excellent question. Since America was founded on Judeo-Christian principles, and since the Ten Commandments are a document both Jews and Christians honor, it suits better to represent what both believes in.

However, although the verses you point out are an excellent secular representation, the purpose in mentioning them strays from the purpose Jesus gave them (in reference to a wealthy man's excessive love of money... in essence, he idolized it, and broke the 2nd commandment... it was less a "doctrine to follow" as the 10 Commandments are, but rather, a statement of "You *think* you've followed the laws perfectly, but here is where you failed even without knowing it"). The purpose in those verses are showing that even by trying to follow the laws, you can't be saved on your own, but rather, only by God is it possible.

So, taking the verses out of context, while it does make for a nice secular version of a representation of a basic outline of Christian beliefs, it is taken entirely out of context, and placed into a context that its original purpose was denouncing. Kind of nullifies the point, don'tcha think?

Answer 10

There is only one real commandment given by Jesus: LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Contradictory to the courts, eh? Can you imagine staring at that commandment as you're ascending the stairs to screw someone in a bogus law suit?

FYI: The Penteteuch has roots in ancient Babylonian texts. Check out the epoch of Gilgamesh some time. It's pretty interesting.

Answer 11

Can I add on a question?

A day doesn't pass on this board when a christian doesn't claim that the Old Testament was overturned by Christ (thus allowing christians to distance themselves from the superstition, intolerance, and strict rules of the OT).

Now, if the OT doesn't apply anymore, what is the point of fighting for 10 Old Testament Commandments????????


Before anyone says it, we know (at least anyone who is educated) that the US system of justice is based on English law, and not the 10 Commandments (the majority of which are not even in US law anyway).

Also, we know that the 10 commandments are NOT the origin of written law. Hammurabi's Code, a written law remarkably similar to the 10, predates the OT by centuries.

Let's also consider the fact that the 1st Amendment and 1st Commandment are POLAR OPPOSITES, and cannot be reconciled.















Now, on to your question :)

It's about culture war, if you ask me, and yes, about politics.
It's also about religious intolerance.

MANY christians think of all non-christians as evil, lost souls in need of "saving." As such, they think that this excuses every and any attempt to force their religion on non-believers. They get to believe that they are doing it for OUR own good.

They don't think that they are being intolerant of my beliefs, they think they are "Saving my soul."

But if the positions are reversed and someone tried to convert THEM to a different religious view and claims that christianity is wrong, then get ready for an Oscar-winning "Matryrdom Act" or "Persecution Syndrome".


The fact is that using the government to force one's religious views on another person or group is both arrogant and intolerant. PERIOD. There is no excuse for it.



***PS: Jim, thanks for the great questions in the sea of pointless ones.