Which of the 10 Commandments is useless?

Question

I say that the 10th (Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods) is outdated. Coveting your neighbours goods is what keeps the economy going. Your neighbor gets a new car, now you want one. And I think the 6th and 9th commandments (Thou shalt not commit adultery and Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife) are redundant because the bible says that if any man lusts after his neighbor's wife, he has already commited adultery with her in his heart. I don't know if that applies to a guy's wife who's not his neighbor.

Any other useless, outdated commandments?

Answer 1

All of them. Any list of moral rules is obsolete as soon as it is made. Even the ones that are generally true, like "Don't kill" and "Don't lie" are useless. There are times when it is good to lie and good to kill, so a blanket statement just doesn't work.

Some of them might be more useful as general things to work towards. However, it really comes down to figuring out life yourself and seeing how you fit within society. Each situation is different and should be handled separately. You can create your own character, your own general rules for yourself that fit how you want others to judge you. However, you still have to work out how your ethics apply to any given situation. You have to think about the issues, instead of just blindly following some list given you by someone else.

Answer 2

well, 'covet' in the dictionary reads as "to desire wrongfully, inordinately, or without due regard for the rights of others" so in that sense I still think #10 is OK. Same for #9: You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.

#8 You shall not bear false witness: One must not bear false witness in a court of law or other proceeding. Makes sense.

#7 You shall not steal: makes sense

#6 You shall not commit adultery: makes sense, a little hard to keep given the nature of the species and the speciousness of nature but go on.

#5 You shall not murder: makes sense

#4 Honor your parents - something we all could do a little better, mmmmh (me included). I mean instead of sticking 'em in homes.

#3 Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy - chuck it. useless.

#2 You shall not make wrongful use of the name of your God - again, chuck it. A word is a word.

#1 You shall not make for yourself an idol / You shall have no other gods before Me / I am your God: whatever dude.

So, in my opinion, the items relating to common sense and not to gods and worship and idols and nonsense are as valid today as they were 2000 years ago. The rest is hogwash.

Note: depending on your specific belief the exact order and arrangements of commandments may vary, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10_commandments#Text_of_the_Ten_Commandments

Answer 3

The 10 commandments are not useless. none of them are. they are 10 simple rules to follow. and when it says "Neighbor" it doesn't just apply ONLY to your neighbor, it means ANYBODY. so even if you are lusting after some woman who lives 2 blocks from you, you are STILL commiting adultry, because you are LUSTING after that woman, and coveting your neighbors "goods" as you call it isn't saying you shouldn't see something that your neighbor has, and you want it, it's saying you are just so envious that it causes you to hate your neighbor. see what i'm saying? so NONE of the 10 commandments are useless or outdated. they are 10 simple rules that we should all follow.

Answer 4

Whether you like it or not, the Ten Commandments are the basis of modern western law.

Coveting your neighbor's car is not what drives the economy, self interest it. You want a nice car because everyone wants a nice car.

The 6th and 9th are not redundant because they were written BEFORE Jesus said that lusting and actually acting were one and the same.

Answer 5

What a terrible question! They are all useless if you do not obey them! Remember they are the 10 COMMANDMENTS! Not the 10 RECOMENDATIONS! You can't pick and choose the law My friend. They are grouped for a reason. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom...try reading Proverbs 1...that will steer you in the right direction. God Bless

Answer 6

All ten are good morals, however, doesn't it seem more likely that humans made those 10 commandments and not a supreme being-
( After all haven't humans loved increments of 5 and 10 for centuries). Think about it.

Answer 7

None of them are outdated. They are all of utmost importance. If you simply MUST "cut " a few, keep the ones that say "love the Lord" and "love your neighbors". If you do those, you'll inadvertently follow the other eight commandments.

Answer 8

I would say that in my opinion Idolatry would be like breaking the 1st comandment, thou shalt have no other Gods before me. If you have an Idol, then that is pretty much like a God, so I think that's a bit redundant.

Answer 9

I'd say that what's useless is anyone who would think any of the commandments are useless.They are a guide to what God want's our lives to be and all the commandments are important for this reason you can't sperate one and say well that isn't good for me.It doesn't work like that.

Answer 10

You reading too much into it taking words literally. It daymn sure is not meant to say that once you sleep with your heighbours wife you commited adultery...its mean any wife out there.....not necessary your neightbours.....wat if you dont have any so you went across town for one so that is not counted to be a sin anymore??? cmonn people you reading this way to much.

Answer 11

None of the 10 commandments are useless. They all have value and teach us lessons in life, even in - no especially in this modern world. I strongly urge you to seek religious counsel with a Christian pastor who can lead you in a personal Bible study and go in depth with you on the value and meaning of the Commandments as they apply to your life.

Until then, I will pray for you.