How many of the ten commandments actualy have a practical, ethical basis?

Question

I see two, maybe three that are sound from a moral perspective.

Thou shalt not kill, good
Thou shalt not steal, okay
Iffy on the adultery thing

The other seven are completely unworkable as an ethical guide in the modern world.

Answer 1

Thou shalt not murder
Thou shalt not commit adultery (breaking a sworn vow)
Thou shalt not steal
Thou shalt not bear false witness (lie)
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house (envy can lead to committing a crime to acquire what you covet)

Honor thy Mother and Father is not absolutely necessary, but disrespecting those who have loved and supported you must be wrong from an ethical perspective.

I am the Lord thy God
Thou shalt have no other gods before me
Thou shalt not make wrongful use of the name of thy God
Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy

These are purely for the religious.

So I say 6 commandments should be adhered to in a non-religious morality.

Answer 2

Ok, how is it not moral to honor the parents that have raised you? Not that everyone has great parents, but still, too many kids have the attitude that it's ok to treat their parents like dirt while their parents are doing everything to make them happy.

Besides, the 1st commandment is to love God above all others. Jesus said next to that, the most important thing was to love others as you love yourself. So, if everyone did those two things wouldn't this world be a much better place morally and ethically?

Answer 3

10

Answer 4

"Do Unto others as you would have them do unto you". Even Jesus said this was numero uno. or you might say "And harm ye none, do as ye will" That works too. That pretty much keeps the rest in a tiny little, nice, neat baggie... do you want to be murdered? Do you want someone sleeping with your spouse and being covetous of everything you own (note: being coveted does not = being admired)? do you want your children to grow up disrepsecting you? no? Well, then, don't do it to anyone else.

there is the "thou shalt have no other God but me" one but that, as others have said, is for the religious authorities (if not spiritual authorities) just to help make you believe in who or what they tell ya.

Answer 5

Not killing and not stealing are obviously ethical principles, and not lying could be considered one too.

The rest ist religious-administrative overhead, only put in to keep people in line and to establish monotheism as sole instance of morality.

Answer 6

you shall not kill! I think it goes without saying or religion that
it is immoral and unethical to kill - no?

Answer 7

The last seven...