Should we update the Ten Commandments?

Question

Remember the Ten Commandments of Judaism and Christianity? They seem a little outdated now, huh?

What if we adopted these as our guidelines for life:
1. Do not do to others what you would not want them to do to you.
2. In all things, strive to cause no harm.
3. Treat your fellow human beings, your fellow living things, and the world in general with love, honesty, faithfulness and respect.
4. Do not overlook evil or shrink from administering justice, but always be ready to forgive wrongdoing freely admitted and honestly regretted.
5. Live life with a sense of joy and wonder.
6. Always seek to be learning something new.
7. Test all things; always check your ideas against the facts, and be ready to discard even a cherished belief if it does not conform to them.
8. Never seek to censor or cut yourself off from dissent; always respect the right of others to disagree with you.

9. Form independent opinions on the basis of your own reason and experience; do not allow yourself to be led blindly by others.
10. Question everything.

If we followed these, do you think the world would be a better place?

"No we should not change them, thats like asking, should we rewrite the whole of the bible."
Or maybe just get rid of it altogether?

"#9 and 10 would throw away religion...Like adding a self destruct button. No religious leaders would have that as a commandment."
As would Number 6

"So you get to write the commandments? Why should we follow what you command and not what the Living God commands?"
No, that is why I posted this as a QUESTION, so that I could see what other people think about them. If you look at numbers 7 and 10 particularly it suggests that if these particular commandments turn out not to work that they could be altered. I don't want to have the final say, I just think it'd be better if we actually took the time to think about what we do rather than pay undue respect to some very old and outdated teachnigs from a work of fiction.

PS. I do not mean to plagiarise, but simply to put forward some suggestions made by others in the form of a question. These "commandments" come from this website: http://www.ebonmusings.org/atheism/new10c.html

Answer 1

If you want to come up with your own, that's fine, but the Author is responsible for the original.

Answer 2

The 10 commandments (as well as the other 200+ in the Old Testament) have already been "updated".

The commandments in the New Testament are what a Christian should follow and live by.

Answer 3

Take another look at your number 7 in relation to the FACT that the ten commandments are NOT Christian.

Christians were never a party to that covenant law.

Christians are a part of the New Covenant; not the old.

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Answer 4

The 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8 were already mentioned by Jesus when He said: "Love thy neighbor like you love yourself"

If you wish to modify something else, go to the mountain, fast 40 days and ask God what does He thinks about it. Then come back and tell us.

The rest doesn't seem important

Answer 5

I Live my life according to FSM 8, more reflecting of modern times.. :D
"1. I'd really rather you didn't act like a sanctimonious holier-than-thou *** when describing my noodly goodness. If some people don't believe in me, that's okay. Really, I'm not that vain. Besides, this isn't about them so don't change the subject.
2. I'd really rather you didn't use my existence as a means to oppress, subjugate, punish, eviscerate, and/or, you know, be mean to others. I don't require sacrifices, and purity is for drinking water, not people.
3. I'd really rather you didn't judge people for the way they look, or how they dress, or the way they talk, or, well, just play nice, Okay? Oh, and get this into your thick heads: woman = person. man = person. Samey = Samey. One is not better than the other, unless we're talking about fashion and I'm sorry, but I gave that to women and some guys who know the difference between teal and fuchsia.
4. I'd really rather you didn't indulge in conduct that offends yourself, or your willing, consenting partner of legal age AND mental maturity.
5. I'd really rather you didn't challenge the bigoted, misogynistic, hateful ideas of others on an empty stomach. Eat, then go after them
6. I'd really rather you didn't build multi million-dollar churches/temples/mosques/shrines to my noodly goodness when the money could be better spent (take your pick):
Ending poverty
Curing diseases
Living in peace, loving with passion, and lowering the cost of cable
I might be a complex-carbohydrate omniscient being, but I enjoy the simple things in life. I ought to know. I AM the creator.
7. I'd really rather you didn't go around telling people I talk to you. You're not that interesting. Get over yourself. And I told you to love your fellow man, can't you take a hint?
8. I'd really rather you didn't do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Answer 6

If we followed those commandments, we would all be Jews! Thank you very much. It was Rabbi Hillel who said "Do NOT do to others what you would NOT want them to do to you." He lived decades before the birth of Jesus. The other statements come from Pirkei Avot which is a part of the Hebrew Bible. You know, the part Christianity rejected and is forbidden from reading.

Bastian9 says: ""If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."
Yet Christians have added an entire book to the Hebrew Bible!

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Answer 7

These are things we should live by any ways... I wouldn't rewrite the 10 commandments. When we read revelations we know that we are now living in those time that are mentioned there. God knew what the world was like then and knew what it would be like today. He didn't make a mistake.

Answer 8

I don't think we should update the tend commandments because they are God's laws and even if society changes that doesn't mean that God still doesn't have laws that we should obey. It also states very clearly in the bible that we should not modify them. In the book of Revelations the last chapter of the bible states "If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."

and Deuteronomy 4:2 says "You shall not add to the word which I have commanded you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you"

and the 1st one about the golden rule is phrased wrong. it is to "Do unto others as we would have them do unto us" so it's a command to go into society and do good and to love.

Answer 9

Nah,the commandments arent open to debate,they are the message of God.
If you choose to live your life by another set of rules then that is your choice.
I would say that the 10 commandments are a comprehensive moral guide to a healthy christian lifestyle.They dont need amending to suit individuals,that kind of defeats the object.

Answer 10

Jesus has already clarified the ten commandments perfectly.

"You must love Jehovah your god with all your heart,soul, mind and strength."
"you must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments the whole of the law hangs and the prophets." MATT 22: 36-40

Answer 11

What you describe is found in the Bible already called the New testament which followed the old they connect together worked for thousands of years. A must read!