The Ten Commandments

poorprince87 · 09-19-2005, 10:24 PM

Qingu's thread about the mention of God in the pledge and on our currency reminded me of one of my own similar questions: What logic lies behind demanding the Ten Commandments remain in courthouses or other institutions? I hope I worded that right...

Thanks,
Daniel

Silent One · 09-19-2005, 10:31 PM

Because it is the law of God, higher than the laws of man.

miller · 09-19-2005, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poorprince87

Qingu's thread about the mention of God in the pledge and on our currency reminded me of one of my own similar questions: What logic lies behind demanding the Ten Commandments remain in courthouses or other institutions? I hope I worded that right...

Thanks,
Daniel

Tradition. Stubborness. Stupidity.

**Sean** · 09-19-2005, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poorprince87

Qingu's thread about the mention of God in the pledge and on our currency reminded me of one of my own similar questions: What logic lies behind demanding the Ten Commandments remain in courthouses or other institutions? I hope I worded that right...

Thanks,
Daniel

I haven't got a clue. Sure the founding fathers were inspired by The Bible, but they were inspired by a number of non-biblical sources as well. I really have no idea why people have such a fixation with one small section of God's Word and want this one specific part to get special attention.

**Sean** · 09-19-2005, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silent One

Because it is the law of God, higher than the laws of man.

Ummm our court systems aren't based off of God's law. Its based off of man's law. As a nation we don't consider the 10 commandments or any of the rest of the Bible as authoritative. So it doesn't make any sense to quote it in our courts of law.

Silent One · 09-19-2005, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean

Ummm our court systems aren't based off of God's law. Its based off of man's law. As a nation we don't consider the 10 commandments or any of the rest of the Bible as authoritative. So it doesn't make any sense to quote it in our courts of law.

I sort of meant in the sense as to just be there to remind us that we can accuse people of this and that, but God is the one and only judge and his law remains above ours. I see what your saying though and I agree.

**adamwagg** · 09-19-2005, 11:06 PM

A lot of these issues stike me as very much to do with tradition.

However it isnt nessacarily (i can never spell that word) to have the ten commandments in the court house, especially seeing that they are in my belief God written. But it isnt relelvant for a lot of people.

Though in saying that I think a lot of people would probably agree that they are quite a good base to work from (ignoring the first two in that case) and taking adultury only for cheating on your spouse (not just sex anytime). But even then it isnt really needed in court for that reason.

WorshipJesus · 09-20-2005, 12:14 AM

The question should be "Why are the Ten Commandments wanted out of the courthouses?" Satan is trying to take the Law out of many places because by the Law is the knowledge of sin. If he can get the Ten Commandments out, then he can use the lack of the Law to bring the lack of the knowledge of sin. If there is no knowledge of one's transgression of the Law, then grace can't abound for the sinner.

JerryLove · 09-20-2005, 06:51 AM

Quote:

The question should be "Why are the Ten Commandments wanted out of the courthouses?" Satan is trying to take the Law out of many places because by the Law is the knowledge of sin.

So "Be Jewesh" should be American law? Because that's what the first 5 commandments are about.

I suppose that's been done. I recall the Taliban in Afghanistan was pertty close (just a slightly different religion).

If one does with sto discuss the founding fathers, they were attempting to escape religious opression; the religious opression some here seem eager to re-create.

BurntHombre · 09-20-2005, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poorprince87

What logic lies behind demanding the Ten Commandments remain in courthouses or other institutions?

The Supreme Court recently ruled on a case involving the Ten Commandments being displayed at the Texas State Capitol. Read it here: VAN ORDEN v. PERRY

Excerpt:

From at least 1789, there has been an unbroken history of official acknowledgment by all three branches of government of religion's role in American life...While the Commandments are religious, they have an undeniable historical meaning. Simply having religious content or promoting a message consistent with a religious doctrine does not run afoul of the Establishment Clause.

The law school at my alma mater had a huge hall with, on one side, paintings of Moses and the ten commandments and, on the other side, some Greek philosophers (I can't remember who) debating the law. It was a simple acknowledgement of the role "The Law" has played through the course of civilization.

The Supreme Court concluded that context is key -- is the display promoting a particular religious agenda (as was the case at my school), or is it simply acknowledging the formative role of the Ten Commandments in western jurisprudence? The former is a no-no, the latter is acceptable.

Qingu · 09-20-2005, 10:20 AM

I have always secretly wished that my hometown high school would post the Ten Commandments in the hallway. That would be hilarious. Because then I would post all the other 650 commandments from the Bible in the hallway as well.

"If anyone entices you to follow another god, show them no mercy. Stone them to death, and let your hand be the first to strike—Dt. 13"

"You may buy slaves from foreigners among you, and these will be passed down to your children.—Lev 25:45"

I seriously think that secularists should just call the Christian Right's bluff on this. Go ahead and post the Ten Commandments in public buildings ... and then we'll demand that the others be posted as well. I'd be glad for the opportunity to expose fundamentalists for hypocrites ignorant of their own religion they're trying to foist on the rest of us.

poorprince87 · 09-20-2005, 04:13 PM

Quote:

If he can get the Ten Commandments out, then he can use the lack of the Law to bring the lack of the knowledge of sin. If there is no knowledge of one's transgression of the Law, then grace can't abound for the sinner.

To play devil's advocate somewhat (or maybe reason's advocate, I don't know), wouldn't the law be just as present in the minds and consciences of the people as when Ten Commandments are posted. Does someone really have to see, "Thou shalt not kill," to know that killing somebody is bad? Yes, God provides His written word as a medium of conviction, but can't that conviction be just as effective (if not moreso) in the realm of the conscience, than in a courthouse.

Would depravity leap onto America if the Ten Commandments were removed? If so, America is already morally depraved (in order to ignore blatant sin just because of the absence of posted scripture), and thus the posting or removing of the Commandments matters little.

See what I'm saying?

Another question (maybe this one belongs in theology): Where does a Christian draw the line between "asserting historical roots" and "religious dominance"? Or rather, how relevant is asserting Christianity in a non-Christian world?

Sounds scary, don't it? See where the logic leads? Perhaps outright "political incorrectness" is key, and we simply accept persecution?

Or maybe I'm just another "fundie" (where's cuziam when you need him).

Confusing myself,
Daniel Logan

WorshipJesus · 09-20-2005, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poorprince87

To play devil's advocate somewhat (or maybe reason's advocate, I don't know), wouldn't the law be just as present in the minds and consciences of the people as when Ten Commandments are posted. Does someone really have to see, "Thou shalt not kill," to know that killing somebody is bad? Yes, God provides His written word as a medium of conviction, but can't that conviction be just as effective (if not moreso) in the realm of the conscience, than in a courthouse.

Would depravity leap onto America if the Ten Commandments were removed? If so, America is already morally depraved (in order to ignore blatant sin just because of the absence of posted scripture), and thus the posting or removing of the Commandments matters little.

See what I'm saying?

Another question (maybe this one belongs in theology): Where does a Christian draw the line between "asserting historical roots" and "religious dominance"? Or rather, how relevant is asserting Christianity in a non-Christian world?

Sounds scary, don't it? See where the logic leads? Perhaps outright "political incorrectness" is key, and we simply accept persecution?

Or maybe I'm just another "fundie" (where's cuziam when you need him).

Confusing myself,
Daniel Logan

Could the reason be that people want the Ten Commandments to be out of the courtrooms and institutions be that they are convicted by them?