Ten Commandments

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The [[Qur'an]] has no exact equivalent to the Ten Commandments listed in the Judaeo/Christian Old Testament, but various authors have found separate texts within the Qur'an which are equally restrictive. <ref>[http://www.submission.org/quran/ten.html Muslim Ten Commandments 1]</ref> <ref>[http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr10cisl.htm Muslim Ten Commandments 2]</ref> <ref>[http://www.islam101.com/religions/TenCommandments/tcQuran.htm Muslim Ten Commandments 3]</ref>.
 
The [[Qur'an]] has no exact equivalent to the Ten Commandments listed in the Judaeo/Christian Old Testament, but various authors have found separate texts within the Qur'an which are equally restrictive. <ref>[http://www.submission.org/quran/ten.html Muslim Ten Commandments 1]</ref> <ref>[http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr10cisl.htm Muslim Ten Commandments 2]</ref> <ref>[http://www.islam101.com/religions/TenCommandments/tcQuran.htm Muslim Ten Commandments 3]</ref>.
  
== How many commandments? ==
+
== How many Commandments? ==
 
Depending on whether you are [[Jewish]], [[Catholic]], or [[Protestant]], the numbering of the commandments varies. Basically it depends on how you cut up the first two and the last two, but the effect is that there are somewhere between nine and eleven commandments depending on where the denominations split them.  In fact, if you analyze them closely you can get up to twenty five <ref>[http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr10cisl.htm The Twenty-five Commandants]</ref>, but the bible says there are only ten - so they must be shoe-horned into that number.
 
Depending on whether you are [[Jewish]], [[Catholic]], or [[Protestant]], the numbering of the commandments varies. Basically it depends on how you cut up the first two and the last two, but the effect is that there are somewhere between nine and eleven commandments depending on where the denominations split them.  In fact, if you analyze them closely you can get up to twenty five <ref>[http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr10cisl.htm The Twenty-five Commandants]</ref>, but the bible says there are only ten - so they must be shoe-horned into that number.
  
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The fifth, seventh and tenth Commandments are also of doubtful legality.
 
The fifth, seventh and tenth Commandments are also of doubtful legality.
  
== First commandment ==
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== First Commandment ==
 
<!-- Thou shalt have no other Gods before me. -->
 
<!-- Thou shalt have no other Gods before me. -->
 
<center>[[image:command 1.gif]]</center>
 
<center>[[image:command 1.gif]]</center>
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It is interesting that it does not say “Thou shall have no other gods” but “Thou shall have no other gods ''before me''”.  Some speculate that this was written before [[monotheism]] became established.
 
It is interesting that it does not say “Thou shall have no other gods” but “Thou shall have no other gods ''before me''”.  Some speculate that this was written before [[monotheism]] became established.
  
==Second commandment ==
+
==Second Commandment ==
 
<!-- Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. -->
 
<!-- Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. -->
 
<center>[[image:command 2.gif]]</center>  
 
<center>[[image:command 2.gif]]</center>  
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<big>'''Legal and social considerations'''</big>
 
<big>'''Legal and social considerations'''</big>
  
This is really two commandments:
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This is really two Commandments:
  
 
*Don't make graven images of anything.
 
*Don't make graven images of anything.
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The difference between the first and second commandment is not clear to all faiths and consequently the numbering difficulty arises.
 
The difference between the first and second commandment is not clear to all faiths and consequently the numbering difficulty arises.
  
== Third commandment ==
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== Third Commandment ==
 
<!-- Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. -->
 
<!-- Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. -->
 
<center>[[image:command 3.gif]]</center>
 
<center>[[image:command 3.gif]]</center>
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It is not clear how a [[blasphemy]] law could be policed. It would be another reduction in civil liberties and religious freedom.  It would be another bad law.
 
It is not clear how a [[blasphemy]] law could be policed. It would be another reduction in civil liberties and religious freedom.  It would be another bad law.
  
==Fourth commandment ==
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==Fourth Commandment ==
 
<!-- ''Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.''  -->
 
<!-- ''Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.''  -->
  

Revision as of 16:44, 18 January 2008

Bouncywikilogo.gif
There is a broader, perhaps slightly less biased, article on Wikipedia about Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments, are a set of laws which the Old Testament states were given to Moses by god. Some biblical literalists such as the the followers of dominionism have suggested that the Ten Commandments should form the basis of national laws. This article looks at the Ten Commandments from that standpoint to see how well they would work. As fundamentalists seem to have a preference for the King James version of the bible this version has been used.

Contents

Versions

There are three versions of the Ten Commandments in the bible. Two of them are very similar, these being Exodus 20:2-17[1] and Deuteronomy 5:6-21[2]. The third version in Exodus 34:14-16[3] is radically different. This is the second set which were given to Moses following the destruction of the first tablets when he suffered from an anger management failure after witnessing the Israelites worshiping the golden calf. While it has a few similarities to the original set, it does not include well known rational commandments such as "Thou shalt not steal" and "Thou shalt not kill"; but has instead instructions about holy days and not seething kids in their mothers' milk.

The Qur'an has no exact equivalent to the Ten Commandments listed in the Judaeo/Christian Old Testament, but various authors have found separate texts within the Qur'an which are equally restrictive. [4] [5] [6].

How many Commandments?

Depending on whether you are Jewish, Catholic, or Protestant, the numbering of the commandments varies. Basically it depends on how you cut up the first two and the last two, but the effect is that there are somewhere between nine and eleven commandments depending on where the denominations split them. In fact, if you analyze them closely you can get up to twenty five [7], but the bible says there are only ten - so they must be shoe-horned into that number.

What are the punishments?

Many of the commandments are repeated in other parts of the Old Testament where they merit the biblical death penalty.

Could they be implemented?

Some politicians such as Mike Huckabee have suggested the Ten Commandments form and should form the basis of national laws. Let’s go through them one by one. We will use the King James translation and use the Protestant/Anglican numbering system as we assume that is what Mr Huckabee would prefer.

At the very least, the first, second, third and fourth Commandments would represent clear violations of both article nine of European Convention on Human Rights [8], and the First Amendment to the American Constitution.

The fifth, seventh and tenth Commandments are also of doubtful legality.

First Commandment

Command 1.gif

Legal and social considerations

This clearly removes the right of religious freedom which people in all civilized countries enjoy. As such it would be a bad law.

Religious considerations

It is interesting that it does not say “Thou shall have no other gods” but “Thou shall have no other gods before me”. Some speculate that this was written before monotheism became established.

Second Commandment

Command 2.gif

Legal and social considerations

This is really two Commandments:

  • Don't make graven images of anything.
  • Don't bow down and worship graven images.

As far as not making graven images goes it would seem to prohibit making statues of any type - something which would be a bit hard to enforce in today's society.

The second part is a clear infringement of religious freedom.

As far as the third part, which involves punishing families to the third generation is concerned, it would seem a little unfair. This would be a bad law.

Religious considerations

The difference between the first and second commandment is not clear to all faiths and consequently the numbering difficulty arises.

Third Commandment

Command 3.gif

Legal and social considerations

It is not clear how a blasphemy law could be policed. It would be another reduction in civil liberties and religious freedom. It would be another bad law.

Fourth Commandment

Command 4.gif

Legal and social considerations

There are obvious civil liberties and religious tolerance issues.

It would enshrine creationism in law.

Furthermore, which day would that be? This is an important question as the punishment for failing to keep this one is death. The original Ten Commandments obviously referred to Saturday - which is still kept by the Jews and some fundamentalist Christians. However the Christian church later changed it to Sunday. Meanwhile, Muslims hold Friday to be holy.

It might also mean the end of the forty hour (five day) work week. Perhaps in its day, it was a significant reform, but we have since improved on it.

Another bad law.

5. Fifth commandment.

Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

5. Legal and social considerations.

More obvious enforcement and civil liberties issues. This is one of those one backed up by the death penalty in other parts of the OT. This would be good moral advice but a bad law.

6. Sixth commandment.

Though shalt not kill.

6. Legal and social considerations.

At last something reasonable – more than half way through the list but it’s a start. (However some translations have it as “Thou shalt not murder”, so it’s not as clear as it looks. On the other kind we're sticking with King James - so that may not be relevant.)

Presumably this would prohibit capital punishment and war. But as the Old Testament is awash with genocide and death it seems a bit contradictory. Nevertheless it's a good law in principle.

7. Seventh commandment.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

7. Legal and social considerations.

Civil liberties problems again. Policing problems again. Also interesting that it only covers married people – you can only commit adultery if you’re married. Good moral advice but bad law.

8. Eighth commandment.

Thou shalt not steal.

8. Legal and social considerations.

Another good one – that’s two. Although it might need a bit of development.

9. Ninth commandment.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

9. Legal and social considerations.

Perjury is obviously a bad thing so that's Another good one – that’s three.

10. Tenth commandment.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

10. Legal and social considerations.

Perhaps the most insidious one of all. Firstly because it considers a man's wife to a piece of property at the same level as an animal and secondly because it is an instruction about what you must think. It is clearly the least unenforceable one of all and an obviously impossible law.

Although the suggestion that you should not covet may be good advice, this is rather marred by its obvious sexism.

10. Religious considerations.

This is another one of the tricky ones which is cut up differently by different faiths.


Another interpretation of the Commandments is:

  1. I'm special
  2. I'm jealous
  3. No paparazzi, please
  4. Introducing the six-day work week
  5. Mom and dad are good
  6. Don't kill
  7. Don't cheat (on your spouse)
  8. Don't steal
  9. Don't lie
  10. Don't ogle your neighbor's wife's ass or anything else of his.


Politics

Some jackass Congresscritter who is in favor of posting them all over US government buildings could not name more than three of them on the Colbert Report.


See also

Actions which demand the death penalty in the Old Testament


References

  1. Exodus 20:2-17 (KJV)
  2. Deuteronomy 5:6-21 (KJV)
  3. Exodus 34:14-16 (KJV)
  4. Muslim Ten Commandments 1
  5. Muslim Ten Commandments 2
  6. Muslim Ten Commandments 3
  7. The Twenty-five Commandants
  8. European Convention on Human Rights
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