The Law and the Ten Commandments

Dear Brother Ron

Is the Judicial system of the U.S. based on the Ten Commandments? I hear this a lot in our local news, but I don't understand why someone would think this. The First Amendment clearly knocks out the first three commandments. I can worship one God, many gods, or no gods at all and the State cannot say a thing about it. I can even make a golden calf and worship that if I like.

I also can work on any day of the week, all days, or no days if I want. There is no law against adultery, so I can make love outside of marriage all I want with breaking any laws. I can honor my parents, or call them scum sucking pigs if I want, with our freedom of speech. I can lie all I want as long as I don't do it to cheat someone out of money (stealing) or commit perjury (bearing false witness).

So all that is left is stealing, perjury, and murder. Only 30% of the ten commandments are even in our laws, right?

Uptospeed

Dear Uptospeed

Thou shalt have no other gods before me. The First Amendment says the government has no right to decide which god you worship. In fact, you don't have to worship any god if you don't want to.

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: Every government building is full of graven images that we are supposed to honor, if not worship. How many children stand in the classroom and pledge allegiance, not to God, but to the flag and "the republic for which it stands"?

Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain. Contrary to popular belief, this has nothing to do with four-letter words. It means don't blame God for your troubles. How many politicians have claimed that God was punishing us for our evil ways? God is not a homicidal maniac.

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. The word sabbath comes from the Hebrew sabbat, which means seventh. The last time I looked, the seventh day was Saturday. When did we decide that we should make laws to close businesses on Sunday? What does that have to do with the sabbath? Can you imagine the outcry if all the bars had to close from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday?

Honour thy father and thy mother. The government says we are your father and mother. We only grant you custody of the children. And if we don't like the way you do your job, we have the right to revoke that custody.

Thou shalt not kill. How many have we killed in the name of peace? Ask the native Americans how well we have observed this one.

Thou shalt not commit adultery. In Washington, it's the national pastime.

Thou shalt not steal. Again, ask the native Americans about the land that was given to them "as long as the grass grows and the water flows". When is the government going to pay back the 2.6 trillion dollars they "borrowed" from the Social Security Trust Fund?

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Lawyers lie in courtrooms every day and encourage their clients to do likewise.

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. Our entire economy is based on creating the desire to want more.

Any relatioship between the government and the Ten Commandments is purely coincidental.

Best always
Brother Ron