Ten Commandments
From RationalWiki
The Ten Commandments are a set of laws which were allegedly given to Moses by God. The story is outlined in the Old Testament. Some biblical literalists, including those espousing the totalitarian Christian movement called dominionism, have suggested that the Ten Commandments should form the basis of U.S. national laws. During the 2008 presidential campaign similar comments were made by Mike Huckabee. This article looks at the Ten Commandments from that standpoint to see how well they would work as laws in a modern society. Since many of these fundamentalists regard the King James version to be the only true Bible, this version has been used.
[edit] Versions
There are three versions of the Ten Commandments in the Bible. Two of them are very similar, Exodus 20:2-17[1] and Deuteronomy 5:6-21[2].
The third version, in Exodus 34:12-26,[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 worshipping 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, not cooking kids in their mothers' milk, and God expresses a distaste for sacrifices containing both blood and yeast (although either alone is apparently quite acceptable).
The Qur'an has no exact equivalent to the Ten Commandments listed in the Pentateuch, but various authors have found separate texts within the Qur'an which are equally restrictive. [4] [5] [6].
[edit] How many Commandments?
Depending on whether you are Jewish, Catholic, or Protestant, the numbering sequence 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.
[edit] What are the punishments?
Many of the commandments are repeated in other parts of the Old Testament, where they merit the death penalty.
[edit] Could they be implemented?
Some politicians, such as Mike Huckabee, have suggested the Ten Commandments form, and should form, the basis of the national system of laws. This is a very bad idea. To show why this is so we are going to go through them one by one using the King James translation, and use the Protestant/Anglican numbering system, as we assume that is what Mr. Huckabee and other fundamentalists would prefer.
Perhaps surprisingly, some people think American law is already based on the Ten Commandments.
Before considering the Commandments in detail it would be well to remind ourselves of the existing protections in respect of religious freedom which exist in, for example, Europe and the US.
[edit] The European Convention on Human Rights
Article nine of the Convention states:
1. "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance."
2. "Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others."
[edit] The Bill of rights
The first amendment to the American constitution states:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
[edit] Consequences
It will be shown that, at the very least, the first, second, third and fourth Commandments would represent clear violations of both article nine of the European Convention on Human Rights [8], and the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Furthermore, the fifth, seventh and tenth Commandments are also of doubtful legality.
[edit] First Commandment
Legal and social considerations
This Commandment says that a particular god should be regarded as more important than any other gods. It would clearly remove any form of religious tolerance from any country in which it was implemented.
Conclusion
This would be a clear violation of article nine of the European Convention on Human Rights, and the First Amendment to the American Constitution. Such a law could only be implemented in a theocracy.
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.
[edit] Second Commandment
Legal and social considerations
Although counted as one by most protestant religions (and as a half by the Catholic Church and the Lutherans) this is really two Commandments with a follow up threat which are:
- Don't make graven images of anything.
- Don't bow down and worship graven images.
- If you do this I will punish you, your children, your grandchildren and your great grandchildren.
A literal interpretation of the first element would seem to arbitrarily prohibit making statues of any type. A weird instruction in our modern society.
The second contravenes national and international legal protections.
The final threat, while fortunately unenforceable in any real manner, is decidedly unpleasant, unfair and vindictive.
Conclusion
This would be a clear violation of article nine of the European Convention on Human Rights, and the First Amendment to the American Constitution. Such a law could only be implemented in a theocracy.
Religious considerations
The difference between the first and second commandment is not clear to all faiths and consequently the numbering difficulty arises.
Some Islamic traditions ban any and all statues on the basis of similar prohibitions in the Qur'an, while the Christian Puritans and their successors object to any kind of religious iconography. The Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Churches, on the other hand, have substantial quantities of these items.
[edit] Third Commandment
Legal and social considerations
It is not clear how a blasphemy law could be policed. It would probably be a violation of article nine of the European Convention on Human Rights, and the First Amendment to the American Constitution.
[edit] Fourth Commandment
Legal and social considerations
This law would mandate the "honouring" of one particular day from one particular religion. It would represent an unwarranted attack on freedom of belief.
The final part of the Commandment would enshrine creationism in law.
But perhaps more importantly, 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. So this is really a very confusing instruction.
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.
Conclusion
This would be a clear violation of article nine of the European Convention on Human Rights, and the First Amendment to the American Constitution. Such a law could only be implemented in a theocracy.
[edit] Fifth Commandment
Legal and social considerations
There would be considerable enforcement and civil liberties issues with any law based on this commandment - especially so as this is one of the many Commandments backed up by the death penalty in other parts of the Old Testament.
In some very wonky leaps of logic, the commandment to honour one's parentage has sometimes been extended to signify one's ethnic origin and been used to justify racialism and segregation, as it was in Apartheid South Africa.[9].
Conclusion
The statement itself would be good moral advice (depending on who one's parents are), but makes a bad law.
[edit] Sixth Commandment
Legal and social considerations
This - number six - is really the first reasonable Commandment. It's 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 clearcut as it seems. On the other hand, we're sticking with King James here - so that may not be relevant.
Presumably this would prohibit capital punishment and war; Thomas More argued exactly this in his Utopia, condemning the capital punishment levied on thieves in the England of his day.
But as the Old Testament is awash with genocide and death it seems a bit contradictory. Some have proposed that it means you should not kill another Israelite, but the Biblical record contradicts this, as in Exodus 32, 27-29 where Moses orders indiscriminate mass-murder among the Israelites following the Golden Calf incident. Also it presumably does not preclude the killing of animals, although this is not explicitly stated.
Conclusion
The statement as it stands is a very good principle - especially so if it prohibits capital punishment and war.
[edit] Seventh Commandment
Legal and social considerations
Notwithstanding its good intentions, there are clear civil liberties and policing problems with this commandment.
Conclusion
Good moral advice but bad law; unfortunately, the US still attempts to teach this as the only appropriate form of sex with its Abstinence-only Education. The Turkish government tried to make it a crime in 2004, but failed.[10]
[edit] Eighth Commandment
Legal and social considerations
This is another good one – that’s two. Although it might need a bit of development. Of course reasonable people will note there are exceptions.
- Can you take a weapon away from an owner who is likely to abuse it?
- Can a starving person take food from someone who doesn't need it?
- Etc
Conclusion
This is a good idea, which is incorporated in all legal systems already.
[edit] Ninth Commandment
Legal and social considerations
Perjury is a bad thing because it undermines any system of government by laws, so this is a good one – that’s three. This, however, assumes the false witness is being borne in the formal setting of a criminal or civil court while spoken under oath. Bearing false witness in an informal setting (ie lying about your neighbor) is still a bad idea, but not, in most cases, a crime. Additionally, the commandment, as stated, takes no position on bearing false witness against someone who may live far enough away from you to not be considered your "neighbor". Nevertheless, bearing false witness against such a person is still a bad idea, and is just as immoral as doing so against the guy down the block, whatever some deity might say about it.
Conclusion
This is a basically a good idea, and is incorporated in all legal systems already, but to be ethically acceptable would have to include a prohibition to bearing false witness against strangers.
[edit] Tenth Commandment
Legal and social considerations
Perhaps the most insidious one of all. Firstly because it considers a man's wife to be a piece of property at the same level as real estate, and secondly because it is an instruction about what you must think. It is clearly the least enforceable one of all and an obviously impossible law. And to be honest, coveting is the foundation of the American system of capitalism. Many would say that for a country's industrial complex to prosper, people must want what their neighbors have.
Conclusion
Although the suggestion that you should not covet may be good advice, this is marred by its apparent sexism.
[edit] Another interpretation of the Commandments
- I'm special.
- I'm jealous. (You're not allowed to be jealous, see no 10.)
- No paparazzi, please.
- Introducing the six-day work week!
- Mom and dad are good.
- Don't kill.
- Don't cheat (on your spouse).
- Don't steal.
- Don't lie.
- Don't ogle your neighbor's ass or his wife's ass or anything else of his.
[edit] Omissions
Stupid enough as it is that some idiots think these arcane rules should be the foundation of national laws, there is obviously an enormous body of legal code that is not covered by the 10 Commandments, one of the more obvious examples being that nowhere is one forbidden to beat someone to a pulp because they look funny, or for any other reason for that matter (unless they're your mother or father, in which case you'd probably be dishonoring them). One of the more serious omissions, telling perhaps about the society's view of women, is that there is nothing here to prohibit rape, which is arguably a far worse crime than saying your parents ideas are whacked or wishing you had that really hot Lexus.
[edit] Politics
Some jackass Congresscritter (Lynn Westmoreland, R -- GA) who is in favor of posting them all over United States government buildings could not name more than three of them on the Colbert Report.[11][12] Of course, Colbert, raised as a Catholic (and still practicing), could rattle them off in a brief few seconds. If he wanted to. Stevie pwns the Jesus freaks dominionist assholes, all day long. (On an unrelated note, the cretin in the same interview demonstrated that he did not understand the difference between the judicial and legislative branches of government, despite serving in one of them, though it is possible the segment was edited to make it appear that way.)
[edit] Democracy
The website Citizens for the Ten Commandments argues for imposing the Ten Commandments on all people. They further argue that because "the majority" don’t want to be ruled that way, democracy should be abolished. It’s unclear precisely what they want in place of democracy, or how they plan to prevent arbitrary abuse of power. It’s unclear what safeguards there would be to prevent some potential ruler saying, “Those who appoint rulers say I’m God fearing. You must not criticize me or suggest that I’m not God fearing. The Bible is against free speech.” It’s further unclear if those behind the ideas in the website want there to be safeguards.
[edit] See also
- Actions which demand the death penalty in the Old Testament
- Commandments broken by Andrew Schlafly
- A less serious Ten Commandments list
- Essay:Christianity and the 6th Commandment
[edit] External links
[edit] Footnotes
- ↑ Exodus 20:2-17 (KJV)
- ↑ Deuteronomy 5:6-21 (KJV)
- ↑ Exodus 34:14-16 (KJV)
- ↑ Muslim Ten Commandments 1
- ↑ Muslim Ten Commandments 2
- ↑ Muslim Ten Commandments 3
- ↑ The Twenty-five Commandants
- ↑ European Convention on Human Rights
- ↑ See, for example, Thomas K. Carr, "Apartheid and Hermeneutics", in Religious Fundamentalism in Developing Countries, p. 55.
- ↑ Turkey moves closer to EU after retreat on adultery law
- ↑ Transcript: Colbert: Name all ten.
- ↑ Video: Westmoreland v. Colbert - Video
