The Ten Commandments

Louisiana just passed a law requiring all public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments because they claim they are the foundational documents of our state and national government. If that's the case why are there only two of the ten related to our current laws: (6) Thou shalt not murder and (8) thou shalt not steal. All of the others are not closely related to current laws and most are extremely religious in nature. Searching the internet turns up many different versions of the Ten Commandments. I decided to go with my father's bible which claims to be an authorized King James version.

Commandment I

(Exodus 20:2) I am the Lord thy God which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

(Exodus 20:3) Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

This one basically states that you can't be of any other religion. This violates the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States which prohibits the government from establishing a religion.

Commandment II

(Exodus 20:4) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

(Exodus 20:5) Thou shalt not bow down to 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;

(Exodus 20:6) And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

These seems to forbid making images like taking photographs, drawing, painting, making statues, or any other likeness. Almost everyone violates this today.

Some people believe this refers to bowing to a false prophet. Like Trump's followers worship him.

Commandment III

(Exodus 20:7) 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.

Don't swear using God's name. Many people do this. It's not considered a crime.

Commandment IV

(Exodus 20:8) Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy.

(Exodus 20:9) Six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work: 

(Exodus 20:10) 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 that stranger that is within thy gates:

(Exodus 20:11) 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.

This one is more of an organized labor agreement than a government statute.

Commandment V

(Exodus 20:12) Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

You should honor your parents and the elderly. This a good commandment. It is not enshrined in law other than the Social Security system and Medicare both of which are under attack by Republicans.

Commandment VI

(Exodus 20:13) Thou shalt not kill.

This one is the first commandment that is actually a law with the assumption that it refers to murder. Because it is generally not considered a crime to kill an opposing combatant in a combat situation. Although I don't notice any exceptions here.

Commandment VII

(Exodus 20:14) Thou shalt not commit adultery.

This is not typically illegal although I have heard it may be illegal in certain states. It may not be a good idea but it is pretty commonly practiced by many without legal consequences other than grounds for a divorce.

Commandment VIII

(Exodus 20:15) Thou shalt not steal.

This idea forms the basis of many laws. But this is really only the second commandment that is related to the justice system.

Commandment IX

(Exodus 20:16) Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

Don't lie. A good philosophy, but his is usually not illegal unless you are testifying under oath.

Commandment X

(Exodus 20:17) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, though 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.

This is the tenth that says you should not be jealous of your neighbor which has no basis in law. I will comment that in some translations the terms manservant and maidservant are translated as slaves. Slavery is immoral and illegal.