The Ten Commandments, display or not? Options

[BeyondElite]

"The US Supreme Court heard arguments on the constitutionality of displaying in public spaces the Ten Commandments, in a case on the officially mandated separation of church and state in US society." Do you agree that the Ten Commandments should be displayed in public spaces? Why or why not?

In my opinion, the Ten Commandments should be displayed in government property to pay tribute to America's religious and legal history. There are three fouths (3/4) of people here in America that are in the religions of Christianity and Judaism that believes in the Ten Commandments and practices this commandment. "These Commandments have an undeniable religious significance, but they also have secular significance as a source of the law, a code of law and a well-recognized historical symbol of the law." Amendment one of the U.S. Bill of Rights clearly says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion..." However, freedom of Religion depends of freedom from religion. Even though one does not believe in God's existence, they simply can ignore the first, second, third and fourth commandment and simply follow the rest of the commandments which are to respect elders, to forbid murder, to forbid committing adultery, to forbid stealing, to forbid false witness against neighbor, and forbid coveting your neighbor's house (which is really similar to the laws of the United States.) What do you think?

[sadolakced acid]

The only religious history the United States has is a lack of one.

Most the founding fathers were deists, who did not belive in the church, only in god.

Some commandments have similarities to the laws of this nation. However; these were already laws in other countries at the time the United States was developed. Therefore, the ten commandments is only thought to have play a part in the development of the country. It has not been proven.

the display of the ten commandments in front of government buildings would be the endorsement of the ten commandments.

the first commandment is "thou shalt have no other gods before me".

This phrase is one of the reasons why the ten commandments violate separation of church and state.


first it implies the existance of a god.
second, it orders the readers to worship this god.

clearly this violates the first ammendment, because the government would be endorsing a document that tells readers to worship a certain god.

[*kryogenix*]

The only religious history the United States has is a lack of one. 

Most the founding fathers were deists, who did not belive in the church, only in god.

God made the Ten Commandements for us, not the Church.

Some commandments have similarities to the laws of this nation.  However; these were already laws in other countries at the time the United States was developed.  Therefore, the ten commandments is only thought to have play a part in the development of the country.  It has not been proven.

the display of the ten commandments in front of government buildings would be the endorsement of the ten commandments.

And...?

the first commandment is "thou shalt have no other gods before me". 

This phrase is one of the reasons why the ten commandments violate separation of church and state.
first it implies the existance of a god.
second, it orders the readers to worship this god. 

clearly this violates the first ammendment, because the government would be endorsing a document that tells readers to worship a certain god.

What Justice Scalia says:

"It is a symbol that government derives its authority from God, and that's appropriate," said Scalia. He estimated that 90 percent of Americans agree with the message -- even if, as he joked, "85 percent couldn't tell you what the Ten Commandments are."

This is a good point. I heard about a book (i forgot the title), where it argues in favor of display of ten commandments. Recognizing the ten commandments recognizes that God is who grants rights, therefore government cannot take them away. If you don't recognize this, then government is who gives rights, and therefore, they can take them away.

A real reason? people these days? Because its unfair to the other religions in this country, theres a reason. what do you mean 'people these days'?

how is it unfair? those religions didn't play a part in the development of this country, why should their documents be placed in legal centers?

[Spirited Away]

how is it unfair? those religions didn't play a part in the development of this country, why should their documents be placed in legal centers?

One of the most important foundations of which this nation was built upon is freedom; this neccessarily includes religious freedom. Though other major religions did not partake in the creation of America, they have become a key ingredient in this country's melting pot, and perhaps, have come to represent the image that America is famed for: diversity.

Diversity is America and America is diversity. One cannot be the same without the other and America cannot hope to uphold the ideals of its Founding Fathers without diversity.

Fairness, in this case, is diversity; it is not choosing one over the others.

[*kryogenix*]

One of the most important foundations of which this nation was built upon is freedom; this neccessarily includes religious freedom. Though other major religions did not partake in the creation of America, they have become a key ingredient in this country's melting pot, and perhaps, have come to represent the image that America is famed for: diversity.

Diversity is America and America is diversity. One cannot be the same without the other and America cannot hope to uphold the ideals of its Founding Fathers without diversity.

Fairness, in this case, is diversity; it is not choosing one over the others.

It's not choosing one over the others, it's recognizing the historical impact of that document on our nation's history.

I fail to see how the presentation of the Ten Commandments hurts diversity or promotes one religion over the other.

its not hurting anyone its the fact that it will make the country seem like a catholic/christian/jewish country and other religions that do not follow the ten commandments are not welcomed. its not as eays as "if you dont like it dont look at it", somebody will find offence to it and strike up something. if the ten comandments are displayed y not buddha? and etc..

Again, the reason why the Ten Commandments were put up is their historical impact. Buddha had nothing to do with the founding of our country.

i don't really belive that. sorry for any offense done- it's to show what i feel about the ten commandments. that's what it's like to me.

I don't see how the display of a historical document makes our government biased.

wow, I completely agree with you.
I'm Indian, should I display India's list of commandments as well? If they display ours, then other cultures should be recognized as well. separation of church and state, come on people.

The same reason why we don't display the laws of Cuba, Thailand or Canada in our courts. It's completely irrelevent.

[Spirited Away]

It's not choosing one over the others, it's recognizing the historical impact of that document on our nation's history.

Very well, lets take a religious historical approach. For the sake of relevancy, lets keep out other reasons why people migrate to America.

Why did the religious feel a need to come to America? Was it not for relgious freedom? Was it not to get away from those who would persecute them for practicing their faith different from what the King or the Church decree?

There is no doubt in my mind that religious belief played a major part in the history and founding of America. But why did people come to the Americas to practice religion? Would you agree with me if I say that it was because they have more spiritual freedom?

Christianity was the smaller picture. Religious freedom was, and still is, the bigger picture. Christianity was simply the faith of those who wished for religious freedom in America. They believed in Christianity but they SOUGHT FREEDOM of RELIGIOUS PRACTICE.

So to respond to your comment, the historical impact is not Christianity, it is the finding of religious freedom. Thus, our First Amendment does NOT say that we have freedom to practice Christianity, it says we simply have religious freedom.

I fail to see how the presentation of the Ten Commandments hurts diversity or...

Does the Ten Commandments promote religous freedom and seperation of Church and State to you? If so, tell me how.

promotes one religion over the other

If your school puts up DARE signs, is the school not promoting anti-drugs? If super markets put up ads for $0.35/lb bananas are they not promoting the buying of bananas? If your DPS puts up a "DRUNK DRIVING KILLS" sign, are they not promoting a neg. consequence of drunk driving?

More examples:
If your neighborhood have a "neighborhood watch" sign, is your neigborhood not promoting safety, awareness, and cooperation between neighbors?

Does not "Don't Mess With Texas" not promote the stop to litering?

When the bumper sticker on your car says "Pray for our troops", does that not promote support of our army?

You get the idea.

So now, if our government decides to engrave the Ten Commandments into its facilities they ARE promoting Christianity over other religions.

[OriskybusinessO]

When the bumper sticker on your car says "Pray for our troops", does that not promote support of our army?

That is also promoting beliving in God, but that would be a personal choice right?

[Spirited Away]

That is also promoting beliving in God, but that would be a personal choice right?

I can pray to Satan, to the Sun god, or my dead ancestors. Yes, it is a personal choice to relate the word "pray" to Christianity.