What's Wrong With The Ten Commandments?

The Ten Commandments are interesting. And even though religion gives me the creeps, I think fundamentally they have served a mighty purpose historically in the development of civilized man as a moral creature.

If you think about the point in time that they came about, man was barely past walking on his knuckles and just starting to form civilization. When day to day survival was the imperative, you didn't loose much sleep over 'right and wrong' or whether it's ethical to kill the asshole next door, or bang his old lady. The Commandments gave a 'why' that they could understand--because God (the great chieftain in the sky) said so.

Exodus and the Moses story does give a lot of clues as to how this all came about too. When Moses split from Egypt he was told about El from the clan that gave him refuge. (you might remember singing El Shadi in Sunday School). Dig a little deeper into the old mythologies and you'll learn that originally, El and Baal were brothers. The Philistenes worshiped Baal. (whom the Hebrews called Baalzebub-or Lord of the Flies--a snide way of saying Lord of the Shitmound.--later he became the devil) This is a big hint why you see the 'no other gods before me' stuff. The Old Testament didn't deny the existence of other gods, you just weren't supposed to worship them.

There's not a religious sect in the world who takes the 'engraven image' commandment seriously-which I find odd as the Old Testament didn't just casually mention it, but spent verse after verse harping on why it was an abomination. Still you get Catholics groveling at the feet of idols, etc.--I guess it's just in our natures and something we're not going to give up, whether its some saint, a cross, picture of a rock star, or a new Lexus.

The main factor why they should be kept out of our modern Government is the commandment 'thou shalt have no other god before me'. This is pretty much a deal killer since we consider ourselves a nation of 'religious freedom' where one can choose to worship whatever and however we wish; even if it is Britney Spears or the almight dollar.

So Civilizations fundamental and rudamentary ethics are there....despite needing some tweeking for modern society. The Ten Commandments aren't rubbish. They're an enormous and very valid part of our civilized history; even more monumental than any pyramid or artifact out there, and should be treated as such. Not an easy thing to do though-honoring them for what they are, but still keeping them at arms length just enough to keep the religious weirdos at bay.

Wouldnt that be some shit if the bible is found out to be someones fun fictitious story

the 10 commandments are unreasonable.
They leave out the fact that we are mere human, and all humans behave and believe differently.
Like most religions, they are a set of guidlines to help control people.
We people be crazy when left to our own devices,but i prefer that.
Society only needs two rules.

Rule # 1...keep your hands to yourself
Rule # 2...keep your hands off what isnt yours.

Any more rules than that obviously corrupts a society.

dai*ma:stoned: