Quote Originally Posted by Oneironaut
I already addressed this point in the original post. You have to read the commandment carefully. It says "Do not make for yourselves images of anything in heaven or on earth or in the water under the earth." That sentence is a prohibition on representative art of all kinds, and it cannot possibly be interpreted otherwise. Only after that is the separate commandment "Do not bow down to any idol or worship it, because I am the LORD your God and I tolerate no rivals."
I think you're reading too much into it, man. If God is a creator, and we are created in his image, why would it be bad for us to use this God given talent? No, it's when you create to bow down and worship that which you created as God, that he is displeased. or [jealous]. Of course, I don't think God gets jeaulous, but that's me. Jealousy is a weakness, but something we [mankind] have lots of...

Err, so why didn't God do anything about it. If I was against slavery and had the power to stop it or at least tell people it's a bad idea, I would do that. I mean, if God can tell us what's moral and what's not, then surely he can be bothered to throw in a couple words about an immoral tradition that has ruined millions of lives throughout history. Slavery has caused far, far more misery than adultery or stealing ever have, and to think God could have thrown in "thou shalt not take slaves" and spared so much of it.
I'd like to think that God is the creator of a great machine. [The universe] Much like a clock, he set the pendulum to swing, and left the rest up to us. This is kind of a Deist view, but one that I support. I'm not saying we can't get inspiration from God, I'm only suggesting that he doesn't intervene.

Well, it's not quite that simple. People are trying to shove them in my face on public property such as schools and courtrooms, and the stupid Sabbath commandment started a tradition that causes the local convenience store to close early every seventh day, which is kind of annoying (you're not supposed to work on the Sabbath, so we work a little less on the Sabbath...what's up with that?)
How bout you start bitching about the "In God we Trust" on our currency? Still, I don't think you'd mind if a bunch of it was 'shoved' in your face. If you want to work on the Sabbath, then do so, but others have the right not to. We all need a break from work, man.


It's more common than you think.
Of course it's common, lmao! I have a guilty past myself...

Well, if no one's getting hurt, then why is it immoral? Why did God find condemnation of adultery to be more important than condemnation of rape or slavery. This is clearly not the best possible moral code, so it can't possibly have been written by a perfect intelligence, and thus cannot have been written by God. The Ten Commandments were written by man. No loving God would have called wives and slaves property, or demanded that everybody stop working so they can worship his jealous, self-centered ego.
Like I said, the commandents were more than likely inspired by God, but were presented by man who undoubtedly had their own agenda. Adultery is when you cheat on your spouse, and that hurts the heart of the victim. So does rape, and slavery, and I have no answer as to why they are viewed differently. We're talking about the ten given, though, so lets keep it to that, cool? Btw, does the Bible say to worship God on the Sabbath, or does it suggest it's for rest?


I am an anarchist. But I see you subscribe to the common sheeple view that anarchy is chaos and disorder with everybody freely murdering and raping people, instead of a detailed political philosophy dealing with the replacement of hierarchical power structures with horizontal democratic ones. And if you want to believe that, go ahead.
Don't insult my intelligence, oneirnaut. You know damn well that not every anarchist views anarchy in the same light. Get off the sheeple for understanding this fact. I also said uncivilized world, or if you enjoyed getting hurt or hurting others. I was reffering to your contempt about the commandments dealing with how we are to treat others...

I do say that the section dealing with people is bad. A five-year-old could come up with a better list. Come on, everybody knows stealing and killing are wrong. That's no huge revolution in moral thought. And adultery, people seem to be pretty unanimously against that when it involves deception, which is the other commandment. And yeah, people don't like deception either, that's a no-brainer. Who likes getting deceived?
That's the beauty behind them, man. Even a five year can understand, but you seem to have difficulty. Either that, or you simply enjoy talking against things in the Bible, as well as religion. I know which it is, so you don't need to answer. I can understand your ferver, man. Organized religion seems to have this kind of effect on those who quit believing, or simply can't believe. I'm sure you come by it honestly...

But that last one, the one that says don't desire other people's things, that's just loony. That one is a horrible commandment that makes no sense, since desire is an involuntary emotion that is in no way immoral.
Well, I would think the philosphy behind this one is that desire can lead to take. Desire in and ofitself is not a bad thing, it's when people let it overtake them, and they act through theft, rape, etc. I would think when it comes to coveting other peoples wives, you're doing a great injustice to self, and certainly lack resect for the husband...

Couldn't God have actually told us something about ethics and morality that we didn't know? Couldn't he have actually come up with any original ideas for the time, like feminism or democracy or religious tolerance or the abolition of slavery or something like that? That could have totally revolutionized their ethics!
I'm reminded of a great saying: "Keep it simple stupid!"


Love,
JunkYard Reviewed by JunkYard on . What's Wrong With The Ten Commandments? The controversy over the display of the Ten Commandments on federal property has brought to the public eye once again the relationship between government and religion, and there has been a lot of much-needed discussion and debate about this crucial issue. But in this discussion and debate, there has been little talk about the content of the Ten Commandments. It's obvious why that is: very few people actually know what the Ten Commandments are. People know they prohibit murder and stealing, and Rating: 5