[Louisiana House] Panel edits Ten Commandments

Baton Rouge Morning Advocate ^ | Jun 7, 2006 | Marsha Shuler

[Thrusher]

A House panel decided Tuesday to do a little editing on the Ten Commandments.

Lawmakers made the alterations as they debated which version of the ancient biblical law — Protestant, Catholic or Jewish — should be embodied in a proposed state law.

The House and Governmental Affairs Committee then advanced Senate Bill 476 to the full House.

The bill would allow the display of the Ten Commandments, along with other documents of religious historical significance, in government buildings.

The wording of the bill is designed to comply with recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions regarding the separation of government and religion.

The committee didn’t settle on the version to include but did amend the more Protestant-oriented version in the bill after a civil-rights lobbyist noted some disparities.

[mnehring]

The title the news report gives isn't really correct. There is no 'editing' of the 10 Commandments, it is just choosing what translation is used. There are many translations of the Bible, as reflected in this debate.

[Michael.SF.]

“It says ‘murder’ rather than ‘kill,’” said Michael Malec, noting the Sixth Commandment, which commonly reads “Thou shalt not kill.”

I do not have a problem with that change since "murder" is more in line with the earliest Greek versions of the Bible.

[Non-Sequitur]

There is no 'editing' of the 10 Commandments, it is just choosing what translation is used.

If they decide on one version then isn't that elevating the religions that adhere to it over those that adhere to the other versions? Which leaves them wide open for a Supreme Court challenge?

[Thrusher]

The article's title is somewhat deceptive, but I think they were doing more than just deciding between one translation of the Ten Commandments versus another.

From the reports of the debate, it seems to me that they were picking and choosing various wording from several different versions or interpretations of the Ten Commandments, and essentially coming up with their own hodge-podge of language.

[Huck]

Darn. This story was nowhere near as funny as I had hoped.

[mewzilla]

[mnehring]

From the reports of the debate, it seems to me that they were picking and choosing various wording from several different versions or interpretations of the Ten Commandments, and essentially coming up with their own hodge-podge of language.

How many current translations of the Bible are like that?

[HamiltonJay]

How utterly rediculous that we need a man made law to allow us to display Gods law, upon which all man made laws are based...

[From many - one.]

Which version of God's law do you have in mind?

There are apparently three.

For me, if I had to pick one it would be the Jewish, as being the oldest.

[Thrusher]

Well, there is a Jewish reading, a Catholic reading, a Protestant reading, a Samaritan reading, even a Muslim reading.... There are probably more still.

I'm sure there are also several variances in the language based on translations from different langauges (e.g., Greek vs. Hebrew, etc.).

[JusticeForAll76]

THe problem with the Jewish one is that it is too long. It would never fit on a tablet.

[TommyDale]

They are merely following in the Rick Warren tradition. The Ten Commandments have been changed to the "few suggestions".

[HamiltonJay]

Frankly, it doesn't matter to me.. I'm catholic, but I've seen them all... the gist of them all is the same, even if the exact grammar is different.

I have no issue going with Judeisms version, if you are going from a historical perspective.. since they were the first receivers of them.

[mnehring]

Hell, just read the KJV, versus NKJV, versus, NIV.. etc, etc.. You then have verses like Matthew 6:13, Matthew 17:21, John 7:53 - 8:11, Mark 9:29, Mark 16:9-20, Luke 3:22, John 5:3-4, 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, & Revelation 1:11 that are disputed to be original text, most not even found in the earliest versions...

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

I hate to point out that you cannot really separate government and religion without enforcing atheism. The point was never to separate (enforcement of atheism as the official religion) but rather to leave everyone free to choose, express and practice according to his own conscience.

[From many - one.]

That's funny. God managed.

[mnehring]

Bingo, it is freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.

[Don Corleone]

I liked Rush's 14 commandments for Liberals. It is/was a hoot!

[mnehring]

Rush: The 14 Commandments of the Religious Left
By Rush Limbaugh

---

1. Thou shalt have no other God except thyself; after all, it's thy self-esteem that counts. If thou doth not love thyself, who will?

2. Thou shalt not make any graven image out of any substances which cannot be recycled.

3. Thou shalt not take the name of liberals in criticism, including feminists, racial minorities, or any person who thinks he is a victim of America.

4. Remember the anniversaries of Roe vs Wade and Anita Hill's testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, and keep them holy.

5. Honor thy mother. If she is dysfunctional, it is thy father's fault.

6. Thou shalt not kill. With these exceptions: life forms under the second trimester, and those opting for medically assisted suicides.

7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Unless thou aspirest to high political office, useth a condom, or cannot help it.

8. Thou shalt not steal. Unless thou art disadvantaged or upset with a jury verdict.

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness. Unless thou art discussing the history of the 1980's, art campaigning, or can afford good legal counsel in the event that thou art discovered.

10. Thou shalt not covet. Unless thou art the victim of gender-related oppression or institutional racism, or art still angry with Reagan's tax cuts.

11. Always hide the real truth about thyself.

12. Never admit who or what thou really art when campaigning for office.

13. Always blame someone else for what thou dost - even so far as to blame the entire society.

14. Thou shalt oppose all punishment - except when conservative Republicans or religious right people criticize thee.