"Ten Commandments are VERBOTEN!"
Posted on 01/24/2011 5:38:48 AM PST by careyb
RICHMOND, Va. | A school district in southwestern Virginia is re-posting copies of the Bible's Ten Commandments in all county schools, despite concerns that doing so is unconstitutional.
The five-member Giles County School Board voted unanimously to restore the framed, 4-foot-tall, biblical texts after parents and local ministers complained about their removal from the district's five schools and its technology center. The decision was made even though the board's attorney advised that such Christian displays represent unconstitutional government endorsement of religion.
The Ten Commandments were up on school walls in Giles County for at least a decade next to framed copies of the U.S. Constitution. School officials took them down and replaced them with the Declaration of Independence in mid-December after a resident complained. The board reversed that decision Thursday after several parents and pastors, joined by a throng of supporters, told the board that the schools had a moral obligation to reinforce God's teachings.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
I didn't realize Moses was a "Christian"
Are they indeed "ESTABLISHING" a state religion? Really?
What are the sanctions for not being an adherent?
Hmmm...
Can you explain to me how excerpting 10 lines from a particular Holy Book establishes a complete religion for all and above all others? That makes absolutely no sense to me.
If they were to put "I think therefore I am" or "God is dead" on the wall, would that establish a formal philosophy for the entire nation? I don't think so.
This is a foolish and ridiculous argument meant only to keep any mention of religion at all out of the public square.
And the First Amendment still says that the our freedoms shall not be abridged/infringed, no matter how badly the first amendment has been abused in the courts recently.
"Ten Commandments are VERBOTEN!"
They are providing government recognition to a particular sect. What would you call it?
What are the sanctions for not being an adherent?
Not having your beliefs given the same recognition as others.
OK, so then you would have absolutely no problems if Virginia posted only the Catholic version of the 10 Commandments? Or only the Jewish version?
I'd call it "recognizing a particular set of beliefs". It is in no way "establishing a state religion". Besides, are you unaware that states, at the time of ratification of the Constitution WITH THE FIRST AMENDMENT in the Bill of Rights, did indeed have state religions? Obviously, they didn't think they were in opposition to the 1st. What ammendment changed this understanding?
Not having your beliefs given the same recognition as others.
ahhh... poor baby. Perhaps you could fill out a "butt hurt report" with the state.
I’m thinking there may still be a chance for the human race after all...
No. Using that logic, we would also have to post them in all languages. The message is the same or close enough to conclude that they are the same principles.
My home county and my home elementary school.
Back in the dark ages, I had Bible classes in that school in the 4th grade. Those who objected were allowed to leave the classroom.
They have to pick only one version to post. It has to tick somebody off. That is a given. So no, I don't have a problem with it. The older the version, the closer to the original, the less problem I have with it. (I am a non-Catholic Christian.)
The bigger issue is posting it at all meaning that it "establishes" a religion. That is utter rubbish.
That’s a funny way to word the question.
But they are different.
Apparently Catholics tend to covet their neighbors wife so there’s a Commandment Against that.
But the Protestants say neighbor’s property. Maybe that was the same thing 2,000 years ago.
Protestant Ten Commandments:
You shall have no other gods but me.
You shall not make unto you any graven images
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain
You shall remember the Sabbath and keep it holy
Honor your mother and father
You shall not murder
You shall not commit adultery
You shall not steal
You shall not bear false witness
You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor
Catholic Ten Commandments:
I, the Lord, am your God. You shall not have other gods besides me.
You shall not take the name of the Lord God in vain
Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day
Honor your father and your mother
You shall not kill
You shall not commit adultery
You shall not steal
You shall not bear false witness
You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife
You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods
According to the Vatican, the Ten Commandments are quite similar to those I am familiar with in my protestant church.
1. I am the LORD your God: you shall not have strange Gods before me.
2. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the LORD'S Day.
4. Honor your father and your mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.
In contrast, the Methodists don't have the numbering on their web site, or even the same line breaks, but I find it hard to identify a difference in meaning:
God spoke from the mountain and said:
"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me."
Almighty God, write your law upon our hearts.
"You shall not make for yourself an idol.
You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God.
Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy."
"Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness.
You shall not covet ... anything that belongs to your neighbor.
You want the Catholic version? I'm good with that. Jewish (either in Hebrew or in English)? Go for it. We need more sound moral guidance in our schools, and the Ten Commandments are entirely in keeping with both our Constitution and positive American values, regardless of variations in numbering or punctuation.
I wonder if their attorney actually made specific reference to the Ten Commandments being a "Christian display" when he advised the Board, or if the above is just some ignorant reporter's paraphrasing of the attorney's words.
Because IF their attorney does not know that the Ten Commandments are NOT Christian in origin, then he is not competent to represent them, in my opinion.
Does this mean Catholics are allowed to make graven images?
We learn something new every day, don’t we?
;-)
And there is a world of difference between 'recognizing' something and establishing it as the law of the land.
graven images or idols, depending on the translation, I suppose...
Hmmm... idols seemed to be the BIG bugaboo in the OT.
I wonder why this was left out of the “Catholice” Big 10.
And “wife” and “goods” separated out in the Horizontal?
Seems like a “coverup” for dropping the idol worship prohibition.
Leftists and atheists usually derive their agenda from muddying/blurring the meaning of words.
This is how, somehow, a STATE having and official religion was OK under the original Bill of Rights,
but, without amendment, suddenly a prayer by a high school football coach is considered “establishing a religion”.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.