Ten Commandments on Display Has No Legal Standing

Ten Commandments on Display Has No Legal Standing By J.J. Johnson Please excuse the shocking title of this article. I will try to get past much of the rhetoric from both sides of the standoff about the en Commandments on display at the State Courthouse in Montgomery, Alabama. As thousands descend to Alabama's state capitol for prayer and defense of a 5300 pound rock, and legal scholars try to sort out the mess, many pundits wonder 'just what point is Chief Justice Roy Moore trying to make?' Well, here's one man's take on the matter: Despite all the historical documents from this nation's beginning, and despite everything we were taught from a young age, we are a more 'enlightened' people. We elected more 'enlightened' politicians who in turn appointed more 'enlightened' judges. And these all knowing, all powerful people, having more information at their fingertips than at any time in world history, have ruled that the basic rules of mankind that have been in place for at least 50 centuries have no place ; no legal standing in today's government.

The order to remove the Ten Commandments from public display at the Alabama Court Building is not the cause of a failed government, failed courts, or a failed people - it is instead, the result of it.

I will do my best here not to preach a sermon or sound like a right-wing zealot, but no one can tell me what is 'offensive' about those ten rules that are, in reality, the foundation of what was American law. But that's ancient history. We are more 'enlightened' today.

Being the greatest and most powerful country on earth, we don't need silly rules such as those ten. No, we have government today - which has become the new god. And we have finally come to a point where there just isn't enough room on the Grand Stage for two gods. Thus, the courts have consistently ruled in recent days that the 'Other God' must go.

And so, what if God does leave? What if he actually said, "ok, you guys win - and you're on your own"? That would make us a better country, wouldn't it?

Of course. And when folks like Jerry Falwell makes a statement on September 11 implying the God has removed his protective hand from us, we won't have to chastise him - since it would have been true.

And after such tragedies, we won't have national days of prayer, and prayer sessions in Congress while grieving over the dead because there will be no God to pray to. We told Him to get lost, remember? No, let us bow our heads and pray (and pay homage) to the New god of government. They will protect us from now on, and provide for all of our needs.

Let's not sing God Bless America anymore, since we really don't want him to. That's George W. Bush's job now. And let's remove "In God We Trust" from our currency, since we really don't trust him anymore. We've placed our faith in our money supply to Alan Greenspan.

And when it comes to religious symbols, we do our best to protect those in the war zone of Iraq, while throwing our own in the trash.

Word has it that a guy named Moses had gotten these ten rules straight from God himself. Even though e-mail wasn't around back then, God somehow downloaded them on to a couple of stone tablets. When Moses came back down from that mountain and saw the folks that were led out of slavery acting like too many of us today, he threw the tablets down, and they were forced to wander in the desert for 40 years.

But today, in the more enlightened America, we don't have to wander in the desert. We have military personnel to do that for us. And little by little, more will go and wander as well. You see, we have a new god now, and the whole world has become a desert.

So if and when we are plagued with earthquakes, violent storms, endless droughts, brushfires, or just people going crazy and shooting their co-workers or schoolmates, we'll call them "Acts of God", then plead to our new god (government) for our protection from all of these things. Yes, this new god is more to our liking. We can pray, and if the new god doesn't deliver, we can just vote him out of office (federal judges not withstanding). That Old God wouldn't let us do that.

Isn't it ironic that if everyone simply followed those rules, it would make not only that 5300 pound rock, but that entire building itself - irrelevant?

With the polls showing upwards of 77% of Alabamians, and the vast majority of Americans supporting the Ten Commandments being displayed at the courthouse, people are scratching their heads wondering, "why can't they just do what the majority wants?"

We have long since slipped away from those tenants - and it's reflected in the people in government that represent us, enforce the laws, and rule on the laws. Yes, America - we didn't get the kind of government we wanted, nor the kind we needed. We get the kind of government we deserve.

We have become so 'enlightened' that we don't even know how to respect or enforce our own sovereignty. Millions cross our national borders illegally, and our leaders don't even have the will to call it illegal. As a result, we will eventually lose at least 4 southwestern states. I have all but given up trying to make it an issue anymore. We deserve it.

We have become so 'enlightened' that the only criteria for any judge to sit on a bench, despite all the other important decisions they have to make, depends on his or her willingness to sanction the killing of the unborn. Fine. We didn't want them to take the phrase "Thou shall not kill" seriously, anyway.

We have become so 'enlightened' that we fight to protect retirement schemes that we know will go broke soon, but that's okay since we've decided to let our grandchildren pay the bill. Then again, if they have no respect for that "Honor thy Father and Mother" thing when they grow up, why should they bother taking care of us?

We are so 'enlightened' that we find it acceptable to act pre-emptive, killing anyone we see fit to keep us safe, if we think they are a threat. Make sense, since we don't want God's protection anymore. We have to live this way now. We have enemies all around us and even within us we are told - because they envy us. They don't have the new god that we have, and they're jealous.

Gay Bishops are in, Boy Scouts are out, and sodomy has become a civil right, protected by the Constitution somewhere. Okay, I get it. According to our new god, the oldest industry on earth (agriculture) has become the most dangerous to the environment. And we all know that with all the craziness in schools these days, the last thing we need is prayer inside those buildings. Good thing we threw God out of there a long time ago. Just look at how much schools have improved since then.

Yes, for government's sake - let's get those Ten Commandments out of public view before something good happens.

And while we're at it, let's get all those crosses out of Arlington Cemetery. It's public property, you know. And tell all of our troops fighting overseas that worship service is history, turn in those pocket Bibles and as a matter of fact, they must all be atheists in those foxholes.

Let's do it right: Let us all come to an agreement that when the Bill of Rights was passed, they had no respect for any god, despite the fact that the Constitutional Convention was opened and closed with a Prayer to Almighty God. To Congress: Fire that priest we pay with our tax dollars to open and close each session of Congress with Prayer. We have a new god now, remember?

And one more thing: Let's not support Israel anymore, since their presence in the holy land is based on scripture, and our government's support would represent an 'establishment of religion'.

Now, as for those people who have dedicated themselves to prevent the monument's removal, and those who have rallied to the cause - take a good look at them. That's what's left of the American ideal that was founded over two centuries ago - like it or not.

Make no mistake about it. If it weren't for too many trips already taken this year, I'd be there myself from 2000 miles away. Who knows - if the standoff in Alabama lasts, I may still be there. If I lived anywhere in Dixie, I would be writing this article from Montgomery.

Would I suggest others go? Let's put it this way: You don't even have to be a Christian, Jew or even a Muslim. God knows none of us have lived up the standards of all those rules, but it you believe the Ten Commandments should REMAIN the foundation on which this country is based, then take a drive down to Montgomery. Your fellow Americans are waiting for you.

And what about you, Mr. Bush? The silence from the White House is deafening. Is this only a "state issue" where the federal government should not get involved? If that were the case, we wouldn't be in this mess. I would not only pray for protection of the Ten Commandments, but that the President, during his fund raising travels, make a stop in Montgomery to visit with the Chief Justice, or maybe the people standing vigilant outside.

You see America: There is no sense looking for a legal loophole to save the Ten Commandments anymore, as God has no legal standing left in today's courts, government, or much of society. But the way things look from my piece of the world, perhaps it's time we invited Him back.

Prohibition of a particular religion on public lands is just as much a crime as prohibition of any or all of them.

Religious advocacy is prohibited by a government official in his official capacity. That's what Moore is doing.

How is not having the Ten Commandments on display in the foyer of the Alabama Supreme Court persecuting Christianity?

Congress is not prohibited from making laws which touch upon religious issues, or even laws which outlaw certain "religious" practices. An "establishment of religion" is a CHURCH. There is to be no congressionally established church or religion for the United States. The First Amendment does not prohibit a state church in Alabama, or any other state. And the Civil War amendments did NOT change the meaning of "Congress" to "Alabama" or "Delaware" or any other state. The point Judge Moore is making is that every state and federal judge who rules on the basis of bogus "doctrines" rather than the text of the law is violating his oath of office. This is why they will destroy him. He is exposing their hypocrisy and their tyranny.

Religious advocacy is prohibited by a government official in his official capacity. That's what Moore is doing.

The First Amendment does not prohibit "religious advocacy by a government official." The First Amendment prohibits the establishment of a national church by Congress. So you must be referring to some law other than the First Amendment. What is it?

No.

That's what you guys are doing...

You're advocating against religion. Government isn't supposed to CARE about religion, it isn't supposed to abhor it.

You're part of a situation where religion is quickly becoming prohibited.

That is bigotry on your part. It is religious *intolerance*. It is the exact opposite of the meaning of the 1st Amendment.

You cannot abhor all religions equally and consider yourself somehow "tolerant" any more than you can hate all minorities equally and consider yourself non-racist.

As for Moore, I don't care what he thinks, I'm more concerned with the persecution Christianity is suffering at the hands of anti-religious bigots throughout America.

Please detail exactly how Christians, on a mass scale, have been prevented from praying, going to church, attempting to convert others, sending bibles to those they think might need them, advertising their services, helping the needy, etc...

Please note that examples involving the use of gov't funds, property or time-on-the-clock are not applicable.

In the meantime, I'll call a whaaaaaambulance for you.

I'm sorry...

You seem to be part of the deluded sect of humanists who seem to think that so long as people are *ALLOWED* to do something, within specific places...perhaps at proscribed times...and with or without strict regulation...that their activity hasn't been infringed upon.

There's no logic for such a position...quite honestly...so I'm not sure how to debate you.

You're part of a situation where religion is quickly becoming prohibited.

So not displaying the 10 Commandments in a public building is prohibiting religion?

Did you know that only two percent of Christian Churches in America display the 10 Commandments?

If the Churches don't display them, why should the government display them?

You cannot abhor all religions equally and consider yourself somehow "tolerant" any more than you can hate all minorities equally and consider yourself non-racist.

Moore abhors all religions but the Christian one. He believes that Hindus, and Moslems, and Buddhists have rights in this country only because they're given them by Judeo-Christianity.

You think someone who wants government to be neutral toward religious expression hates religion.

Would you have a problem with a Muslim Supreme Court Justice (there is one, in one of the Western states) erecting a monument to the Koran in a public building?

Christianity?
or
Judeoism?
or
Islam?

It's a prohibition of religion, sinkspur. Advocating it's removal is a clear demonstration of anti-religious bigotry.

At least you're consistent. It appears you would have no problem with a Muslim Justice placing a Koran in a prominent place in a public building.

"Check out what he thinks about Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists, and that they have no rights in this country except those rights given to them by the Judeo-Christian religion."

How does removing the Ten Commandments from public display at the Alabama Court Building change his thinking?

This is not a debate over the 10 Commandments, it is a debate over Federalsim and the Constitution. When the 1st Ammendment states that "Congress shall make no laws" it is clearly stating that this is NOT an issue over which the Federal Government has any authority. Further, the Constitution, in the 10th Ammendment, clearly reserves the the authority to the states and the people respectively.

I agree that the first four appear to reference religious ideology more than the rest that reference morality and common sense.

Of the remaining six, three really shouldn't be regulated by law:

5. Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.

10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's.

And the remaining three are indeed common ideas in law that are explicitly found in the Code of Hammurabi, which pre-dates the Old Testament:

6. Thou shalt not kill.

8. Thou shalt not steal.

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

So out of these 10 Commandments, only three really have any business in secular law -- and they aren't original with the 10 Commandments anyhow, as they are recorded in human history before the establishment of the Old Testament.

Why do we enforce "Thy shalt not murder?" Seems to me that someone is forcing there religion on us here. Why does society force this law of negating my right to murder someone? Here is the fallacy of your statement. No one in this country is forcing anyone to follow the Ten Commandments!

By the way, the fourth commandment is no longer in effect! Shows your theological ignorance here as well. It's the only one of the ten that Jesus did not reconfirm. Let me ask you this my friend. If the world today, immediately began to follow the nine remaining commandments left on the books, would this be a better world? To answer no would show not only your ignorance, but stupidity as well.

The commandments are basic spiritual laws that will destroy any society or nation that negates and ignores them. Here's the principle! "The nation that forgets GOD, will be turned into HELL." Now you understand why this country is on a downhill spiral, rolling down hill, like a snowball headed for hell.

"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools."

Religious advocacy is prohibited by a government official in his official capac.......

Come on Sink! You stated the argument exactly. You said "religious" advocacy.

The constitution allows and protects religious advocacy, but not the advocacy of one religion. My point is that the commandments only advocate God, and not any particular religion. At least not one that is evident.

What is it? A secret religion?

Anyway, that is the way I see it. Some may see this as an attack on Christianity. I think that is not correct.

This is a blatant attempt to remove God from all that is public. Not just religion. And that, is unconstitutional. This is where I draw the line.

Why do we enforce "Thy shalt not murder?" Seems to me that someone is forcing there religion on us here.

Even in the animal kingdom, animals fight in defense of self, family and herd. Similarly human history finds humans defending self, family and tribe. It is a natural instinct. It has nothing to do with religious beliefs.

This is a blatant attempt to remove God from all that is public.

Then how do you explain the 10 Commandments' presence at the US Supreme Court, and in the Texas Supreme Court building, all without a peep from any court, anywhere?

See, to me, this isn't about the 10 Commandments; it's about Roy Moore and the next step on his career ladder.

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