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No basis in our law you say? Honor thy Mother and Father has influenced family law, with particular respect to elderly abuse as is evident in the recent symposium given on the aspects of Elder Abuse in Maryland. The American family is protected in the Fifth and Seventh commandments: "Honor thy father and mother"; "Thou shalt not commit adultery." So yes, these HAVE basis in our laws historically.

The Fourth Commandment says, "Honor the Sabbath Day to keep it holy." The weekend is from the Judeo-Christian tradition rooted in the Fourth Commandment, and it is protected by federal laws, which, among other things, prohibit the delivery of mail on Sundays. So yes, these HAVE basis in our laws.

The First Commandment is, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Our national motto is "In God We Trust. So again, we see the basis.

It is a major stretch to say that laws which prevent mistreatment the elderly are derived from the commandment "Honor thy Mother and Father". When kids become legal adults (18 or 21, whatever), they have absolutely zero legal responsibility for their parents. The parent needs help and the kid refuses...the law can't make them help. Any decent person would help their parents, but there is no legal obligation. The laws preventing abuse of the elderly apply to anyone, not just the kids. And before the kids turn 18, they don't have to "honor" their parents either.

Wow, No mail delivery on Sunday...and most government agencies are closed on weekends. Yep, that is remnant of Judeo Christianity. But it hardly rises to the level of "Keeping the Sabbath Holy". There is no law which says I can't work my butt off on Sunday. Many people do. I can drink liquor, watch football, go diving, and do any manner of 'unholy' things and there isn't a darn thing our laws can do to stop me. Darn that First amendment which says the Government shall make no law respecting the establishment or free exercise of religion. It is by Tradition, not by adherence to the Commandments that we take off on weekends.

Yes, the first Commandment says "Thou shall have no other Gods before me". And Our National Motto does say "In God We Trust". But what kind of lame law is that? Am I forced to Trust in a God? Absolutely not. The first amendment guarentees that I don't.

Again, SIX of the TEN Commandments are specifically excluded from our legal system. I am extremely grateful that our founding fathers intended to keep the government out of my spiritual life. I'll fight like hell to keep the fundamentalists of any religion from imposing a favored religion.

Gone to bed. Thanks for your reply! Your friend, Diverdogz.