There is currently a movement afoot in some of the so-called “red” states to pass laws requiring the prominent display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. The proposed laws stipulate the size of the display, where it is to be located, and which version of the commandments is allowed. How could any decent person be against the Ten Commandments? Answer: they aren’t. They only oppose the government force-feeding specific religious requirements to public school children. Otherwise they may revere and follow the commandments according to their personal faith. Since this clearly a violation of the Establishment Clause of the first amendment, the lawmakers are tying themselves in knots, trying to say the commandments are being displayed only because of their historical significance as the basis of our legal system rather than their religious value. Let’s see how our legal system regards the commandments.
- Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Call your local sheriff and tell him you have evidence that your Norwegian neighbor across the street ranks Thor higher than Jehovah. Find out which ordinance in the criminal code prohibits this, and what the legal punishment is. See how quickly the deputies arrive to investigate.
- Thou shalt make no graven image.
Hey, this one should be displayed in the art classrooms. Those poor kids may be making graven images without even knowing what they are. Is automatic suspension the appropriate punishment?
- Thou shalt not take the Lord’s name in vain.
Contrary to popular belief, this one does not prohibit ordinary garden variety cussing, but only the hard-core religious type. Not illegal, by damn. Thank goodness.
- Thou shalt remember the Sabbath and keep it holy,
Yes, we already do this one. In my state you can’t buy beer on Sunday. No other restrictions are employed or necessary.
- Honor thy father and mother.
Good idea, but let’s hope they won’t try to prosecute you if you don’t.
- Thou shalt not commit murder.
This is a sticky one. Murder, rather than just killing, is a legal term. It’s definitely illegal except for capital punishment, war, self-defense, abortion, and physician assisted suicide (in some states). Capital punishment is only legal for some offenses. Killing in war is ok if you kill the right people; schools, hospitals, and other innocent civilians are “collateral damage,” but not murder. Self-defense requires a good argument for acquittal. “He looked scary” is not good enough; “I didn’t know the gun was loaded” works sometimes. Abortion is only murder if your religion or the state says it is. Nobody agrees on any of this.
- Thou shalt not commit adultery.
It’s technically illegal, but seldom punished except in divorce court. If it were universally prosecuted our prisons would overflow. If you accept Jesus’ widening the concept to include “in your heart,” no one is safe.
- Thou shalt not steal.
This one is definitely illegal too, but how you do it counts. Embezzlement or cheating your customers may get you a slap on the wrist, armed robbery puts you in prison.
- Thou shalt not bear false witness.
This is not simple lying; it is perjury – lying in court puts you in jail. Telling your wife that dress doesn’t make her butt look fat is permissible.
- Thou shalt not covet.
Oh, my goodness! Don’t let our legal system enforce this commandment. The advertising industry would fail and our economy would collapse. Coveting is our way of life. True, if you covet your neighbor’s wife he will be offended, but coveting his new car will please him greatly.
So there you have it: commandment nos. 6, 8, and 9 are definitely legal situations. The others are strictly religious or moral requirements. They are excellent advice, but not the basis for our legal system. It seems obvious that the display laws are intended to be religious statements and the religious statements are intended for political advantage. The trouble with government sponsored religion is that it infringes on people’s freedom of religious expression and it trivializes legitimate religious faith. It hurts faith and government.
There are alternate possibilities for classroom posters. Let’s demonstrate our public beliefs with the Constitution or the Bill of rights. Quotes from Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson are appropriate for student edification. As a southern governor recently proclaimed, “We need education, not indoctrination.”