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{{Christianity}}

{{Christianity}}

The '''Ten Commandments,''' or the ''Decalogue,'' are a set of laws which were given to [[Moses]] by [[God]], as found in the books of [[Exodus]] and [[Deuteronomy]]. The biblical text of the Ten Commandments is differently divided according to [[denomination]]al [[tradition]]s. The [[Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] and [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] tradition traces back to the 3rd and 4th centuries. The Protestant tradition traces back to the 16th century [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]].

The '''Ten Commandments,''' or the ''Decalogue,'' are a set of laws which were given to [[Moses]] by [[God]], as found in the books of [[Exodus]] and [[Deuteronomy]]. The biblical text of the Ten Commandments is differently divided according to [[denomination]]al [[tradition]]s. The [[Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] and [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] tradition traces back to the 3rd and 4th centuries. The Protestant tradition traces back to the 16th century [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]].

Catholic and Orthodox Ten Commandments<ref>The English translation of the [[Septuagint]] by Sir Lancelot L.C. Brenton (in the public domain) is quoted here. Both lists of the commandments in the Septuagint have the same sequence: Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. However, the [[Douay-Rheims|Douay-Rheims Bible]] translation of the [[Vulgate|Latin Vulgate]] from [[Jerome]]'s translation of the Hebrew text, agrees with the [[King James Version]] in showing the same differences in sequence between the texts of Exodus 20:17 and Deuteronomy 5:21. The traditional Catholic and Orthodox teaching of the sequential division of the Ten Commandments is consistently according to the text of Deuteronomy instead of the text of Exodus emphasized by Protestant teaching. Italics in the English text have been inserted by the translator for the same reason as the King James translators inserted italics, to clarify the meaning and to indicate that they are not part of the original text.</ref>

Catholic and Orthodox Ten Commandments<ref>The English translation of the [[Septuagint]] by Sir Lancelot L.C. Brenton (in the public domain) is quoted here. Both lists of the commandments in the Septuagint have the same sequence: [[Exodus, Chapter 20|Exodus 20:2-17]] and [[Deuteronomy, Chapter 5|Deuteronomy 5:6-21]]. However, the [[Douay-Rheims|Douay-Rheims Bible]] translation of the [[Vulgate|Latin Vulgate]] from [[Jerome]]'s translation of the Hebrew text, agrees with the [[King James Version]] in showing the same differences in sequence between the texts of Exodus 20:17 and Deuteronomy 5:21. The traditional Catholic and Orthodox teaching of the sequential division of the Ten Commandments is consistently according to the text of Deuteronomy instead of the text of Exodus emphasized by Protestant teaching. Italics in the English text have been inserted by the translator for the same reason as the King James translators inserted italics, to clarify the meaning and to indicate that they are not part of the original text.</ref>

:1. I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods beside me. Thou shalt not make to thyself an idol, nor likeness of anything, whatever things are in the heaven above, and whatever are in the earth beneath, and whatever are in the waters under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor serve them; for I am the Lord thy God, a jealous God, recompensing the sins of the fathers upon the children, to the third and fourth generation to them that hate me, and bestowing mercy on them that love me to thousands ''of them'', and on them that keep my commandments.  

:1. I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods beside me. Thou shalt not make to thyself an idol, nor likeness of anything, whatever things are in the heaven above, and whatever are in the earth beneath, and whatever are in the waters under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor serve them; for I am the Lord thy God, a jealous God, recompensing the sins of the fathers upon the children, to the third and fourth generation to them that hate me, and bestowing mercy on them that love me to thousands ''of them'', and on them that keep my commandments.  

:2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord thy God will not acquit him that takes his name in vain.  

:2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord thy God will not acquit him that takes his name in vain.  

:"nor ''his'' house, nor his field, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is his." (Deuteronomy 5:21, [[Douay-Rheims Bible]])

:"nor ''his'' house, nor his field, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is his." (Deuteronomy 5:21, [[Douay-Rheims Bible]])

The [[Jewish]] Ten Commandments contain "I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of [[Egypt]], out of the house of [[slavery]]" as the 1st commandment, with their 2nd commandment combining the first two Protestant commandments "Thou shalt have no other gods before me: thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image...thou shalt not bow down thyself to them", and their listing of the remainder of their ten follows the Protestant listing, making wives property.<ref>Ibid. http://www.positiveatheism.org/crt/whichcom.htm</ref>

The [[Jewish]] Ten Commandments contain "I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of [[Egypt]], out of the house of [[slavery]]" as the 1st commandment, with their 2nd commandment combining the first two Protestant commandments "Thou shalt have no other gods before me: thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image...thou shalt not bow down thyself to them", and their listing of the remainder of their ten follows the Protestant listing.<ref>Ibid. http://www.positiveatheism.org/crt/whichcom.htm</ref>

However, as Jewish people would also recognize, the ''[[Torah]]'', or [[Law]] (the first five books of the Old Testament) actually contains not ten, but [[Mosaic Law|613 positive and negative commandments]]. Thus, when [[Jesus]] is asked (at [[Matthew]] 22:34-36) which is the greatest commandment in the Law, he picks two of the other 603: 'You shall love the Lord thy God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength' (Deuteronomy 6:5) and 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself' ([[Leviticus]] 19:18).

However, as Jewish people would also recognize, the ''[[Torah]]'', or [[Law]] (the first five books of the Old Testament), actually contains not ten, but [[Mosaic Law|613 positive and negative commandments]]. Thus, when [[Jesus]] is asked (at [[Matthew]] 22:34-36) which is the greatest commandment in the Law, he picks two of the other 603: 'You shall love the Lord thy God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength' (Deuteronomy 6:5) and 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself' ([[Leviticus]] 19:18).

==The Ten Commandments in US law==

==The Ten Commandments in US law==

# Nothing in current state or federal law specifically prohibits the taking in vain of God's name in general, but it may be in violation of broadcast decency laws if shown on television or radio.

# Nothing in current state or federal law specifically prohibits the taking in vain of God's name in general, but it may be in violation of broadcast decency laws if shown on television or radio.

# Past state laws have enforced the [[sabbath]] by forbidding various activities, such as the sale of specific goods, on Sundays. These, however, are all almost now repealed or struck down. Closure of shops on Sundays is by convention, but not legally enforced. However, some states still restrict the sale of alcohol on Sundays.  The seven-day week, however, is accepted worldwide, and most people observe at least one day free from work.

# Past state laws have enforced the [[sabbath]] by forbidding various activities, such as the sale of specific goods, on Sundays. These, however, are all almost now repealed or struck down. Closure of shops on Sundays is by convention, but not legally enforced. However, some states still restrict the sale of alcohol on Sundays.  The seven-day week, however, is accepted worldwide, and most people observe at least one day free from work.

# No law enforces the commandment about honoring parents, and it is doubtful that it could be enforced. Liberals are currently attempting to undermine this commandment, by trying to make disciplining children illegal. In contrast, the Bible tells us the correct way to bring up a child and teach him to respect his parents: '''"He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him."''' (Proverbs 13:24)

# No law enforces the commandment about honoring parents, and it is doubtful that it could be enforced. Liberals are currently attempting to undermine this commandment, by trying to make [[disciplining]] children illegal. Indeed, in some countries such as Sweden, liberals have already passed legislation to ban [[spanking]] and undermine parents. In contrast, the Bible tells us the correct way to bring up a child and teach him to respect his parents: '''"He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him."''' (Proverbs 13:24)

# The commandment against murder is enforced by U.S. law.

# The commandment against murder is enforced by U.S. law.

# Criminal laws against adultery<ref>[http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-365 Virginia Code § 18.2-365]</ref> are largely unenforced and of doubtful enforceability, but a showing of adultery will influence civil [[divorce]] proceedings and affect the distribution of assets.  Jesus clarified the definition of adultery, for instance in Matthew 8:27-32, to include remarriage after divorce in most cases. Until recently, it was difficult to get a divorce in most states other than Nevada for this reason; previously one had to prove fault with one's spouse, but since the 1950s that has changed in every state except [[New York]]. Today all states and many Christian denominations define adultery by the modern English definition<ref>adultery, n.

# Criminal laws against adultery<ref>[http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-365 Virginia Code § 18.2-365]</ref> are largely unenforced and of doubtful enforceability, but a showing of adultery will influence civil [[divorce]] proceedings and affect the distribution of assets.  Jesus clarified the definition of adultery, for instance in Matthew 8:27-32, to include remarriage after divorce in most cases. Until recently, it was difficult to get a divorce in most states other than Nevada for this reason; previously one had to prove fault with one's spouse, but since the 1950s that has changed in every state except [[New York]]. Today all states and many Christian denominations define adultery by the modern English definition<ref>adultery, n.

Second edition, 1989; online version November 2010. <http://www.oed.com:80/Entry/2845>; accessed 21 December 2010. Earlier version first published in New English Dictionary, 1884.</ref> to allow remarriage after divorce. Many Christians believe that this commandment, which forbids adultery,<ref>"voluntary sexual intercourse by a married man with another than his wife or by a married woman with another than her husband"&mdash;Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language, Second Edition, Unabridged, 1934</ref> also forbids fornication.<ref>"illicit sexual intercourse on the part of an unmarried person; the act of such illicit sexual intercourse between a man and a woman as does not by law amount to adultery" [op. cit.]</ref>

Second edition, 1989; online version November 2010. <http://www.oed.com:80/Entry/2845>; accessed 21 December 2010. Earlier version first published in New English Dictionary, 1884.</ref> to allow remarriage after divorce. Many Christians believe that this commandment, which forbids adultery,<ref>"voluntary sexual intercourse by a married man with another than his wife or by a married woman with another than her husband"&mdash;Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language, Second Edition, Unabridged, 1934</ref> also forbids fornication.<ref>"illicit sexual intercourse on the part of an unmarried person; the act of such illicit sexual intercourse between a man and a woman as does not by law amount to adultery" [op. cit.]</ref>

# The commandment against stealing is enforced by U.S. law.

# The commandment against stealing is enforced by U.S. law. See also: [[Atheism and stealing]]

# When used during litigation, or otherwise spoken under oath (see [[perjury]]), the commandment against bearing false witness is enforced by U.S. law.  For someone to bear false witness against a neighbor in a less formal setting (e.g. lying to a third party about a neighbor in the course of private conversation) could, in some circumstances, be a [[tort]], but rarely a crime.

# When used during litigation, or otherwise spoken under oath (see [[perjury]]), the commandment against bearing false witness is enforced by U.S. law.  For someone to bear false witness against a neighbor in a less formal setting (e.g. lying to a third party about a neighbor in the course of private conversation) could, in some circumstances, be a [[tort]], but rarely a crime.

# As a prohibition on a form of thought, the commandment against coveting what belongs to another cannot be enforced by legal means.

# As a prohibition on a form of thought, the commandment against coveting what belongs to another cannot be enforced by legal means.

==Controversies about displaying the Ten Commandments==

==Controversies about displaying the Ten Commandments==

In recent years, [[liberal]] attorneys and judges have opposed the display of the Ten Commandments on public property by exploiting the judicial system. Obama appointment, Judge Michael F. Urbanski, put forward the ridiculous idea of censoring the Ten Commandments by removing the first four to render them more secular.<ref>http://www.theblaze.com/stories/judge-suggests-stripping-10-commandments-down-to-6-to-remove-religious-elements-in-aclu-led-lawsuit/</ref><ref>http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/308501</ref>  The [[ACLU]], [[Freedom From Religion Foundation]], and other liberal organizations regularly file lawsuits in an attempt to censor the display of the Ten Commandments.  

In recent years, [[liberal]] attorneys and judges have opposed the display of the Ten Commandments on public property by exploiting the judicial system. Obama appointment, Judge Michael F. Urbanski, put forward the ridiculous idea of censoring the Ten Commandments by removing the first four to render them more secular.<ref>https://www.theblaze.com/stories/judge-suggests-stripping-10-commandments-down-to-6-to-remove-religious-elements-in-aclu-led-lawsuit/</ref><ref>http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/308501</ref>  The [[ACLU]], [[Freedom From Religion Foundation]], and other liberal organizations regularly file lawsuits in an attempt to censor the display of the Ten Commandments.  

In 2003, [[Alabama]] Supreme Court chief justice [[Roy Moore]] was removed from office after refusing a court order to remove a statue of the Ten Commandments from the central rotunda of the Alabama Supreme Court Building.<ref>http://www.al.com/specialreport/?111303moore.html</ref>

In 2003, [[Alabama]] Supreme Court chief justice [[Roy Moore]] was removed from office after refusing a court order to remove a statue of the Ten Commandments from the central rotunda of the Alabama Supreme Court Building.<ref>http://www.al.com/specialreport/?111303moore.html</ref>

==The movie==

==The movie==

''The Ten Commandments'' is also the title of a famous 1956 motion picture, produced and directed by [[Cecil B. DeMille]] and released by Paramount Pictures, starring [[Charlton Heston]] as Moses. It tells the story of Moses essentially as told in the Book of Exodus, with a few changes.  

''[[The Ten Commandments (1956 film)|The Ten Commandments]]'' is also the title of a famous 1956 motion picture, produced and directed by [[Cecil B. DeMille]] and released by Paramount Pictures, starring [[Charlton Heston]] as Moses. It tells the story of Moses essentially as told in the Book of Exodus, with a few changes.  

As publicity for the film, and in conjunction with a project of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Paramount helped finance the placement of hundreds of stone tablets engraved with the Ten Commandments. These were placed at courthouse squares, at city halls and in public parks, and became a controversy claimed by liberals and atheists, particularly in recent years, as to whether they violate the claimed separation of Church and State.

As publicity for the film, and in conjunction with a project of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Paramount helped finance the placement of hundreds of stone tablets engraved with the Ten Commandments. These were placed at courthouse squares, at city halls and in public parks, and became a controversy claimed by liberals and atheists, particularly in recent years, as to whether they violate the claimed separation of Church and State.

==See also==

==See also==