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In several controversies over the legality of displaying the Ten Commandments on government property, and especially outside courthouses, the influence of the Ten Commandments on US law becomes relevant as proponents of the displays argue that these commandments form part of the foundation of the US legal system.

In several controversies over the legality of displaying the Ten Commandments on government property, and especially outside courthouses, the influence of the Ten Commandments on US law becomes relevant as proponents of the displays argue that these commandments form part of the foundation of the US legal system.

1. Some official U.S. documents accept the existence of God, although there is no specifics in U.S. law as to who this God is, and the [[First Amendment]] to the Constitution is interpreted as opposing any attempt to impose the belief or non-belief in God.

# Some official U.S. documents accept the existence of God, although there is no specifics in U.S. law as to who this God is, and the [[First Amendment]] to the Constitution is interpreted as opposing any attempt to impose the belief or non-belief in God.

 

# Similarly, the First Amendment forbids any legal means of enforcing the commandment about not worshipping idols.

2. Similarly, the First Amendment forbids any legal means of enforcing the commandment about not worshipping idols.

# 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 These, however, are all almost now repealed or struck down.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 world-wide, and most people observe at least one day free from work.

3. 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.

# No law enforces the commandment about honoring parents, and it is doubtful that it could be enforced.

 

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

4. 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 world-wide, and most people observe at least one day free from work.

# Adultery is not a criminal offense, but it 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, most states other than Nevada outlawed divorce for this reason.  Today most states and many Christian denominations define adultery in a narrow way to allow remarriage after divorce, contrary to Jesus' law.  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.

5. No law enforces the commandment about honoring parents, and it is doubtful that it could be enforced.

# 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.

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

 

7. Adultery is not a criminal offense, but it 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, most states other than Nevada outlawed divorce for this reason.  Today most states and many Christian denominations define adultery in a narrow way to allow remarriage after divorce, contrary to Jesus' law.  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>

 

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

 

9. 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.

 

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

==The movie==

==The movie==