The Ten Commandments Controversy
The debate over whether or not The Ten Commandments should be displayed on government property has reached the Supreme Court. The issue is, “Does the prominent display of The Ten Commandments on government buildings violate the separation of church and state.” The Court’s decision is expected this summer.
What is the problem with The Ten Commandments? It is hard to imagine that anyone in America would seriously disagree with five: 1) Honor your father and mother. 2) Do not murder. 3) Do not commit adultery. 4) Do not steal. 5) Do not bear false witness. Certainly, anyone who disagrees with these five prohibitions are on the fringe of American society. No less than Justice Antonin Scalia says that 90% of the American people support having The Ten Commandments on display, even if “85% of them couldn’t tell you what they say.” Besides, murder, stealing, and lying (called fraud) are illegal! What is the problem with posting laws in a government building?
Is the problem the Constitution? The First Amendment says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise and thereof.” Is the public display of The Ten Commandments the establishment of religion? As a pastor, I wish it were that easy to establish a church.
Give me a break! Does anyone seriously believe that the posting of The Ten Commandments on government property establishes a religion? Exactly which religion does it establish? The Ten Commandments are part of both Judaism and Christianity.
No, the objection to posting The Ten Commandments on government property is not the First Amendment of the Constitution. Nor is it the last six of The Ten Commandments. The issue is not the first amendment; it is the first Commandment!
The first Commandment says, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Ex. 20:3). According to the preamble of The Ten Commandments, the One who said that is, “the LORD your God” (Ex. 20:2). At least one Supreme Court Justice has figured out the nature of the controversy. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy says the demands to remove The Ten Commandments shows “hostility to religion.”
What the posting of The Ten Commandments on government property does do is recognize our laws are based on God’s laws. As Justice Antonia Scalia says, “It’s a symbol that the government derives its authority from God. That’s what this is about. Our laws are derived from God.”
That is nature of this controversy. It is not about the establishment, or even the endorsement, of religion. It is about the recognition of God! This is not about the separation of church and state. It is about the separation of any acknowledgment of the Supreme Sovereign of the universe from American society.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 3/7/2005
What is the problem with The Ten Commandments? It is hard to imagine that anyone in America would seriously disagree with five: 1) Honor your father and mother. 2) Do not murder. 3) Do not commit adultery. 4) Do not steal. 5) Do not bear false witness. Certainly, anyone who disagrees with these five prohibitions are on the fringe of American society. No less than Justice Antonin Scalia says that 90% of the American people support having The Ten Commandments on display, even if “85% of them couldn’t tell you what they say.” Besides, murder, stealing, and lying (called fraud) are illegal! What is the problem with posting laws in a government building?
Is the problem the Constitution? The First Amendment says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise and thereof.” Is the public display of The Ten Commandments the establishment of religion? As a pastor, I wish it were that easy to establish a church.
Give me a break! Does anyone seriously believe that the posting of The Ten Commandments on government property establishes a religion? Exactly which religion does it establish? The Ten Commandments are part of both Judaism and Christianity.
No, the objection to posting The Ten Commandments on government property is not the First Amendment of the Constitution. Nor is it the last six of The Ten Commandments. The issue is not the first amendment; it is the first Commandment!
The first Commandment says, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Ex. 20:3). According to the preamble of The Ten Commandments, the One who said that is, “the LORD your God” (Ex. 20:2). At least one Supreme Court Justice has figured out the nature of the controversy. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy says the demands to remove The Ten Commandments shows “hostility to religion.”
What the posting of The Ten Commandments on government property does do is recognize our laws are based on God’s laws. As Justice Antonia Scalia says, “It’s a symbol that the government derives its authority from God. That’s what this is about. Our laws are derived from God.”
That is nature of this controversy. It is not about the establishment, or even the endorsement, of religion. It is about the recognition of God! This is not about the separation of church and state. It is about the separation of any acknowledgment of the Supreme Sovereign of the universe from American society.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 3/7/2005