Recently, we have watched a person dear to our hearts, reject his religion.
The quality of his life has plummeted.
It plummeted because he confused the principles of a good life of belonging only to religion, and after rejecting everything religious~~well he threw the baby out with the bathwater.
He couldn't recognize the good apart from religion.
In 2005, the Supreme Court ruled on two different cases that found controversy in the display of The Ten Commandments. Adversaries of religion saw the displays of what constitutes a good life only connected to religion, and having rejected religion, they also rejected the Ten Commandments.
The Supreme Court ruled that a Texas display of the Ten Commandments, a six foot tall monument on the grounds of the county courthouse, could stay. Only because they were a part of Texas history and not because they promoted religion. The monument represented the ideals of the early settlers of Texas and therefore were justified.
The second case involved the display of the Ten Commandments in a Kentucky courthouse. The framed commandments were only erected in recent times and they were hung alone. Therefore, it was determined that the commandments were hung to promote religion and this was a violation of the first amendment of the constitution which prohibits government support of any religion.
Even the Supreme Court did not discern between principles of a good life and religion.
Can we look at the Ten Commandments out of the context of religion? Can we see them as good-living principles?
The more obvious:
Thou shalt not kill. The opposite is Thou shalt kill.
Honour thy father and thy mother. To not be honored, to not honour, brings conflict, heartache, neglect.
Thou shalt not commit adultery. Again, the opposite guarantees heartache, loss of trust and loyalty, children hurt, families destroyed.
Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt steal leads to mayhem, anarchy, danger.
Thou shalt not bear false witness against they neighbor. Fewer things are more devastating than to be lied about.
Thou shalt not covet...much better to focus on and develop our own talents and possessions.
The above list is a solid foundation for living a blessed life, and it's easy to see how the wisdom of following these rules stand alone outside the rules of religion. Common sense.
Now let's tackle the commandments specifically related to God and religion.
Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Modern day living experts, medical and mental experts, have all espoused the importance of a day off or a day of rest.
Thou shalt have no other Gods before me. If God is the representation of Love they neighbor as thyself, and Love one another as I have loved you, is it so off-putting to prioritize anything else?
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord they God in vain. In a fun discussion while hiking in the beautiful woods, a friend and I disagreed over this commandment. She felt it was fine to damn diety by expression. I did not. What if, I asked her, I used your name to vent my frustration?
Suppose her name was Smith. Suppose in reference to her, when I accidentally hit my thumb with a hammer I yelled out "Smith Dammit!"
"I get it," she said.
~~
Recently, we have watched a person dear to our hearts, reject his religion.
Religion is a personal choice. Leave it if you must, but please, keep the good.
The quality of his life has plummeted.
It plummeted because he confused the principles of a good life of belonging only to religion, and after rejecting everything religious~~well he threw the baby out with the bathwater.
He couldn't recognize the good apart from religion.
In 2005, the Supreme Court ruled on two different cases that found controversy in the display of The Ten Commandments. Adversaries of religion saw the displays of what constitutes a good life only connected to religion, and having rejected religion, they also rejected the Ten Commandments.
The Supreme Court ruled that a Texas display of the Ten Commandments, a six foot tall monument on the grounds of the county courthouse, could stay. Only because they were a part of Texas history and not because they promoted religion. The monument represented the ideals of the early settlers of Texas and therefore were justified.
The second case involved the display of the Ten Commandments in a Kentucky courthouse. The framed commandments were only erected in recent times and they were hung alone. Therefore, it was determined that the commandments were hung to promote religion and this was a violation of the first amendment of the constitution which prohibits government support of any religion.
Even the Supreme Court did not discern between principles of a good life and religion.
Can we look at the Ten Commandments out of the context of religion? Can we see them as good-living principles?
The more obvious:
Thou shalt not kill. The opposite is Thou shalt kill.
Honour thy father and thy mother. To not be honored, to not honour, brings conflict, heartache, neglect.
Thou shalt not commit adultery. Again, the opposite guarantees heartache, loss of trust and loyalty, children hurt, families destroyed.
Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt steal leads to mayhem, anarchy, danger.
Thou shalt not bear false witness against they neighbor. Fewer things are more devastating than to be lied about.
Thou shalt not covet...much better to focus on and develop our own talents and possessions.
The above list is a solid foundation for living a blessed life, and it's easy to see how the wisdom of following these rules stand alone outside the rules of religion. Common sense.
Now let's tackle the commandments specifically related to God and religion.
Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Modern day living experts, medical and mental experts, have all espoused the importance of a day off or a day of rest.
Thou shalt have no other Gods before me. If God is the representation of Love they neighbor as thyself, and Love one another as I have loved you, is it so off-putting to prioritize anything else?
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord they God in vain. In a fun discussion while hiking in the beautiful woods, a friend and I disagreed over this commandment. She felt it was fine to damn diety by expression. I did not. What if, I asked her, I used your name to vent my frustration?
Suppose her name was Smith. Suppose in reference to her, when I accidentally hit my thumb with a hammer I yelled out "Smith Dammit!"
"I get it," she said.
~~
Recently, we have watched a person dear to our hearts, reject his religion.
Religion is a personal choice. Leave it if you must, but please, keep the good.
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