Is Louisiana placing the Ten Commandments in all public-school classrooms a good idea?
Every educated person should be familiar with the commandments. They are foundational to our concept of law and morality. America and Western Civilization are unimaginable without them. So is global society. Their influence is universal. Familiarizing students with them is imperative.
Of course there will be blowback, including litigation. Louisiana hopes the U.S. Supreme Court will override its previous ruling in 1980 against such displays. If the new law survives, other religious traditions presumably will demand displays from their faith traditions, whether Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist or even Satanic. Many “holiday” displays on government property have become flea markets of religious expression. Last Christmas season, a Satanic statue, eventually toppled, stirred controversy in the Iowa State Capitol.
The Ten Commandments hold a unique place in our civilization, so perhaps they can legally stand on their own without the flea market. Most students likely will give the poster on their classroom wall little attention. But we can hope some will read, ponder and reflect, with consequences that influence their futures, and their roles as citizens, for the better.
This Louisiana law reminded me of a Harry Truman quote about Mount Sinai’s importance to America that I used in the first sermon I ever gave as a Methodist layman as a very young man. It’s from 1952 when he addressed a convention of young student campus newspaper editors, whom he told:
The United States of America is the greatest Republic in the history of the world. We want to keep it the greatest Republic. It will be up to you young people to do that job in the future.
It is necessary for the young people to understand the road to be followed, if this country is to accomplish the mission which God intended it to accomplish in this world.
But most pertinent:
Now, the thing I want to impress upon you is that government must be operated on the basis of the greatest good for the greatest number of its citizens. That is the fundamental basis of the domestic program and the foreign policy of this Government of yours and mine. No nation is good and can last unless it is built upon our ideals. Our Nation is built upon ideals—ideals of unselfishness and respect for the rights and welfare of others.
The fundamental basis of this Nation’s ideals was given to Moses on Mount Sinai. The fundamental basis of the Bill of Rights of our Constitution comes from the teachings which we get from Exodus, St. Matthew, Isaiah, and St. Paul. The Sermon on the Mount gives us a way of life, and maybe some day men will understand it as the real way of life. The basis of all great moral codes is “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” Treat others as you would like to be treated.
Some of you may think that such a philosophy as that has no place in politics and government. But it is the only philosophy on which you can base a lasting government. Governments built on that philosophy are built on a rock, and will not fail.
Truman repeated his points about Mount Sinai and the Sermon on the Mount in a 1955 commentary he wrote called “This I Believe:”
I believe in a moral code based on the Ten Commandments found in the 20th chapter of Exodus and on the fifth, sixth and seventh chapters of the Gospel According to Saint Matthew, which is the Sermon on the Mount.
I believe that a man ought to live by those precepts, and if followed, it will enable him to do right. I don’t know whether I have followed these precepts or not, but I have tried.
What are the political implications of heeding Mount Sinai and the Sermon on the Mount? Truman answered:
I believe that our Bill of Rights must be implemented in fact, that it is the duty of every government – state, local or federal – to preserve the rights of the individual.
I believe that a civil-rights program, as we must practice it today, involves not so much the protection of the people against the government but the protection of the people by the government, and for this reason, we must make the federal government a friendly, vigilant defender of the rights and equalities of all Americans and that every man should be free to live his life as he wishes. He should be limited only by his responsibility to his fellow man.
I believe that we should remove the last barriers, which stand between millions of our people and their birthright. There can be no justifiable reason for discrimination because of ancestry or religion or race or color.
I believe that to inspire the people of the world whose freedom is in jeopardy and restore hope to those who have already lost their civil liberties, we must correct the remaining imperfections in our own democracy. We know the way. We only need the will.
For Truman, the Ten Commandments, with other biblical teachings, are the foundation for political and legal equality for all people. The beneficiaries of these Jewish and Christian teachings are not just Jews and Christians but all of humanity directly or indirectly.
A lawsuit against the Louisiana Ten Commandments law alleges it is religiously discriminatory and exemplifies “Christian nationalism.” Some who support the law may have that intention. But the display of the commandments need not and should not have that purpose. Privileging some religious adherents over others under U.S. law and custom is unacceptable.
And America’s commitment to equality for all, regardless of faith, is traceable to the commandments and other biblical teachings, such as the Sermon on the Mount. Or as Truman noted: “Our Nation is built upon ideals—ideals of unselfishness and respect for the rights and welfare of others.”
Comment by Randy on June 25, 2024 at 12:57 am
To the extent that any Biblical teachings could be said to be the basis for an American commitment to equality, the Ten Commandments play only a peripheral role. The relevant text here is from Genesis 1: all human beings are made in the image and likeness of God. In laying the physical foundation of the world, God also thus laid its moral foundation. And, thus, what Jesus cites as the two greatest commandments, to love God and neighbor, flow inevitably from the understanding that all human beings are made in the divine image.
But it’s no surprise, really, that Christian rightists in America would rather talk about the Ten Commandments, which Jesus treated more as commentary on the two great commandments.
As a basis for law, the Ten Commandments are largely about promoting order. Treating all people as equals made in God’s image, requires a greater commitment than America historically has been willing to make. This foundational idea from Genesis is way too radical, even today, for conservative politicians to allow in our schools. Not killing or stealing from your neighbor does not necessarily demand love for neighbor, nor an affirmation that neighbors are God’s equally beloved children.
Comment by Douglas E Ehrhardt on June 25, 2024 at 9:39 am
Yes let’s sexually mutilate our kids instead.
Comment by Randy on June 25, 2024 at 10:28 am
An abrupt change of subject is a sure sign you’ve lost the argument.
Comment by Joe Cogan on June 25, 2024 at 11:48 am
Presumably the writers and editors of a blog entitled Juicy Ecumenism are aware that the Catholic and Protestant versions of the Ten Commandments are different. Whichever one gets posted, advocates of the other are almost certain to successfully litigate that this constitutes an Unconstititional endorsement of one over the other.
Comment by David on June 26, 2024 at 2:42 pm
The first commandment is not particularly friendly to the notion of freedom of religion. Preaching the idea of a trinity in the days of Moses would likely resulted in your being stoned to death.
Few of the commandments survive in US law. These include murder, theft, perjury, and perhaps adultery. These prohibitions are found in many legal codes from even earlier times. It might be more instructive to students to have the Code of Hammurabi posted.
Comment by Rev Robert Tanzie on June 26, 2024 at 8:08 pm
As a minister of the gospel (PCA) and missionary church planter (MTW), I find your endorsement of hanging the Ten Commandments in our nations public schools a bit shallow. For the children or teachers who might give them attention it teaches that Christianity is a set of rules to be obeyed thus creating legalistic pharisees or self- deceived moralists. Theocracy has been tried and found wanting; giving the church a black eye every time. You should find the instruments of grace given TO THE CHURCH , not the state more than sufficient to accomplish her mandate. Pollution of the church from the political right is as damaging as the same from the left. Do not put your trust in princes.
Comment by George on June 26, 2024 at 8:10 pm
You can’t depend on the American public school system to teach our children what God expects of us. Parents should be teaching the commandments at home and in church and synagogues on Saturday and Sundays. Sorry, Muslims. All I hear from your side is hate. Religion built on hate is not a true religion. The posting of the Ten Commandments in schools is stupid. Try teaching some math and ENGLISH. That’s what I’m paying my taxes for.
Comment by Thomas on June 26, 2024 at 8:46 pm
The Ten Comandments belong more in a church than in a school classroom, as much valuable and important they are for the Western Civilization, but I find curious how President Harry S. Truman can be quoted today and be seen as reference by many social conservatives in the United States, in a time where most members of the political party to once he belonged, no longer the same as today, could be as well atheists, since they have rejected basic tenants of the Christian faith.
Comment by Henry Stokes on June 26, 2024 at 9:25 pm
Your attempt to square instilling the Ten Commandments with the First Amendment simply does not work. The United States intentionally was not established as a theocracy. The Founders (with their diversity of religious backgrounds, including agnostics as well as various stripes of Christians) well knew the history of sectarian dominance in the Colonies and set forth in the Bill of Rights a prohibition on government-imposed religion.
Surely the influence of Christianity is well enough entrenched in our diverse society not to need the taint of politics and coercion to remain so.
Comment by Different Steve on June 27, 2024 at 9:43 am
The sacred Pride flag and the new double standard blasphemy laws
https://nypost.com/2024/06/26/opinion/pride-flag-desecration-time-to-separate-sex-and-state/
A new crime wave has gripped the country, and this time progressives are calling for harsh penalties, even charging teenagers with felonies.
That’s because this crime is political, and these teens are accused of disrespecting the flag — the Pride flag, that is.
The latest front in the culture war is the humble urban crosswalk. …
They still say it’s unconstitutional when Louisiana passes a law that puts the Ten Commandments in every public-school classroom in the state.
Progressives would never countenance painting a Christian cross on a public crosswalk.
What gives the LGBTQ community a right to an official presence in public that’s denied to religious believers?
Comment by Douglas E Ehrhardt on June 27, 2024 at 11:05 am
30 percent of Generation z claims to be some sort of the alphabet people. As direct result of indoctrination in government schools. Just imagine if 30 percent of the generation in school now became actual Christians. Because of posting the Commandments. I highly doubt it. The teachers unions would never be promoting anything but perversion.
Comment by Skipper on June 27, 2024 at 3:37 pm
Schools were so much safer and had respect for all when Christian ethics were observed. Too bad what public schools have become. We had prayer over the intercom every morning when I was in high school. Most of today’s problems were simply unheard of, including people with sexual confusion. Many graduate today without knowledge of God’s Commandments. Still, the Bible says they have no excuse. So sad. Many who don’t get off the a good start in life never seem to find faith in Christ or a desire to follow Him.
Comment by Diane on June 27, 2024 at 10:52 pm
As a retired teacher, posting of the Ten Commandments in classrooms invites free-for-all classroom commentary. Progressive teachers will have a field day with this. A second grade teacher already told me just exactly how she’d teach about adultery to her kids, and yes, she’d be direct: it has to do with sex. Another teacher said she’d point out that the commandments were written only for straight men and lesbian women, citing “you shall not covet your neighbor’s house, wife, oxen, donkey etc. She’d explain that this commandment defines women as property, just like cattle. Lesbian women should not covet their neighbor’s wife if they find them attractive. And “do not murder” could be used to promote anti-military attitudes. Keep them out of classrooms, folks.
Comment by George on June 28, 2024 at 10:29 pm
Diane, you’re a peach. Although I must agree that the “public school classroom “ is not a place for religious study, it is missing the mark on math, writing, reading, spelling, etc .
So just what is it that you and your other PROGRESSIVE teacher friends do except promote homosexuality, trans-sexuality, and just about any other sexual deviance that you can think up? Oh, yes. Higher wages and more time off. It’s no wonder that Johnny can’t read.
Comment by Diane on June 29, 2024 at 12:21 pm
That’s where you’re wrong, George, Nearly every child I taught was reading well above grade level by the end of the year. I’m retired now…but I know plenty of teachers still in the field. Among the kids I aught are doctors, lawyers, teachers, city managers, artists, engineers…you obviously are uninformed.and prone to hateful verbal attacks on those you mischaracterize based on your own narrow prejudices. By the way, the kids who transferred mid-year into my classroom from fundamentalist Christian private schools were always months behind academically.
Comment by George on July 1, 2024 at 8:02 am
Diane shows how proud she is that she taught future doctors, lawyers, TEACHERS, city managers, artists, and engineers. What about the electricians, plumbers, mechanics, nurses, police officers, firemen, salesmen, soldiers, Christian ministers, and others who fail to make her prideful list. And one more thing. Her examples of what teachers will do if the Ten Commandments are posted at their schools is sickening. What kind of second grade teacher would take their political frustration out on eight year olds? Probably the same kind of educators who thought it was a good idea to allow transvestites to come to schools and libraries and read to children. The same people who want to control which pronouns we must use. The same people who think it’s a good idea to surgically, and with strong drugs, attempt to change the sex of youngsters. No, I’m not for hanging the Ten Commandments in classrooms but I’m not for hurting children like the elite progressives are doing either. We need to pick our battles. Mixing religion and politics is not a good choice.
Comment by Diane on July 3, 2024 at 2:14 am
George, so glad you added all the other professions I didn’t name…but yes, taught them, too. Proudly, without any help from you.