Sunday, May 9, 2010

The Ten Commandments as basis for US law : Are Xtians REALLY this stupid?


I’m up to here [picture the height of my hump] with Xtians mindlessly attributing US law to the Ten Commandments. Fact is, they have absolutely zero to do with our laws.

There were three versions of the commandments. One was verbally dictated by Moses. The second was when he spent 40 days on Mt. Sinai chiseling them into two stone tablets which he promptly smashed in a rage. The third was a replacement for the ones Moses broke. Each set was different. The first set didn’t even discuss murder or stealing until it hit the thirteenth commandment (Exodus 20:2-17) and had a total of 17 commandments. The second set (Deut. 5:6-21) had 21 commandments. In the third set (Exodus 34:11-27) Gawd added even more self serving crappola and out did itself with 27 commandments. They are now pretty much shaken, stirred, blended, redacted, edited and reorganized into what we now call the Ten Commandments. Of course, very few Xtians are aware of this.

Yet Xtian fanatics insist the Ten Commandments of lore are the basis for western civilization’s and US laws, and demand they be placed on public property, in government facilities, given special reverence and consideration in violation of the prohibition against endorsement of any religion by the secular state. They try to pass it off as “history” not religion to circumvent the 1st amendment. I say the first issue of Playboy is history, and ever so more instructive. Should they thus share equal space in our government buildings?

The first four commandments are self serving ego trips and religious demands by their fictional Sky Daddy that are not anywhere in our Constitution. In fact, it would be a violation of the 1st amendment of the Constitution if they were.

There are no laws requiring anyone to honor their parents; nor prohibiting being envious of your neighbor’s property, or his wife, or his “ass”. Also not in the Constitution. (V, X)

While there are archaic laws in some states about adultery, it is a throw back to theist think. They are not enforced (and certainly not punished by stoning to death as prescribed in Talmudic law); and is also omitted from our Constitution. (VII)

Lying is not illegal either, only committing perjury while under oath in a court is punishable by our laws; or lying to obstruct justice. (IX)

So this leaves the prohibition against killing (theists say “murder”) and stealing (VI, VIII). But, both of these prohibitions predate Xtianity AND the Hebrew bible, having been codified by the early Egyptians, Hindus (India) , Babylonians (The Code of Hammurabi), and Chinese.

Finally, all US law is based on English Common Law, which pre-dates the arrival of Christianity to Britain by 200 years, as Thomas Jefferson pointed out. http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/jefferson_cooper.html

So out of ten “commandments” only 2 ½ (murder, stealing & perjury) are part of our law, and would exist without the Hebrew Ten Commandments based on pre-Xtian English common law, and basic precepts that gave order to societies all over the planet well before the story of Exodus was written.

Not one in 10,000 Christians will know this, understand this, or embrace this. It’s just too full of reality, fact and documented evidence all of which could be researched and confirmed by anyone with average intellect, an iota of curiosity, and interest in the truth. Unfortunately, most Christians lack those attributes.

And on it goes.

27 comments:

NFQ said...

Woo! Enjoyed the rant. I'd add that the commandment against killing is also not entirely a part of US law either (and not entirely a part of how folks actually behaved in the Bible ... who am I kidding, not at all). The Constitution describes how the president is commander-in-chief of the armed forces, discusses militia a few times, and specifies the right to bear arms. None of which, I'm pretty sure, is intended to guarantee our right to stand around and look pretty in uniform.

Catholics say "kill" here and other Christians say "murder" -- not sure what the word in Hebrew connotes for Jews. Regardless, you'd think an omnipotent, omniscient, benevolent God would know to be a bit more clear on whether he believed in an exception for self-defense.

PS - Your comment policy is great, I love it.

Dromedary Hump said...

NFQ,
Thanks!

Actually, the Hebrew word used was "ratsach" in one version of the commandments, and "haraq" in the other version. Both words primary definitions are "kill" and "slay". But given the fact that wholesale killing, was directed, committed, or suborned by their wrathful murderous god it sort of conflicted with the message (i.e. do as I say, not as I do), thus the predominent apologetic re-interpretation is "murder."

Ofcourse, genocide is murder too, so god and the hebrews violated the commandment often no matter how they parse it.

NewEnglandBob said...

Hump asks:

"Are Xtians REALLY this stupid?"

Note, he did not say ignorant. We are all ignorant on some subjects. That is a matter of education.

Stupid has several connotations. From Merriam Webster:

1 a : slow of mind : obtuse b : given to unintelligent decisions or acts : acting in an unintelligent or careless manner c : lacking intelligence or reason : brutish
2 : dulled in feeling or sensation : torpid (still stupid from the sedative)
3 : marked by or resulting from unreasoned thinking or acting : senseless (a stupid decision)
4 a : lacking interest or point (a stupid event) b : vexatious, exasperating (the stupid car won't start).

The effective definition here is number 3, with a touch of 1 b. Couple that with malicious intent and I think that describes these people who are trying to display the useless "10 commandments".

Dromedary Hump said...

NEBob..
Bingo! Thanks for that clarification .

David B. Appleton said...

NEBob: Ron White said it as well, or better, than I can:

"You can't fix stupid."

zarton said...

Come on Hump, where would we be without the part in the constitution about not boiling a baby goat in its mothers milk? I'm sure it's in there somewhere. LOL

Engineer of Knowledge said...

Hello Hump,
I just did a posting on my site called, “United States As A Christian Nation?”

How does the Ultra Religious think that they can rewrite our country’s history with regards to our founding fathers establishing the United States as a Christian Nation? The posting goes on to give proof that it is exactly the opposite with quotes from our founding fathers. Examples below:

“Lighthouses are more useful than churches.” Benjamin Franklin

“This would be the best of all possible worlds if there were no religion in it!” John Adams

“Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man.” “I have recently been examining all the known superstitions of the world, and do not find in our particular superstition (Christianity) one redeeming feature. They are all alike founded on fables and mythology.” Thomas Jefferson

“I beg you be persuaded that no one would be more zealous than myself to establish “EFFECTUAL BARRIERS” against the “HORRORS” of “SPIRITUAL TYRANNY,” and every species of religious persecution.” George Washington, to United Baptists Churches of Virginia, May, 1789 from The Washington papers.

The Constitution, a completely secular document, contains no references to God, Jesus or Christianity. It says absolutely nothing about the United States being officially Christian. In fact the Constitution forbids any religious test to hold office. A godless person is just as eligible as a godly one! (Article 6, Paragraph 3)

So who are these Extreme Religious Right trying to pass this United States Founded as a Christian Nation “Bull Crap” onto…..The only ones they are fooling are themselves.

Rastifan said...

They waisted the first commandments om their god's ego as Hump pointed out. I for one would have liked to see one of them abolish slavery. Which of course would have been yet another contradiction to the 143 (if memory serves) that already exist. I think there is more.

Carl said...

Well I will say most christians I have ever run across are very stupid when it comes to knowing anything about the constitution or the founding father's. All most of them know is what some hill billy hick preacher tells them on sunday at the pew.

Analog Kid said...

Commenter to this post, David B. Appleton, said it best: "You can't fix stupid." As you stated, there might be 1 in 10,000 xtians that are aware of the fact that only 2 out of the 10 commandments are U.S. law. I think the same stats apply to our (atheists) ability to clear through the dull haze of someone's belief and actually get through to them so they can SEE reality in front of their faces and accept TRUTH as their new "saviour". Most of the time, you may as well be talking to a tree stump.

Rachelle said...

Whenever I hear "The Ten Commandments" it reminds me of that scene from the film 'History of the World Part 1' where Moses drops one of the slabs, so the 15 commandments become 10. LOL!

Another fine post, Hump. :)

Dromedary Hump said...

An astutde facebook friend noted that the 1st of the Ten Commandments, "thou shall have no other gods...", is in direct opposition to the 1st amendment of the constitution which permits americans to worship ANY god.

So not only is US law not based on the ten commandments ,,, it is in direct opposition to the first and thus most fundamental commandment.

In short...that makes the constitution of the US a heretical document. I love it. :)

Shaw Kenawe said...

Hi Hump,

I posted on this subject too.

It's really to our rational advantage when idiots say idiotic things such as Palin did when she proclaimed that our founding documents were based on the bible and the 10 commandments.

It exposes her and those who think like her as the excruciating dolts that they truly are.

DM said...

Atheists!!!

**************************

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6e/Touched_by_His_Noodly_Appendage.jpg

************************************
see, you degenerates have last names like first names...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Spaghetti_Monster


************************************************************
how about I believe in WHATEVER I want - even in the FLYING SPAGHETTI MONSTER! - and you have nothing to say!
************************************************************

let me show you the end results of this particular *ONE-DIMENSIONAL SCIENTIFIC MODE*
of thinking that is called *CRITICAL THINKING*, which is completely divorced from
any human objectives...

this style has been perfected by dawkins, pz, randi and the other *NEW ATHEISTS*
**
THE BOOBQUAKE - 911!
***
hey, atheists don't even BELIEVE IN BOOBIES!!!
they thought BOOBIES had no effect... WRONG!

see, I just want to make it clear to the rest of you:
jen is unable to see that there is a CONFLICT BETWEEN EROS & SCIENCE....

http://www.blaghag.com/2010/04/in-name-of-science-i-offer-my-boobs.html

http://www.blaghag.com/2010/04/quick-clarification-about-boobquake.html

see how we take a term and convert it into its AUTHENTIC POLITICAL DIMENSION - THAT
OF LIBERATION - not just merely harmless expression...

Visit for the BOOBQUAKE:

http://dissidentphilosophy.lifediscussion.net/philosophy-f1/the-boobquake-911-t1310.htm

DM said...

you worship yourself... too bad you are a maggot, hump....

DM said...

FUCK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

NewEnglandBob said...

Hey look, the juvenile, incoherent, mentally unstable, whack job is getting pissed.

Good job, Hump. We get a good laugh at his expense.

Dromedary Hump said...

NEBob,
This kid is like a barometer: the crazier and more repetitive he gets, the more it means I'm doin my job :)

Rastifan said...

Hump - Much like when Christian groups protests a book or a movie. What they so totally fail to realize is that their protests is the best advertising those books and movies can get. And it is bloody free:)

NewEnglandBob said...

Hump, maybe you and I should do a road trip up near Montreal and visit him at his work so we can thank him for the hours of fun we have had.

You can give him a signed copy of your book. I will bring the non-latex gloves so we don't have to touch anything that he touched. This is a good time of year to go visit that area.

Dromedary Hump said...

Bob...hahah!! We'd likely be combining that trip with paying homage to "The King" of burgers. DM works in a fast food restaurant.

DM said...

you little fuckers are going to learn the HARD WAY...

that even to talk about GOD is going to cost you your lives...

Anonymous said...

Excellent input DM. Your elequance is only surpassed by your good taste, but your grace shall not be exceeded by your better judgement. Nor shall your significance be in the least bit shadowed by the dinginess of your camoflauged g string. Nor shall your much heralded doom be looked down upon by the nobleness of your protruding lower lip. Nay, I say, nay you waygoers of the path of error. Nay you naysayers.
I saw this trick before in the Life of Brian.

DM is the messiah!

Shall we call you DM my lord or shall we grovel and speak your name?
Give us guidance, we beseech you OH esteemed and self proclaimed knower of things and forecaster of doom (which of course you were wrong on your last prediction) but who are we to hold you to any standards for we are merely mortals and we wallow in any effluent you may bestow upon us in your unquestioned wisdom and divinity an'at. And we are truly thankful.

We heed the word and Praise you OH

Dumb Mother-fucker.

Adam

Angel said...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37220562/ns/us_news-life?GT1=43001

Those damned Texans are at it AGAIN!!

Dromedary Hump said...

Angel... Madness..complete utter madness. This is precisely what I have been ranting against over the years, and there it is in it's ugliest most hideous form.

The old "Don't Mess with Texas" motto should be followed by "Because we are Already Fucked up Enough."

Angel said...

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_10co.htm

ROFL

Quotes:


"Only 68 of 200 Anglican priests polled could name all Ten Commandments, but half said they believed in space aliens."

"Concerning the Ten Commandments in courthouses and legislatures: You cannot post 'Thou Shalt Not Steal,' 'Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery,' and 'Thou Shall Not Lie' in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians...It creates a hostile work environment."

We apologize to anyone who is offended by either of the above quotations. We simply couldn't resist posting them."

Dromedary Hump said...

Hahahah!! Priceless!!!