10 Commandments and the state

[churchmouse]

I got to thinking the other day (yes, it does happen on occasion) and thought about all the fuss with the separation of Church and State (specifically the issue regarding Judge Roy Moore in Alabama). All the liberals and atheists are gnashing their teeth on this issue.

So here's my thought: since "thou shalt not murder" is in the 10 commandments, shouldn't murder be constitutional since our culture is striving towards the separation of Church and state? The same with stealing and lying in the court of law. If the atheists in America want to be consistent, why not just eliminate the moral law (Exodus 20) within the civil segment of our society due to separation of Church and State?

[Stabby]

Churchmouse-

Welcome to 5 Solas.

You said: So here's my thought: since "thou shalt not murder" is in the 10 commandments, shouldn't murder be constitutional since our culture is striving towards the separation of Church and state?

Your argument is actually a logical fallacy. I’m just not exactly sure which one. It’s almost a hybrid fallacy.

You’re saying, since governmental display of the 10 commandments is not constitutional, the constitution must be anti-all the 10 commandments. This is pretty much the Black/white fallacy more than anything, with a bit of denial of the antecedent mixed in.

Black white fallacy is when one goes from a basic premise, the Cat is not White, and assumes consequences not necessary from the facts. Therefore the cat is black. There is the logical possibility the cat is any number of colors. This is why it is a logical fallacy.

Although, the 10 commandments is not un-constitutional per se. Rather, the public display, by a governmental agency, of any religious item for mostly religious purposes, is unconstitutional. Religious vs. Historical value is a gray area.

The 10 commandments and the Constitution are both moral codes. The Constitution is just a more sophisticated one. The specific ancient Jewish laws within the Old Testament serve more for religious purposes now, than any real authority on how to run a civil society. If for some odd reason we did away with the Constitution and implemented the 10 commandments or any of the old Jewish laws—chaos would ensue. As you can see, in modern times, the 10 commandments are a religious symbol of God’s mercy and judgment; a gift to humanity ages ago. To actually ponder making them the core of our legal system is simply unrealistic.

We live in diverse times. If we really reflect on the notion of consistency—the bible talks about choice and freedom to choose God. People should be left to choose God or not, but they shouldn’t have it enforced upon them either through law or propaganda (as ex-judge Moore attempted.)

Stabby---------