The 10 Commandments as a Basis for Morality?
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
- 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
- 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
- 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
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What does this commandment mean? Many interpret it as simply meaning they should not create any idols which would make it nothing more than an extension of the first commandment. Others reading further into the text extend the commandment to forbidding creating any images of God, whether drawing, painting, or sculpture. And still others forbid any representational imagery of living creatures whatsoever.
And they want this posted in schools as guidance to children when they cannot agree amongst themselves what it means?
They clearly do not understand what is written. It is just lip service. Because, what is a statue raised as a memorial to the ten commandments if it is not a graven image?
Further, let us look at the guidance provided in verse 5 - "visiting the iniquity of the fathers unto the third and fourth generation." Who could possibly claim this message of unforgivingness is moral? This suggestion that grandchildren and great grandchildren will be punished for the beliefs of earlier generations is nothing more than unadulterated evil.
This commandment has no moral content, in fact it could be argued that the message of vengeance is absolutely immoral, totally evil. This commandment is concerned only with religious practice and belief, nothing else.
Moral value of the second commandment: 0 / 10
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