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The Decalogue

By Arthur Webster of Ask Old Coot

The ten commandments as handed down to Moses make a very good moral code by which we should live. Most of them make perfect sense but some give me pause for thought.

"You will have no other god but me."
A simple enough instruction but doesn't this imply, since God admitted that He was jealous and vengeful, that there are other gods out there whom we might be inclined to worship? Is there something in the holy books that we are not being told?

"You will have no idols in the form of anything that is on Earth or in Heaven."
This takes a little more thought. I suppose for most people that an idol is an attempt to personalise a god or guardian spirit. If this is against God's ruling, why are churches full of crucifixes and statues? Can the priests not read? Do the priests believe that the word of God does not apply to them? More importantly, why do we often get taught by the priests to genuflect in the presence of a craven image, an idol?

"Don't bow down to worship false gods."
This does not make sense as a separate commandment since false gods (idols) are forbdden. Did God accept that, like Adam in the Garden of Eden, mankind would ignore his instruction?

I have trouble accepting these imperfect commandments as being the word of God - even if transcribed by imperfect human beings. It troubles me, at times, to think that there might be a whole panoply of gods about whom we are being kept in ignorance.

Maybe the multi-theists had the right idea but got the names wrong?

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Old Coot, you're my kinda guy! I think your lower rating was only from people who disagreed or found distasteful the TOPIC and not the writing. It provokes thought, the kind of thought I enjoy. You have just fueled the topic for this supper this Sunday. Thanks!

Hi, Pen,
I have never been content to simply accept what everybody else understands if I don't understand it myself.
Many people do find questions distasteful, not because of what they ask but because they tend to wittle away at their belief system.

The points you raise cannot be addressed in a simply short comment. But I'll try.

I used to be Catholic, now I'm just "Christian". My church does not have the image of Jesus on the cross - just the plain cross -- in part for the very reasons you complain of in your intel. It's one of the reasons I left the Catholic Church.

But, I did talk to a Catholic Priest about this once. His view was that the statues etc. that we see in Catholic Churches, and churches of this type (if I got this right), is that they are representations, and reminders -- meant for inspiration, and not idols.

Now I still have many issues with the Catholic Church, but I think we need to try to be charitable here.

As far as other "gods"? These gods were false mainly because they weren't "gods" at all -- just mythology.

If your real question is how are we supposed to know what is real and what is not... good luck. It all boils to faith. You're gonna have to choose ultimately. Faith is the belief in things unseen and unproven by definition.

Put your faith in God - not in what man says or writes about God. The Bible was written in another era. People did not think and live the same way as we do now. They didn't "know" what we know now.

It's man's interpretation of the Bible that's the problem -- not the Bible itself.

Hi, James,
Your priest made a point which went contrary to the commandment - no image of anything that is on Earth or in Heaven. He failed to realise that if he had a true vocation, it was his responsibility to be a representation and reminder.
Although not a commandment, Jesus said that 'wheresoever two or more of you are gathered in my name, there shall I be'. He did not express any desire that his Father's flock should create a city state and acquire massive wealth on Earth.
It is so strange that the priesthood generally vows chastity (or faithfulness to one partner), poverty and obedience.
I suppose that is why bishops live in palaces, the Pope lives in Vatican City, the churches are desperate to be relieved of corporation tax and priests pay more than the basic social security contribution.
Something got lost in translation - probably.
My faith is in God but I wish His requirements and teaching were less contaminated than they are by theologians and the laity.
"No other God" certainly implies that there is a choice.

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