There shouldn't be anything requiring their display.

Likewise there shouldn't be anything prohibiting it.

Public schools and Federal buildings are PUBLIC places, and prohibiting the posting of the Ten Commandments is a violation of the First Amendment "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Which part of "or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech," you don't understand?

Although I can see everyone's argument and I agree with some points, especially the fact we don't need religion forced down our throats or the Old law is obsolete as Hebrews says. But to me and most Christians, the 10 Commandments are s symbol of morality and of God. They remind people of what they aught to do and remind people of the Presence of God. Put it this way, if we use the argument that 'they won't read it anyway,' we may as well abolish the law of the land because people don't read that either, I don't, especially since they are so long. But the 10 Commandments are quick and easy to read and understand. Plus it is funny how older schools who had them were more moral then these days where God is totally being forgotten about. If we would all obey them, we would live in a utopian society because there would be no theft, no bashings or murders, no fraud etc. Although Hebrews talks about the old law being abolished, in actual fact the 10 Commandments haven't been abolished at all. In fact the New Testament reaffirms and enforces them. The only Commandment out of the 10 Commandments that has been abolished (and we are no longer obliged to observe it) it the 4th Commandment (You shall observe the Sabbath and keep it holy). Although we should still have the Ten Commandments, we should alter the 4th one to say 'We shall spend regular time with the Lord' and put a note down the bottom about the 4th commandment and how it has been altered. Well, it is justifiable to alter that command if you make it clear that this is not the original Scriptural version of the 10 Commandments and make a note that we are under grace and don't have to observe the Sabbath, but we are also challenged by the Bible to spend regular time with the Lord, and that is what the Sabbath was all about anyway (apart from rest).

Why bother; it just gives the complainers something to whine about. Forget about it; post them on all the churches.

So essentially, Solenoid, the majority is going to dictate to the minority in a community which religions shall receive government-sponsored preferential treatment. That is the core essence of what you are suggesting.

That's for each community to decide for itself. We don't need some kooky judge telling the rest of us from afar what we can hang on the walls.

That this is still an issue is a mystery to the educated. Put. . .them. . .in. . .a. . .church. If you can't incorporate all religions of the culture, you cannot favor one. What part of this don't you understand?

Why bother? No one's under any obligation to follow them (Hebrews 8:13 says the Old Law was hammered to the cross right along with Jesus, and the Ten Commandments were part and parcel of the Old Law). As such, they're not even remotely germane to the system of governance in the United States (and they were pathetic for the nomadic shepherds who had previously been exposed to similar and better regulations). Discounting the back-and-forth over which set(s) to deify, I've yet to see anyone bold enough to post (and enforce) the general penalty for disobedience to these relics: DEATH. Serious follow-through would create a sepulchre that would make the Holocaust look like an ice cream social. There's a reason the sideshow is kept away from the Big Top: you don't want too many people smelling a ruse and demanding refunds; allow this show to captivate and mesmerize unencumbered.

Ideally, this is a question for individual communities to decide, but there are other issues to consider here. The Supreme Court is in the process of deciding a major court case concerning the constitutionality of posting the Ten Commandments in public buildings. My take on this is that the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion. As such, the government has no obligation to inculcate religious standards on the population. One of the premises that the country was founded upon was the separation of church and state. It isn't a question of encouraging some sort of valueless post-modern society. In these situations, the standard that should be applied is whether or not the action attempts to involuntarily inculcate religious standards. As such, the question that should be asked is it really possible to put the Ten Commandments into an enforceable legal code? No, ultimately many of these things can't be regulated by a secular government without it violating Freedom of religion. This is ultimately religious law that belongs in that realm. The Founding Fathers believed that politics and religion belong in different spheres, for history has shown that these values end up becoming corrupted by such influences. They lived through it and witnessed the religious wars which ravaged Europe because politics and religion got tangled up together, especially in the 16th and 17th Centuries. American liberty was founded on the notion of broad natural right principles that encourage freedom of choice and diversity in religious views. That said, it is difficult to say that the de-moralization of society can be correlated to the 10 commandments not being on display. Morals and standards entail more than just simply posting religious rules of conduct on a wall. Genuine religious expression rooted in natural law principles that are internalized ought to be the end goal in many situations. This is simply an external, shallow reflection of religion, which is something that is highly personal. Therefore, one cannot correlate the weakening of civil society to one issue alone, that is far bigger than simply being allowed to post the Ten Commandments.

no. but they look pretty nice posted outside of churches.

No. I think the Ten Commandments must be kept in your home or at church. You post them in public schools, buildings, or any public place you're gonna get some controversy.

Yes.It is what our forefathers would have wanted.

Who decides what goes on display at federal buildings and public schools? The local population. The local people. Why on earth would this change? And to please whom? It should absolutely be posted in every federal building and every public school, along with many other symbols of the heritage America stands for. These should be places where honor and dignity are taught. Where symbols of that heritage are respected and revered, along with symbols unique to each locality. Some places are rich in Indian/Native American lore, some played a role in freeing the slaves, some are sites of famous battles. Our heritage and history have been treated like something to be ashamed of, something reviled. Why? Because some left-wing zealot groups, with little in common with, and no respect for the majority of people, say so? Huh? Why have they been successful these past 30 years? Three words: activist, liberal judges. The Ten Commandments have to be removed? What? If another religion has something equally inspiring, post it, too. Does that mean you're establishing THAT religion as the new state religion? Be inclusive, and get rid of the paranoia.

Then you'll have to put up the ideals of other religions too... This religious stuff is getting worse and worse. Why not a list that everyone, regardless of religion, can adhere to, about treating each other with dignity and respect?

You know, last year I graduated from the public school system learning more about every other religion than christianity. I'm not talking about the history of the religions. I learned the about tennants of Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, Judaism, and many more in my social science classes. I guess because Christianity is the predominant religion where I was it was just not taught. To me, that is more discriminatory than putting up the Ten Commandments (which did not happen at my school).

It has been for over 100 years never caused any harm to anyone. It wasnt until it started being removed that problems started coming. Country -GOD=desdtruction see Sodam, Isrealites, Babylon etc.

Yes I think they should be put in public places because they are basically a set of good rules. Only three have more of a religious meaning to them and you can make them fit for real situations that aren't religious. All the others are just good rules one needs to follow to live a halfway decent life. I don't know about some people but I think that honoring you mother and father and not murduring is a good thing in our society. Most of the Commandments can also teach younger children to make good decisions such as not to steal or not to covet your neighbors items. I do think it is a good idea for the Ten Commandments to be posted in some public places.

No, they should not. The government should not give the appearance of favoring any one religion over another.

This is a tough question to answer. You see, the Ten Commandments are God's laws that he gave to Moses, so the people of Israel could follow them. As much as I would like to see more religious items in schools and other places, I fear, that if we did, other cults or what have you, such as Satanism and witchcraft, would want to be posting too. If you know the Ten Commandments well, you will know that they are basicly rules, that hardly anyone follows before. Such as Thou shall not steal um...sorry, but that one was broken a long time ago. Thou shal not take the name of the Lord you God in vain That one is hardly ever followed either. Now , if these were plastered on school walls and such, and were actually inforced, I highly doubt that many people would adhear to these rules, and probably wouldn't bother even trying to follow them. I is very hard to follow them and I know that for a fact. I faulter sometimes too, but I feel, if you like people to know the rules enforced by the Lord your God, and wish them to follow it, you have a big task on your hands.

Absolutely not. America was founded on religious freedom, and the Church and State are supposed to be separted by a firm wall. Many of the Founders of this country were not religious, like Thomas Paine. James Madison, the chief author of the Constitution, supported the Separation of Church and State. When matters of religion and matters of politics cross, you get hate and intolerance. As Thomas Jefferson said, It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.

No, because it violates freedom of religion and seperation of church and state.

Was America not founded for religious freedom? People emigrated over from England in order to follow the religion of their choice--not one that was forced upon them. America has since become a melting pot for people who wish to practice their religions freely. The first line of the Ten Commandments states 'You shall have no other gods before Me.' While I believe in God, I also believe in equal treatment of all people. By posting the Ten Commandments on public buildings, you are saying that Christianity is the most important, most correct religion. Yes, to you it is, and to all others who are Christian, like myself, but it undermines the religions of others by saying their beliefs are unpatriotic.

Dentana, what are you talking about? The Constitution is based on the 10 Commandments, silly. Banning the Commandments is like banning the constitution. This really isn't that big of a deal at all. Don't like it? No one is forcing you to look at them. The only reason people compalin about them is that they hate Christians.

I really don't care. So the Ten Commandments are Christian, if you are not, then don't read them. If you do, it won't kill you either. Then Ten Commandments are good morals for any religion. I'll teach them to my kids even though we're not Christian.

No. Why should my tax dollars pay to maintain a public building that displays messages about worshipping false idols, obeying one's mother and father and coveting your neighbor's wife? Why not hang the Code of Hammurabi, which has about as much similarity to our current laws as the Ten Commandments?

It doesn't bother me if the ten commandments are posted in a federal building of any kind because adults can make their own decisions and chose what they want to believe. I mean little kids will believe anything you tell them. Including santa clause and the easter bunny. What I'm trying to say is that christianity shouldn't be forced on anyone.

YES. AMerica was founded on these principles. Our nation was created to reserve the right to both practice these as well as to display them. You atheist liberals need to quit crying about it. Stop destroying our heritage.

Personally, I don't care either way (I'm not religious myself), but I can see where it may not be appropriate for students who have chosen a different religion. The first commandment states: Thou shalt have no other gods before me. This specifically refers to the Christian or Jewish God. Some may argue that the posting of the Ten Commandments in a federal building is a violation of the first amendment, but technically it doesn't: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Posting the Commandments up isn't about congress or laws, but perhaps it would be nice if other religious beliefs are respected and honored similarly (i.e., a posting of other belief systems up along with the Commandments). (http://www.religioustolerance.org/ is a lovely website which provides a lot of information on many various religions and belief systems; very informative)

Should they be allowed to post such a thing? Yes.