No More Ten Commandments and You Can Sue File Sharing Companies

[RayJ1977]

Two new opinions. 10 Commandments Banned in Courthouses--

Souter, Stevens, Ginsburg, Breyer, O'Conner in the majority.


Another win for the liberals on the court. Another strike at the heart of those who argue that this court is TOO CONSERVATIVE.

[heatherf]

Wouldn't want to seperate church and state now would we? THAT would be unconstitutional!?

[RayJ1977]

Show me where those words are in the Constitution.

[heatherf]

Hell, today (with the way I am) I don't even know if it was. :rolleyes:

[RayJ1977]

It wasn't.

[jrwilheim]

The appropriateness of displaying the 10 Commandments in a Courthouse depends a lot on the circumstances. Many courthouses (including the SC, I believe) have depictions of Moses giving the Law as part of a display of "the evolution of law through the ages," in a historical-cultural setting. That kind of display generally isn't considered a breach of church-state separation.

I haven't read this decision, but I'm guessing this stems from the case in Alabama where the 10 Commandments were put on display on their own at the very front of the building as you walked in. That's much more iffy, and probably is a breach of the wall between church and state, since it's meant to promote veneration of the 10 Commandments and not merely display them as part of an "evolution of law" motif.

[heatherf]

No, but the 1st Amendment could be interpreted to mean such....as appearently the Supreme Court thinks it is:

"The free exercise clause of the First Amendment guarantees the right to practice one's religion free of government interference. The establishment clause requires the separation of church and state. Combined, they ensure religious liberty."

[heatherf]

I haven't read this decision, but I'm guessing this stems from the case in Alabama where the 10 Commandments were put on display on their own at the very front of the building as you walked in. That's much more iffy, and probably is a breach of the wall between church and state, since it's meant to promote veneration of the 10 Commandments and not merely display them as part of an "evolution of law" motif.

I think it is from this case......

[wordsmith]

Many courthouses (including the SC, I believe) have depictions of Moses giving the Law as part of a display of "the evolution of law through the ages," in a historical-cultural setting. That kind of display generally isn't considered a breach of church-state separation.


This is true...it's the same thought processes that allow Christmas carols to be sung/performed as part of public school music performances - as long as songs from other traditions are allowed as well - the fact that they are presented in historical/cultural light, rather than religious.

[GetMeOuttaDC]

Those "eeevil" 10 commandments have been banned for years and years in some states. I don't see what the big deal is.

So what's this about suing file sharing companies?

[Angyl]

I have no issues with Xmas carols, because really Christmas carols aren't all "Christian" per say and most of them don't go around touting God...I DO, as someone who does'nt beleive in God, find offsense in putting the Ten Commandments in front of a courthouse.

I also do'nt say the words "under God" when i say the Pledge of Allegience. While a lot of the history of our nation has to do with religion and Christianity, our country was also founded on the grounds that you can believe whatever you want here, and nothing will be forced upon you, hence speration of Church and State, in my mind. Putting the Ten Commandments in front of said courthouse seem like forcing Christianity on all.

[wordsmith]

Yes, but a lot of people disagree with you, Angyl, and say that anything remotely connected to a Christian celebration has no place in the public school setting, that it inherently forces a belief system on people through exposure. I say that you can't teach effectively about any given culture while excluding religion and its impact. Anyway, tangent.

[meatwad]

I have no issues with Xmas carols, because really Christmas carols aren't all "Christian" per say and most of them don't go around touting God...I DO, as someone who does'nt beleive in God, find offsense in putting the Ten Commandments in front of a courthouse.

I also do'nt say the words "under God" when i say the Pledge of Allegience. While a lot of the history of our nation has to do with religion and Christianity, our country was also founded on the grounds that you can believe whatever you want here, and nothing will be forced upon you, hence speration of Church and State, in my mind. Putting the Ten Commandments in front of said courthouse seem like forcing Christianity on all.

I'm not religious either, but I see it as a piece of art showing the historical values our country was based on.

[Angyl]

I'm not religious either, but I see it as a piece of art showing the historical values our country was based on.


Christian values translate to almost any other religion. Don't kill, be nice, respect others. And I think this country's law were based on a lot more than that.

[RayJ1977]

Nor are the 10 Commandments "Christian." Let's not forget that. They're Jewish Law.

[summergold]

Nor are the 10 Commandments "Christian." Let's not forget that. They're Jewish Law.

Yes they are Jewish law, but Christianity is derived from Judaism. The Torah, is the Old Testament of the Bible and the God of Christianity is the Judeo-Christian God. Jesus was Jewish.

The most difficult part of all of these Judicial rulings is trying to make something that is essentially made up of shades of grey into law that is black and white. If the 10 Commandments are displayed on government property in a way that they appear as if someone is endorsing a religion, ie making issue of the fact that they were handed down by the Judeo-Christian God to Moses and they are what all good Christians should be doing, then I have a serious problem. If you present them in a situation as a document held in regard having been derived from Judaism and later followed in Christianity and the basis for some of our laws, I don't have a problem. Nor would I have a problem if someone displayed the Code of Hamurabi.

[Benwa]

I say if you want to honor the commandments then follow them rather get all shitty about where you can write them. Its the same as a flag burning thing. People get all pissed about how a symbol is treated, rather than live up to the expectations of what the symbol represents.

And christmas doesn't have much to do with religion anymore. It has to do with buying shit. Which is in violation of a commandment. Coveting your neighbors goods. I guess we'll overlook that one. Buy! Buy! Buy! I may not do christmas this year. Not because of the religious part, but because I hate being pressured to buy shit just because some one tells me I have to buy shit.

[RayJ1977]

And what's with "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's ass?" My neighbor happens to be a rather hot college girl.

[heatherf]

Supposedly in the April (I think) Vanity Fair magazine, lovely Britney Spears says that she tries to live by the Commandments, especially the one that says, "..treat thy self as thy would thy neighbor..." :( Sad isn't it.

[RayJ1977]

I would indeed treat her the same way I would treat my neighbor, too!

:twisted:

[Stormshadow]

hehehe.....

[pisces2473]

hehehe.....
Don't laugh!!! YOUR neighbor is like six years old. :madder:

Yes they are Jewish law, but Christianity is derived from Judaism. The Torah, is the Old Testament of the Bible and the God of Christianity is the Judeo-Christian God. Jesus was Jewish.
Wow, you sure know a lot about religion... ;)

The thing that people tend to forget is that our country was founded by men who came from a Judeo-Christian background. Now, I know that a lot of the founders were not practicing, but the Judeo-Christian tradition shaped their lives, and thus shaped the way for this country...

If I threw some John Locke in here, we'd have ourselves a lovely intro to American Politics.

[Stormshadow]

Don't laugh!!! YOUR neighbor is like six years old.--Pisces

There's always mahoney's daughter :twisted:

I am so dead.

[pisces2473]

Don't laugh!!! YOUR neighbor is like six years old.--Pisces

There's always mahoney's daughter :twisted:

I am so dead.
Yeah, maybe her and her daddy can wash your car for you.

[Stormshadow]

As long as her daddy washes the OTHER side of the car, I'm down w/that.