Something to bash on

[Occhidiangela]

Hi,
But the so called ten commandments are essentially religious and based on judo-christian mythology. Thus, embracing them as some form of our cultural basis is in effect making the judo-cristian ethos our official state religion, barring the other religions of the world. And that is unconstitutional. --Pete

One could also argue that posting the Ten Commandments "in effect" makes Judaism our official state religion when using your argument. That is no more correct than your assertion.

That "plaque" (like the varied, multi denominational depictions on the facade at the Supreme Court) is a symbol of a significant element of the complex lineage of our sets of laws. Do you argue that because Murder is unlawful, we are thus violating the establishment clause by those legislative acts? It relates to "the Ten Commandments." (Or is it eleven??? ) What the heck, Pete, let's strike down laws against thievery, seeing as how we can't have any "Judeo Christian" laws or we'll bar other religions. (Yes, hyperbole is involved here.)

The old Biblical laws are a part, not the sum total, as you have noted many times before, of our cultural baseline. Your leap to "it bars other religion" is incorrect, as the First Amendment language sets forth the structure of a coexistence of many forms of worship, and no official religion has been enacted by legislation. Nor does that tribute to a part of our legacy bar other religions or Faiths, either in fact or in intent.

This piece of your argument, "the in effect," ignores the root principle that has sustained, and that a plaque on a wall cannot change: the varied forms of worship within the Christian camp, (which I'd argue was the original thought behind the First Amendment "establishment clause") and the variety of non-Christian sects who are not discriminated against by an example of an element of old Hebraic law hanging on a public building.

The fact that some wags insist that a Sharia like return to old Hebraic and Biblical laws of the Old Testament, pursuant an Evangelical / Armageddon / Dispensationalist agenda, is quite another matter, and one of some concern to me.

Occhi