Source: Huffington Post
By Paul Brandeis Raushenbush: Senior Religion Editor, The Huffington Post
Christianity is under attack! The sense of Christian victimhood has been ramping up in recent months. While conservative Christian intimidation by the rising acceptance of gay marriage has been more in the spotlight, a recent case of Ten Commandments plaques in an Oklahoma public school system has become a new rallying point.
Every classroom in the Muldrow, Oklahoma district has a plaque with the Ten Commandments affixed to the wall. Recently an atheist student named Gage Pulliam contacted the Freedom From Religion Foundation, who then wrote a letter to the district demanding that the plaques be taken down and warning that they represent a violation of the U.S. Constitution.
Pulliam, who originally wanted to remain anonymous and has now revealed his identity, told Patheos that he and his sister have now faced verbal harassment and been threatened with violence. He explains that his intention is not to attack Christianity as local pastors and Christian students have insisted, instead Gage says:
“I want people to know this isn’t me trying to attack religion. This is me trying to create an environment for kids where they can feel equal.”
That seems fair. And he is, of course, completely right that the plaques should be taken down. The establishment clause of the First Amendment is clear in this case.
Posting The Ten Commandments in a public enterprise such as public schools or courtrooms does establish a religious privilege for Christianity (and maybe Judaism… but not really) — especially when unaccompanied by similar central texts from other religious and humanist traditions.
Categories: Americas
Why to take down the ten commandments altogether. Why not see what is generally useful and what is not good. Some people are giving the constitution too much importance as if it is the last word from God.
We note some TRUST IN GOD in America. Will that be removed from the coins? There are some good words in the commandments. I suggest that those who do not like the commandments should point the problem about them one by one, discussing what they do not like.
There is a command “You will not kill.” You will not steal.”
Some one should tell exactly what is wrong with those commands.
Dear Ghulam Sarwar
We should have as much separation of Church and State as possible.
There is obviously nothing wrong with “You will not steal,” and all religious people and agnostics agree with this.
However, if only Christian version is applauded in schools, soon enough coming Christian generations will want to push rest of Christianity down our throat as well, which we may not like.
Just like Mullah may push his limited understanding of Shariah down the throat of every one else, to gain political power.
Think of it as to why Hadhrat Umar Farooq, may Allah be pleased with him, did not say his prayer in the Church or Holy Sepulcher. There is nothing wrong with the Church or with prayer, he just did not like the political ramifications of his action that future Muslims will take over the Church using his Prayer as a pretense.
We can draw inspiration from our scripture but the law has to go through the civic process. If we do not uphold constitution in USA and try to find word of God, there will be Crusades and Blood Bath.
Think of constitution as a blessing of God, like the constitution of Medina.
I hope and pray that this helps.
US constitution is the reason that we Ahmadi Muslims are finding peace in this country which is a majority Christian country. Let us keep it as it is. Let us not join the religious fanatics.
Thank you, Shah sahib. You seem to be far sighted. Your comment makes sense. But I feel that school is not any government place. Also, after reading your comment, I would feel that Christians (Church) were very wise that they did away with the Law of Moses a.s. That was a good work by Paul (Saul) to do away with the God given law.
The commandments are part of the God given law. I did not wish them to be wiped off. I also did not feel well about the Christians becoming lawless.
I will read your comments again to understand. May be I need another lesson from you on this subject. thank you.
Let us choose the best 7 commands to which no one disagrees & hang them in every class!
As pointed out above, The Ten Commandments are not Christian law. If they “belong” to anyone it would be Judaism. But in a more real sense they belong to all of mankind, given by the Creator. Islam respects the Laws as given by God to Moses, as does Christianity. Most other faiths also respect these basic Laws. However, the reason I support them being present in public school settings is that children need to know the “Do’s and Don’t’s” of life. Besides the TC’s, where else are children taught directly that they should not kill, steal, lie, etc? No where. It only makes sense to teach young humans the general laws of life among other humans. The underlying problem most objectors have to display of the TC’s is that they support the existence of God at all. They don’t care if the reader interprets the message as coming from a Christian, Jewish, or Muslim God (aren’t they all the same?), but that they deny that mankind is their own god, answerable only to their own morals, with no absolutes. In that case, abortion, euthanasia, rape, incest, child abuse, or theft are all open to society’s current desire. Without a Guide, as the Quran teaches, or a Lawgiver Creator, man is free to be as evil as he wishes with no ramifications, as long as he can get away with it. We need a base line of right and wrong. And only a Creator/Originator God is qualified to tell everyone on Earth what is acceptable and what is Wrong. God gave those Laws to the Israelites, but they are applicable for all His creation. This is not a matter of one religion over another, it is a matter of whose laws are most important. The current government says Man’s/America’s ideals are not to be overshadowed by God’s. They wish to supplant God in the hearts of their subjects. And that is fundamentally wrong!