Alabama Supreme Court

[HershOstropoler]

Well, Iustitia and other roman gods/goddesses became merely symbolic figures in the Renaissance, they no longer carry religious connotations. In 2000 years, you can have all the Moseses and 10 commandments in courthouses you want.

[Ned]

HO, so you are indeed endorsing a double standard?

[Ned]

Originally posted by HershOstropoler
Well, Iustitia and other roman gods/goddesses became merely symbolic figures in the Renaissance, they no longer carry religious connotations. In 2000 years, you can have all the Moseses and 10 commandments in courthouses you want.

BTW, it was my understanding that the Goddess Justitia was on display at courthouses in the Roman Empire. I suspect that if Justitia was reintroduced in the Renaissance, it was only because civil courthouses themselves were reintroduced at this time as well. Right?

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by HershOstropoler
In 2000 years, you can have all the Moseses and 10 commandments in courthouses you want.

It's been over 2000 already.

[HershOstropoler]

"HO, so you are indeed endorsing a double standard?"

Only if you see the 10 commandments as allegoric. I find that a bit difficult to argue, as hudeo-christian religion is a bit more alive than greco-roman religion, and it includes things like honouring the sabbath, which has little to do with our legal systems.

"BTW, it was my understanding that the Goddess Justitia was on display at courthouses in the Roman Empire."

Not that I know of. It was a personification of justice which could be seen as godly, but it was not that common.

"I suspect that if Justitia was reintroduced in the Renaissance, it was only because civil courthouses themselves were reintroduced at this time as well. Right?"

Civil courthouses were "reintroduced" earlier. Has more to with the love for everything roman and greek.

[HershOstropoler]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
It's been over 2000 already.

And?

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by HershOstropoler
And?

When do the 10 Commandment monuments start popping up?

[DinoDoc]

Actually I'm somewhat suprised that this thread has lasted as long as it has. The fact that Moore resorted to throwing the monument up at night without consulting anyone should be a big clue that he knew his actions weren't on the level.

[HershOstropoler]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
When do the 10 Commandment monuments start popping up?

I suggested a good while (1000, 2000 years) after the religion has disappeeared, just as with greco-roman religion.

[Ned]

Originally posted by HershOstropoler


I suggested a good while (1000, 2000 years) after the religion has disappeeared, just as with greco-roman religion.

Not so, the Ten Commandments are on display right now at the Supreme Court of the the United States:

Here is a photo from the Surpreme Court's site:

http://www.supremecourtus.gov/about/eastpediment.pdf

[Boris Godunov]

You'll note, as has been gone over before, the Commandments aren't listed, it just shows Moses holding the tablets. Also pictured are several other historical figures from various cultures, as the frieze represents historical lawgivers. It has nothing to do with any religious sentiments.

Why do you keep ignoring the fact that Moore explicitely stated he put the monument there as a religious statement, not a historical or legal one?

[Ned]

BG, Your beef then, is not the display of the Ten Commandments, but with Moore's statements.

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by Ned
BG, Your beef then, is not the display of the Ten Commandments, but with Moore's statements.

No, it's with both, as they are inseperable. The display was his means of foisting his religious agenda on the public, which is what made the display improper.

[Ned]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov


No, it's with both, as they are inseperable. The display was his means of foisting his religious agenda on the public, which is what made the display improper.

Then I simply do not understand how you can have no objection to the display of the Ten Commandments at the Supreme Court of the United States and similarly object to its display in the Alabama Supreme Court.

You are mixing in a lot of Judge Moore's "intent" and "purpose" with every statement and objection. Do you think the Supreme Court of the United States is going to make the same "distinctions" when and if it decides this case. It simply cannot rule that a display of the Ten Commandments is unconstitutional per se without automatically ordering the destruction of its own building.

The Ten Commandments is acknowledged by the Supreme Court itself as a fundamental document in Western Law. It cannot condemn the display of the Ten Commandments in the Alabama Court on a per se basis.

The nut is that this is an invocation of God by Justice Moore. But how can they condemn Judge Moore for invoking God - for if they go that route, the Supremes will be condemning virtually every president of the United States who similarly invokes God.

[Mordoch]

Originally posted by Ned
Then I simply do not understand how you can have no objection to the display of the Ten Commandments at the Supreme Court of the United States and similarly object to its display in the Alabama Supreme Court.

You are mixing in a lot of Judge Moore's "intent" and "purpose" with every statement and objection. Do you think the Supreme Court of the United States is going to make the same "distinctions" when and if it decides this case. It simply cannot rule that a display of the Ten Commandments is unconstitutional per se without automatically ordering the destruction of its own building.

The Ten Commandments is acknowledged by the Supreme Court itself as a fundamental document in Western Law. It cannot condemn the display of the Ten Commandments in the Alabama Court on a per se basis.

Two key things are that the Ten Commandment in the Supreme Court building does NOT show any of the actual commandments, just numbers. Another key is the ten commandments at the Supreme Court are relatively small and size and their placement high above ground level means they are not particularly noticible. The prominent placement of the ten commandments monument in the Alabama court makes things quite different. The Supreme Court has definately NOT aknowledged the Ten Commandsments as a fundimental document in Western law. It has at most suggested it might be an inspiration for American law. If it was actually considered a fundimental document, polytheism would be against the law along with covetting you neighbors property without actually taking actions based on this thought.