Why do Christians care so much about the Ten Commandments?

[Dinner]

Because jesus said he wasn't there to overhtrow the covenant, but to complete it. He also pretty explicitly said you have to follow the Law and the Prophets. Then Paul "Had a Vision" that tossed a lot of those rules out so they could convince people other than Jews to convert.

Well, yeah, which is how you know most of it is a political creation rather then some sacred word of god. Notice how they change stuff and toss out the inconvenient bits when it suits them?

[Lonestar]

Well, yeah, which is how you know most of it is a political creation rather then some sacred word of god. Notice how they change stuff and toss out the inconvenient bits when it suits them?

Oh sure. Most Christians(or at least those who identify themselves as such without really looking into it) will say that Jesus "fixed" the Old Testament rules, even though he did nothing of the sort. Of course, they also think that pointing a gun to someone's head and screaming "YOU BETTER BROWNNOSE ME OR I'LL KILL YOU!" indicates that Yahweh is a being of "Love"

[giblets]

Because jesus said he wasn't there to overhtrow the covenant, but to complete it. He also pretty explicitly said you have to follow the Law and the Prophets. Then Paul "Had a Vision" that tossed a lot of those rules out so they could convince people other than Jews to convert.

But they kept the basic stuff like "don't kill" and "don't steal". Yep, you need a revelation from God to know those things are wrong.

[giblets]

Gribbler, a short serious answer that relates to what you were not understanding before.

The Bible was not written by God.

Except for the Ten Commandments.

JM

Well, that's a strange view. Why do you think the Israelites got the ten commandments from God, but didn't get the rest of their commandments from God? And since the Ten Commandments were clearly addressed to Israelites ("I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery") why is it relevant to you whether God wrote it or not?

[Nikolai]

Aside from the obvious "we believe in the same God"?

*Do not have any other gods before me.
- Same God. Applies.

*You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
- Same as above. One true God, no room for idols.

* You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.
- God is holy, he is our God. Obvious.

* Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
- Same God and he thinks it's good for us. And it is important to set some time off to relax and recharge the batteries for everyone, no?

* Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
- Respect of the elders = good in any culture, no?

* You shall not kill/murder.
- Pretty obvious, huh?

* You shall not commit adultery.
- Pretty obvious, huh?

* You shall not steal.
- Pretty obvious, huh?

* You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
- Pretty obvious, huh?

* You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
- Pretty obvious, huh?

[giblets]

If it's so obvious what do you need a story about someone going to the top of a mountain for? Also 99% of Christians don't keep the sabbath. And lots of them make idols...

[Nikolai]

And your point?

[Hauldren Collider]

The ten commandments are actually an important part of legal history, like it or not.

[Dinner]

* Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
- Same God and he thinks it's good for us. And it is important to set some time off to relax and recharge the batteries for everyone, no?

It's the whole stone to death anyone who doesn't go to temple on the Sabbath or who decides to do anything else I don't like thing that bothers me.

[Jon Miller]

That wasn't part of the 10 commandments.

JM

[Lonestar]

The ten commandments are actually an important part of legal history, like it or not.

Yeah if you're Jewish. OTOH most of the West is based on Roman law.

There are 17 Commandments in the Bible, only 3 of which (murder, perjury, theft) are in US Law. Those three also predate the Bible.

And for your viewing pleasure:

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Except the Christians are polytheists.

Two creation stories. Those associated with Yahweh and the second where Adam and Eve refer to God as Elohim.

Elohim being a plural.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elohim

[Al B. Sure!]

They're polytheists because of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Muslims called the Christians polytheistic because of this back in the 7th century.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Yes that was rather obviously what HC was intending to say. However, those in glass houses.....


The Genesis stories themselves (as part and parcel of jewish tradition) lend themsleves to polytheism.

[giblets]

Two creation stories. Those associated with Yahweh and the second where Adam and Eve refer to God as Elohim.

Elohim being a plural.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elohim

In Hebrew the form of the word Elohim, with the ending -im, which normally indicates a masculine plural, however with Elohim the construction is usually grammatically singular, (i.e. it governs a singular verb or adjective) when referring to the Hebrew God, but grammatically plural (i.e. taking a plural verb or adjective) when used of pagan divinities

Elohim is singular, despite having a plural suffix.