FOR MILLENNIA, THESE ANCIENT LAWS HAVE BEEN CENTRAL TO OUR WAY OF LIFE. ARE THEY STILL RELEVANT? the 10 OR IS IT TIME FOR AN UPGRADE? COMMANDMENTS

NEARLY 3,500 YEARS AGO, Exodus tells 50 years, they’ve become a contentious us, God inscribed Command- subject in the United States, emerging 2.0ments onto two stone tablets for the Is- at the heart of the culture wars between raelites. Although Jewish tradition counts conservatives and liberals who disagree 613 commandments in the , the over their role in American law and ethics. Ten have taken on a life of their own, in- Moment speaks with a range of American spiring millions of , Christians and scholars about the ’ Muslims over the centuries and evolving contemporary relevance and meaning, into a symbol of morality that has influ- and discovers—surprise, surprise—that enced Western thinking. Over the past their opinions differ dramatically.

January/February 2011 / Moment 33 the 10 01. I am the Lord Your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. COMMANDMENTS You shall have no other gods beside Me.

are... 02. You shall not make for yourself any graven image, nor any manner of likeness, of any Commandments don’t change based on rules that would promote internal cohe- an antidote to subjectivity thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the time or place but are instead statements sion. There is the reminder that there earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. The Ten Commandments are at the of high-order moral sentiments that is a jealous and watchful God who has heart of the Jewish mission in the 21st tell how ethical people should conduct chosen this tribe, which is an effective century, which is to provide a mature themselves. Different generations will way of establishing an intrinsic distinct- 03. You shall not take the name of the Lord Your God in vain. sometimes understand the details of law ness for the group and consequences for differently, but that’s not what is really defying it. The awesomeness of the God The Ten at stake. For example, there are voices is emphasized; not even his name is to 04. Remember the Sabbath, to keep it holy. Commandments in our secular society urging us to re- be taken in vain. There is a sabbath day, don’t change examine our view of homosexuality and requiring the sacrifice of productivity, arguing that a changing moral consensus another effective way of promoting an 05. Honor your father and your mother. based on ought to make us re-evaluate our Jewish internal sense of group difference. Then time or place but ethics. Jewish tradition thought homo- there are basic rules needed to mini- are instead sexual conduct was immoral. It didn’t mize internecine violence: no murder, 06. You shall not murder. statements of matter whether many people were or no theft, no adultery, no coveting what high-order moral were not homosexual. Jewish tradition belongs to your neighbor, including doesn’t look at the moral consensus of his women and his slaves. That women 07. You shall not commit adultery. sentiments. a particular time or place on these kinds are treated as property and that of core value issues. is regarded as morally unobjectionable Michael J. Broyde is the academic 08. You shall not steal. framework for thinking about objective director of the Law and morality. Our secular culture concludes program at Emory University’s Law That women are 09. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. that everything is relative and that all School in Atlanta, GA. treated as dilemmas need to be examined in con- property and text—there is very little that is always 10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house, nor his “right” or “wrong,” these voices claim. slavery is an obstacle to moral advancement wife, his man-servant, his maid-servant, nor his ox, The Jewish tradition, through its fram- regarded as nor his ass, nor anything that is your neighbor’s. ing of law in general, reminds us that The commandments don’t strike me as unobjectionable while some parts of law are subjective ethically illuminating for today’s world, stamp these and determined by the norms around us nor are they so inspired as to suggest di- (particularly things like “what do words vine authorship. Quite the contrary, they commandments in a contract mean”), objective morality are readily explainable as deriving from as of their time. is the core of an ethical society. The Ten a Bronze/Iron Age people who created

adapted from JPS translation Interviews by Joan Alpert and Eileen Lavine

34 January/February 2011 January/February 2011 / Moment 35 stamp these commandments as of their be a modern person. Modern Western mandments are important for maintain- more meaningful than U.S. law time. It would have been impressive— life draws upon two very distinct ancient ing morality. We need them both. Once upon a time more suggestive of divinity—if the com- spirits. One is the spirit of reason, which The Ten The Ten Commandments are as im- Joel M. Hoffman is an expert in mandments had included some concrete comes from ancient Greece and teaches Commandments portant today as they were in antiquity translation, Hebrew and the they unified “thou shalt nots” that indicated a true that all of us have the right to formu- offer little guidance because they represent the crucial dis- and author of And God Said: How rather than divided leap beyond the ethos of the times, such late our own opinions about life, politics to student conduct, tinction of right versus wrong. Perhaps Translations Conceal the Bible’s Origi- the country. as “thou shalt not rape,” “thou shalt and ethics. This has given us the most since few third surprisingly, nothing in our modern legal nal Meaning. Today, the Ten keep no slaves,” and “thou shalt not tor- open discourse and the greatest political code does that. Rather, our laws simply ture.” Those additions could have pre- freedoms in human history. But reason graders are provide consequences for actions: Park Commandments vented much suffering in the millennia alone is not enough to you out of married and hence at an expired parking meter, pay a small are a source of dividing our country to come. Hillel said: “What is hateful to bed in the morning and take decisive ac- in a position to fine; kill someone, go to jail, and so forth. rupture rather than thee, do not do unto thy fellow man.” tion to change your life and your com- commit adultery. No provision of American law differenti- The significance of the Ten Command- community. Such a proscription has more ethical munity and improve the world. For that ates between parking and killing. And no ments in contemporary America, where insight to offer us than the Command- we need the second spirit, the spirit of law suggests that some crimes are im- they’re called the nation’s “rightful her- ments’ idea of a jealous God, who pun- redemption, which comes from ancient in classrooms, when these laws offer moral and are to be avoided regardless of itage,” is more a matter of history than ments are a source of rupture rather ishes the children of sinners to the third Israel via the . Every bib- little guidance to student conduct, since any consequences. For example, it doesn’t of religion. A case in point: Several years than community. or fourth generation for sins that they lical hero—even God—is first of all a few third graders are married and hence say anywhere that a person willing to ago, The Colbert Report featured a Geor- Jenna Weissman Joselit is the Charles did not commit—a morally odious idea. world-improver, either through words in a position to commit adultery. And go to jail still shouldn’t commit murder. gia congressman who was eager to put E. Smith Professor of Judaic Studies Reverence for the moral code of an an- or deeds. The Ten Commandments do even the most recalcitrant kids need This is the real power of the Ten Com- up copies of the Ten Commandments in and history professor at The George cient tribe at the dawn of civilization can encapsulate this redemptive spirit, with to be told not to lie, steal or murder? mandments. They list some actions that, the U.S. Capitol building. When pressed Washington University in Washing- be as much an obstacle to moral advance each of them offering a different aspect Seems obvious enough. The first four no matter what, are wrong. Even people by Colbert to name them, he couldn’t. ton, DC, where she directs its Judaic as reverence for their cosmology would of how to turn that spirit into reality. commandments—40 percent!—concern who don’t think they’ll get caught, even For this congressman, and undoubtedly Studies program. be to scientific advance. The Second Commandment, for ex- religious obligations, not general behav- for many of his constituents as well, it Rebecca Newberger Goldstein is a ample, addresses the idea of morality ior, rather squandering an opportunity wasn’t the individual prescriptions, the philosopher and author of 36 Argu- that goes beyond the pull of power and to tell us how to be good. Curiously for specifics, that mattered so much as their civilization at its best ments for the Existence of God: A Work wealth, which is really what idolatry is a monotheistic faith, the existence of They are as cumulative symbolism. The U.S. is not of Fiction. all about. The Fourth, which concerns other gods is okay, as long as ours gets important today known for its cultural literacy but for its The Ten Commandments are as rel- the Sabbath, is about deepening our- top priority, which makes him seem a as they were commitment to the Bible. We probably evant now as they were when a mot- selves as independent beings separated little jittery and insecure. And there re- in antiquity know much more about Elvis than we ley but impassioned band of from creative activity and our achieve- do about the ancient text, but the Bible wandered through the desert trying a call to improve the world ally aren’t many graven images around because they ments. The Fifth, which is about honor- these days, except perhaps for what we remains central to America’s sense of to discover how to be a just and mor- The Ten Commandments are not just ing our parents, is fundamentally about download from the Internet. Those four represent the itself, its sense of providence and elec- al symbol of what it means to be “of an ancient legal code, but rather a whole a certain kind of profound human life- aside, all but one of the rest—honor our crucial distinction tion. Little wonder, then, that in its 2005 God,” “Godly” and “Chosen.” This approach to life that has come down to wisdom that’s transmitted from genera- parents—are “nots,” a list of forbidden of right versus ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court, mind- template of civilization has been a us, both as Jews and as Westerners, be- tion to generation. And so on. We find acts, not an encouragement to virtu- wrong. ful of the larger historical and cultural guide for us ever since. They call on us coming a crucial part of what it means to each commandment expressing a differ- ous deeds. The tenth—no coveting— context, said both “yes” and “no” to hav- to remember that we are not guides, ent aspect of redemption in a different describes an attitude, a state of mind, ing the Ten Commandments displayed that we, too, are each fallible, that we part of life—each one a pillar of civiliza- not an action at all. Instead of the First, in the public square: “Yes” to a long- owe justice to the other, loving care They are not tion that is every bit as vital today as it I would like to see a commandment to people willing to do the time (as they say) standing monument on the grounds of to all, commitment to the family, se- just an ancient legal was back then. build an egalitarian society; for the Sec- still shouldn’t commit some crimes. In the Texas state capitol where it can be curity to the neighbor, integrity to the code, but an David Hazony is the author of The ond, I would substitute the Golden Rule, this context a common mistranslation in seen as a physical testament to Texas self and a sense of personal value high Ten Commandments: How Our Most and I would replace the Third with en- the Ten Commandments is particularly history, and “no” to a brand-new, reli- enough to want to secure it for others approach to life Ancient Moral Text Can Renew Mod- vironmental ethics, the injunction not to unfortunate. The commandment usually giously motivated iteration of the Ten as well. The Ten Commandments are that has come down ern Life. destroy the earth but to create a green translated “do not covet” originally meant Commandments in a Kentucky court- not “laws” in the legal sense, meant to us, becoming a and healthy world. “do not take,” in keeping with the origi- house, which crossed the line between to restrict us, confound us or hamper part of what it Randy Cohen writes “The Ethicist” nal view that only overt actions can be church and state. What’s also worth not- our human development. Rather, they moral or immoral. The Ten Command- ing about America’s relationship to the are the trumpeting of a vision of what in need of a makeover column in The New York Times Maga- means to be a zine and is the author of The Good, the ments take no position on internal states Ten Commandments is that once upon it means to be truly human. They free modern person. It is odd that some people are so deter- Bad & the Difference: How to Tell Right such as desiring. Our laws are important a time they unified rather than divided us to be our best selves. In this world mined to post the Ten Commandments from Wrong in Everyday Situations. for maintaining order. And the Ten Com- the country. Today, the Ten Command- of massive violence, moral confusion,

36 January/February 2011 January/February 2011 / Moment 37 follow.] Among different Christian very much a Judeo-Christian-Islamic the core of Judeo-Christian values a source of They call on communities, the understanding of They are nation. Muslims unequivocally believe the Ten Commandments varies wide- The Ten Commandments are the in the Ten Commandments. Ameri- Hinduism has principles of ethical and us to remember ly. Sometimes they are seen to include manifested in foundational laws for civilization. In- cans are often surprised to find out that moral conduct that were put together that we are ceremonial norms that applied to the some way in most dividual cultures have laws that reflect about one-third of the Koran directly many millenia ago and are relevant not guides, that ancient Hebrew commonwealth but legal systems, these basic ones, as is evident from echoes Jewish and Christian sacred today. Called the Ten Commitments we, too, are were superseded by the Gospel, but but when we look prohibitions against murder and adul- texts—including the entire Ten Com- by Sage Patanjali, the originator of other times they are thought to apply tery. Ancient cultures such as those mandments. , who brought down the principles of Yoga, they provide each fallible, that in full force to Christians today. Giv- to a more specific in Mesopotamia had similar laws that the Commandments from God, is a an ethical framework with lists of five we owe justice en the prominence of Protestantism, grounding of predated the Ten Commandments, highly revered and loved figure in Islam things to do and five to avoid. The Ya- to the other, and especially the Calvinist emphasis American law, and is known as Musa. The inclusion mas or restraints are: Do not harm (the loving care to all. on the Old Testament in American they are absent. of America’s seven million Muslims as basis for Gandhi’s principles of non- culture, it is not surprising that the They form part of the American religious tradition violence), do not lie, do not steal, do Decalogue has widespread signifi- is therefore the elephant in the room. I not overindulge and do not be greedy. deep-seated polarization and destruc- cance and high prestige here. It is of- 1688. The founders, most of whom were the basis of our cannot be a good Muslim without be- The Niyamas or observances are: Be tive individualism in a global family, ten mistakenly detached from its cov- very well-versed in the Bible from their core values, and ing conscious of my Jewish and Chris- clean in mind and body, be content, be we have never needed them more enantal framework and treated instead traditional, Protestant, religious upbring- are central to tian heritage. The Ten Commandments disciplined, be studious and surrender than we do now. It is civilization at its ings, made the concerted effort to set up American are universal. Muslims, however, are to God’s grace. The last is the only highest, most developed, most spiri- a secular government, relying on a broad Judeo-Christian aggressively faithful to them because reference to God, and it refers to God tually centered that the Ten Com- They are part of a combination of sources including the they still live in traditional societies as a universal being (God is One). The ethics. These core concept in the Ten Commandments mandments are all about. specific covenantal Magna Carta, British common law and and tend to be very religious. The Ten Joan D. Chittister, Order of Saint the philosophical works of enlightenment values are critical Commandments are relevant today not relationship, born Benedict, is executive director of thinkers such as John Locke. In the 19th to our culture today. just for the Abrahamic peoples but for Benetvision and co-chair of the out of , century, there was a movement to system- all people. One commandment that Global Peace Initiative of Women between God atize the law to make it more scientific should be added is to love one anoth- Their concept Religious and Spiritual Leaders. and Israel. They and predictable—concepts inconsistent er, which is attributed to Jesus. That about one do not purport with the notion of a static, preordained which indicates their universal appeal should be the eleventh commandment jealous God biblical law. Part of the growing commer- for ethics and morality. Some of the for the 21st century because this is a with the sense to be a set of cialism of that time meant pressure from more famous Christian theologians century with so much hatred, violence not norms for everyone universal norms. businesses that wanted clear, predictable such as Augustine and Martin Luther and distrust. Today, this commandment of obligation The Decalogue [the Greek word for results, requiring lawyers and judges to maintained that the Ten Command- is perhaps the most important as well as to convert the Ten Commandments] is part of a put aside their morals and values when ments were foundational for Christian the most challenging. others to their specific covenantal relationship, born as a code that binds society as a whole. deciding legal issues. You see in the case ethics. The Ten Commandments form Ambassador Akbar Ahmed is the Ibn God has caused out of the Exodus, between God and Within the covenantal relationship law—in which there is barely a mention the basis of our central core of values, Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at great harm. Israel. It does not purport to be a set between God and the Jewish people, of the Ten Commandments—a rejection and are central to American Judeo- American University in Washington, DC. of universal norms. To act as if every- of course, scrupulous observance of of religiously based justifications, even for Christian ethics. These core values are body in the world came out of Egypt, the Decalogue remains essential. seemingly religion-based laws held over critical to our culture today. everyone in the world is required to Jon D. Levenson is the Albert A. List from the colonial days such as Sabbath Mark Rooker teaches at Southeast- about one God with the sense of an observe and everyone in the Professor of Jewish Studies at Har- and laws. That set the stage ern Baptist Theological Seminary in Muslims are obligation to convert others to their world was brought into the land of vard University in Cambridge, MA. for the major church and state trials of the Wake Forest, NC, and is author of aggressively God has caused great harm. The idea Israel would make a travesty of the 20th century. On the most general level, The Ten Commandments: Ethics for faithful to that God is a jealous God who will actual biblical narrative. The truth is of course, the values represented in part the Twenty-first Century. punish people who believe in other that neither biblical nor rabbinic tra- of the Ten Commandments can be seen them because “gods” makes God more sectarian and not the foundation of U.S. law ditions speak of the Decalogue as ap- as having some type of manifestations in they still live has had tragic consequences in world The notion that U.S. law has bibli- most legal systems, but when we look to a history—killing “infidels” and creating plicable to universal humanity. In rab- a Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition in traditional binic tradition, there is a universal set cal roots is inconsistent with how it has more specific grounding of American law, pogroms and genocide—and contin- societies and ues to this day. of norms, but it is the “Seven Noahide evolved over the years. Early Puritan then they are just absent. Commentators in America constantly tend to be Commandments,” related to the story experiments with religiously based law Steven K. Green is a legal scholar talk of the Judeo-Christian tradition, Ravi Sarma, M.D. is the immediate of Noah. [These are a set of early laws were overturned in favor of British com- and historian at the Willamette Uni- but if we were to use the Ten Command- very religious. past president of the Hindu Tem- that suggested non-Jews should mon law with the Glorious Revolution of versity School of Law in Salem, OR. ments as the yardstick, then America is ple of Atlanta, GA.

38 January/February 2011 January/February 2011 / Moment 39