# If God asked you to abolish a commandment, which would it be? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 29, 2002, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-god-asked-you-to-abolish-a-commandment-which-would-it-be/130061 "2002-09-29T03:02:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-god-asked-you-to-abolish-a-commandment-which-would-it-be/130061/21 "2002-09-29T20:54:31Z")
I’d lose that whole commandment about “Thou shalt not drink.” What? That’s not a commandment? Hell, pass me a beer, then. . . Tripler Good thing I’m Catholic. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-god-asked-you-to-abolish-a-commandment-which-would-it-be/130061/22 "2002-09-29T21:03:40Z")
[Homer] If the bible has taught us nothing else, it’s that women should stick to women’s sports - like foxy boxing and such and such. [/Homer] ---
**Author:** ![goonhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ebca7d/32.png) [@goonhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goonhead)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-god-asked-you-to-abolish-a-commandment-which-would-it-be/130061/23 "2002-09-29T22:04:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cuauhtemoc \* > \*\* > > Where do you see that assumption expressed in the OP? If what I’ve read on the subject is correct, the ancient Hebrews accepted the _existence_ of other gods, they just had a deal with their own god that none of the other gods could be worshipped more than Himself. Otherwise, what sense would the wording of the First Commandment make? The idea that only one capital ‘G’ God existed came about long after Exodus was written down. \*\* If Christians and Jews are now at the point where they believe God (the big “G”) is the only god, and was the same god who has always been around (delivered the hebrews out of Egypt, spoke to Moses, etc.), then there is no more need for commandment #1. If there are no other gods but the big “G”, then people of this faith wouldn’t be able to worship other gods, because none other would exist. Commandment #3 is pretty much ignored by many christian demoninations (particularly the Roman Catholic Church), as most houses of worship have statues or wooden sculptures of Jesus on the cross, the Virgin Mary, etc (some have it in the stained glasswork in the windows). Interestingly, only commandments #6, #7, and #9 made it into U.S. law. The others are legal to do, since they are limited to people of a particular faith, and our government is (in theory) secular. I include commandment #9 to be illegal because it is similar to perjury, or filing a false affidavit. ;j ---
**Author:** ![goonhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ebca7d/32.png) [@goonhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goonhead)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-god-asked-you-to-abolish-a-commandment-which-would-it-be/130061/24 "2002-09-29T22:04:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cuauhtemoc \* > \*\* > > Where do you see that assumption expressed in the OP? If what I’ve read on the subject is correct, the ancient Hebrews accepted the _existence_ of other gods, they just had a deal with their own god that none of the other gods could be worshipped more than Himself. Otherwise, what sense would the wording of the First Commandment make? The idea that only one capital ‘G’ God existed came about long after Exodus was written down. \*\* If Christians and Jews are now at the point where they believe God (the big “G”) is the only god, and was the same god who has always been around (delivered the hebrews out of Egypt, spoke to Moses, etc.), then there is no more need for commandment #1. If there are no other gods but the big “G”, then people of this faith wouldn’t be able to worship other gods, because none other would exist. Commandment #3 is pretty much ignored by many christian demoninations (particularly the Roman Catholic Church), as most houses of worship have statues or wooden sculptures of Jesus on the cross, the Virgin Mary, etc (some have it in the stained glasswork in the windows). Interestingly, only commandments #6, #8, and #9 made it into U.S. law. The others are legal to do, since they are limited to people of a particular faith, and our government is (in theory) secular. I include commandment #9 to be illegal because it is similar to perjury, or filing a false affidavit. ;j ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_griffin-kentzel/32/14787_2.png) [@Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Griffin-Kentzel)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-god-asked-you-to-abolish-a-commandment-which-would-it-be/130061/25 "2002-09-29T22:25:11Z")
This thread is better suited for **In My Humble Opinion**. I’ll move it for you. * * * **Cajun Man** - SDMB Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-god-asked-you-to-abolish-a-commandment-which-would-it-be/130061/26 "2002-09-29T23:13:02Z")
The 11th commandment should also be abolished. “Thou shalt not schtup a shiksa.” Oh, it isn’t? [sub][sup]Never mind. [/sup][/sub] 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-god-asked-you-to-abolish-a-commandment-which-would-it-be/130061/27 "2002-09-30T04:48:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cuauhtemoc \* > \*\* > > Where do you see that assumption expressed in the OP? If what I’ve read on the subject is correct, the ancient Hebrews accepted the _existence_ of other gods, they just had a deal with their own god that none of the other gods could be worshipped more than Himself. Otherwise, what sense would the wording of the First Commandment make? The idea that only one capital ‘G’ God existed came about long after Exodus was written down. \*\* Wrong. Absolutely, 100% wrong. No Rice-a-roni or Turtle Wax for you. Not even a box of Lee Press-On nails. Monotheism was precisely what made Judaism unique. Pagan races all had hundreds of gods, and generally accepetd the validity of each other’s gods. Oh, Pagan Tribe A and Pagan Tribe B may have had different names for their Sun Gods, their Moon Goddesses, their War Gods, and their Harvest Goddesses, but they pretty much accepted that they were worshipping the same gods. Tribe A might have regarded the Sun God as their special patron, and Tribe B might have regarded the War God as their special patron, but they didn’t doubt the existence of the enemy tribe’s patron gods… and they’d offer sacrifices to as many gods as possible (reasoning that you can never have too many gods on your side in a pinch). The Jews, alone among all peoples, insisted that there was ONLY one god. Not just that their God was better than all the others (many races believed that), not that their God liked them above all other races (many peoples believed that), but that the other gods didn’t exist. ---
**Author:** ![I\_am\_Sparticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@I\_am\_Sparticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_am_Sparticus)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-god-asked-you-to-abolish-a-commandment-which-would-it-be/130061/28 "2002-09-30T05:23:06Z")
I’d have to go for “thou shalt have no other gods…”. Even though I am a Christian, I am so weary of bigotry by Christians about other religions. I would replace it with: “Thou shalt not disrespect the different religious beliefs of other people, nor assert to people with other beliefs that your beliefs are superior.” ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-god-asked-you-to-abolish-a-commandment-which-would-it-be/130061/29 "2002-09-30T10:18:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by I am Sparticus \* > \*\*“Thou shalt not disrespect the different religious beliefs of other people, nor assert to people with other beliefs that your beliefs are superior.” \*\* That’s a good one, but it could be taken to conflict with the whole “Spread the Word” thing. Not necessarily accurately, though. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-god-asked-you-to-abolish-a-commandment-which-would-it-be/130061/30 "2002-10-01T00:30:53Z")
1, 2 and 3. (“Who’s the god NOW, yahweh? Bow down before US for a change!”) And maybe 4. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-god-asked-you-to-abolish-a-commandment-which-would-it-be/130061/31 "2002-10-01T00:39:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by I am Sparticus \* > \*\*I’d have to go for “thou shalt have no other gods…”. Even though I am a Christian, I am so weary of bigotry by Christians about other religions. > > I would replace it with: “Thou shalt not disrespect the different religious beliefs of other people, nor assert to people with other beliefs that your beliefs are superior.” \*\* Gosh, too bad Jesus wasn’t as smart as you! He could have saved himself an awful lot of pain! I mean, what if, instead of coming to Earth as a man, and dying on a cross, he’d thought, “You know… the religion I’m teaching is no better than any other. If people are happy with paganism, who am I to disrespect them and tell them to change? I mean, what am I- God?” ---
**Author:** ![Omnipresent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@Omnipresent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omnipresent)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-god-asked-you-to-abolish-a-commandment-which-would-it-be/130061/32 "2002-10-01T01:16:04Z")
For me, it the coveting thing. Humans HAVE to covet. And No, coveting doesn’t mean sleeping with your neibors wife. That’s adultery. Covet = To want something. We all want something. We go to further education to get a better paying job so that we can offord things. That’s coveting. We all do it. “I’d like to lose ten pounds” = Covet. You want something that you are not or do not have. It’s silly. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-god-asked-you-to-abolish-a-commandment-which-would-it-be/130061/33 "2002-10-01T02:04:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astorian \* > \*\* > > Wrong. Absolutely, 100% wrong. No Rice-a-roni or Turtle Wax for you. Not even a box of Lee Press-On nails. > > Monotheism was precisely what made Judaism unique. Pagan races all had hundreds of gods, and generally accepetd the validity of each other’s gods. Oh, Pagan Tribe A and Pagan Tribe B may have had different names for their Sun Gods, their Moon Goddesses, their War Gods, and their Harvest Goddesses, but they pretty much accepted that they were worshipping the same gods. Tribe A might have regarded the Sun God as their special patron, and Tribe B might have regarded the War God as their special patron, but they didn’t doubt the existence of the enemy tribe’s patron gods… and they’d offer sacrifices to as many gods as possible (reasoning that you can never have too many gods on your side in a pinch). > > The Jews, alone among all peoples, insisted that there was ONLY one god. Not just that their God was better than all the others (many races believed that), not that their God liked them above all other races (many peoples believed that), but that the other gods didn’t exist. \*\* I’ll give you my cite if you give me yours. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-god-asked-you-to-abolish-a-commandment-which-would-it-be/130061/34 "2002-10-01T02:27:47Z")
I’ll go with graven images, because I love materialism. I love bowing down to my Gucci bag and my Prada wallet and my Ralph Lauren sunglasses (what? you guys don’t do that?), and whoever’s hot on TV. I’d throw the eternal embrace out the window for a glimpse of Kelsey Grammer or Brad Pitt on TV. I’d prefer to live in a room lined with Coke and Pepsi ads than to spend eternity in the glowy warmth of Heaven. Though as an afterhought, would a room with coke and pepsi in it…like combust, after awhile? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-god-asked-you-to-abolish-a-commandment-which-would-it-be/130061/35 "2002-10-01T02:37:42Z")
I’d have to toss the witnessing false bears thing. If somebody walks by in a bear suit, am I supposed to close my eyes or simething? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-god-asked-you-to-abolish-a-commandment-which-would-it-be/130061/36 "2002-10-01T04:51:17Z")
‘Thou shalt not kill’, because then I could claim to have broken every commandment. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-god-asked-you-to-abolish-a-commandment-which-would-it-be/130061/37 "2002-10-01T05:02:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Omnipresent \* > **Covet = To want something. We all want something. We go to further education to get a better paying job so that we can offord things. That’s coveting. We all do it.** Actually, “to covet” in this sense means “to want something that belongs to someone else.” When you “covet” something that is your neighbor’s, you’re feeling an overwhelming desire to have that very thing (or person, in the case of the wife). It doesn’t mean wanting to get a better job so that you can buy a donkey like your neighbor’s, or to meet a woman who’s like his wife, it means wanting to have a specific thing that belongs to your neighbor. This is what David did with Bathsheba, when he sent her husband to be killed. It’s caused innumerable murders and started wars. Stealing begins with coveting, and it’s all downhill from there. I think adding to them makes more sense than subtracting; or maybe substituting would make the most sense (i.e. “love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and soul and love your neighbor as yourself”). However, if pressed to choose one to kick out, I’d take #2. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-god-asked-you-to-abolish-a-commandment-which-would-it-be/130061/38 "2002-10-01T20:34:41Z")
I’d get rid of the hardest commandment of them all: **Honor thy Father and Mother.** ---
**Author:** ![Shah\_Jehan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Shah\_Jehan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shah_Jehan)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-god-asked-you-to-abolish-a-commandment-which-would-it-be/130061/39 "2002-10-01T21:00:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astorian \* > \*\*The Jews, alone among all peoples, insisted that there was ONLY one god. Not just that their God was better than all the others (many races believed that), not that their God liked them above all other races (many peoples believed that), but that the other gods didn’t exist. \*\* I don’t have a cite, but this is what I remember from a theology class I once took. Scolars belive that the Old Testament had several writers and name these writers by the name they used for God. The “E” writer used “Elohim”. Again, no cite here and it’s been a few years so I could be wrong, but Elohim translates as “god of the high place”, which many interpret as “god of the mountain”. This fits with the way that most of the important events that take place in the Old Testament occur on a mountain. If Elohim is the god of the mountain then other gods (“god of the river” or “god of the tree” etc) are implied. Even the wording of the first commandment, “I am the Lord your god. You shall have no other gods before me”, suggests polytheism. The message isn’t that other gods don’t exist, but that they suck. Anyway, I’d lose the whole covet thing. Seems pretty impossible to me. ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-god-asked-you-to-abolish-a-commandment-which-would-it-be/130061/40 "2002-10-02T00:06:17Z")
Actually, if g0d’s talking to me (and why wouldn’t he?), I’d hem and haw over the answer until I could trace the phone call and pinpoint his location. He’s got some 'splainin to do. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-god-asked-you-to-abolish-a-commandment-which-would-it-be/130061.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-god-asked-you-to-abolish-a-commandment-which-would-it-be/130061.md?page=3)