# Latest Ten Commandments nutjobbery **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 20, 2005, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-ten-commandments-nutjobbery/285700 "2005-01-20T10:04:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-ten-commandments-nutjobbery/285700/21 "2005-01-20T16:24:31Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > I think they should compromise by posting the three commandments that are actually laws. 3? I’d say more like 2 1/2: - No killing [law] - No stealing [law] - No bearing false witnesses against thy neighbor [law only in certain circumstances] But your point is well taken. I get particularly upset when folks claim that the 10 Commandments are part of our shared cultural heritage and are generic enough that they don’t really endorse any one religion. Did they bother reading the first one on the list? ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-ten-commandments-nutjobbery/285700/22 "2005-01-20T16:29:07Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Not to worry:If (as I suppose) it has to be open bids, just collect donations from members of the Church of the SubGenius, Lovecraft fan clubs, various neo-pagans, and assorted groups and outbid Myler with some ridiculous amount of cash. Psssst. We accept donations, we don’t make them. Then again, vexing the Pinks… Vexing the Pinks in the service to the Lurker at the Threshold? While Calling Down the Moon? Count me in! ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-ten-commandments-nutjobbery/285700/23 "2005-01-20T17:14:33Z")
Nah. I’m at work, so I don’t have the appropriate cite handy, so I’ll have to so this from memory. In the book of Matthew Jesus says something like “Do not be like the pharisees who like to stand on the street corner and pray loudly for their reward is on earth.” I wonder how these people feel about directly disobeying Christ. Then again, I’m not sure they realize they’re doing it. CJ ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-ten-commandments-nutjobbery/285700/24 "2005-01-20T17:31:22Z")
If I bought the plot of land, I would then buy the Necronomicon prop book from the Evil Dead movies and display that. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-ten-commandments-nutjobbery/285700/25 "2005-01-20T17:37:54Z")
> [@Siege](#): > > Nah. I’m at work, so I don’t have the appropriate cite handy, so I’ll have to so this from memory. In the book of Matthew Jesus says something like “Do not be like the pharisees who like to stand on the street corner and pray loudly for their reward is on earth.” I wonder how these people feel about directly disobeying Christ. Then again, I’m not sure they realize they’re doing it. > > CJ You can post to the board, but they don’t let you Google? > [@](#): > > And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corner to be seen by men. Matthew 6:5 In any event, the Christian right like to use Jesus’s name to cover their own unrighteousness, but they are not His followers. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-ten-commandments-nutjobbery/285700/26 "2005-01-20T18:16:01Z")
And thus we have the problem, don’t we, Seige? ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2005, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-ten-commandments-nutjobbery/285700/27 "2005-01-20T18:27:25Z")
> [@jinwicked](#): > > Someone please buy the plot of land right next to it and erect a large statue of Charles Darwin right next to it. Or, better yet, an identical monument bearing Ambrose Bierce’s “Decalogue”: > [@Ambrose Bierce](#): > > Thou shalt no God but me adore: > 'Twere too expensive to have more. > > No images nor idols make > For Roger Ingersoll to break. > > Take not God’s name in vain: select > A time when it will have effect. > > Work not on Sabbath days at all, > But go to see the teams play ball. > > Honor thy parents. That creates > For life insurance lower rates. > > Kill not, abet not those who kill; > Thou shalt not pay thy butcher’s bill. > > Kiss not thy neighbor’s wife, unless > Thine own thy neighbor doth caress. > > Don’t steal; thou’lt never thus compete > Successfully in business. Cheat. > > Bear not false witness – that is low – > But “hear 'tis rumored so and so.” > > Covet thou naught that thou hast got > By hook or crook, or somehow, got. ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-ten-commandments-nutjobbery/285700/28 "2005-01-21T02:22:19Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > The issue’s [come up before](http://atheism.about.com/b/a/137647.htm) (warning: site has odd floating popup) and a decision in a Wisconsin case was issued about two weeks ago, finding a similar sale of park land constitutional. Notable is this from the decision: > > “La Crosse is not selling property inextricably linked with the seat of government. Obviously, a city could not sell space under the dome of its City Hall or the sidewalk in front of the courthouse steps,” the court found. “Such sale would be, on its face, a sham.” > > So in the 7th Circuit at least, the sale contemplated in the OP’s link would apparently be unconstitutional. What if any notice courts in the 6th Circuit would take of the 7th Circuit decision is unknown. Great cite, **Otto** , and I agree with your conclusion. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-ten-commandments-nutjobbery/285700/29 "2005-01-21T03:00:10Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#): > > No, horseracing. I knew somebody would come up with a Funny Cide to that line! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-ten-commandments-nutjobbery/285700/30 "2005-01-21T03:09:23Z")
First, is secretarian a word or was it supposed to be sectarian? Second, will somebody be keeping an eye on the tax records to ensure that property taxes are being paid on said plot of land? ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-ten-commandments-nutjobbery/285700/31 "2005-01-21T05:43:54Z")
> [@Siege](#): > > Nah. I’m at work, so I don’t have the appropriate cite handy, so I’ll have to so this from memory. In the book of Matthew Jesus says something like “Do not be like the pharisees who like to stand on the street corner and pray loudly for their reward is on earth.” I wonder how these people feel about directly disobeying Christ. Then again, I’m not sure they realize they’re doing it. Clearly, Christ only really meant that this is bad _if the streetcorner is public property_. If you purchase the street corner and do it, it’s cool. Clearly. 🙂 Again, this is a weird situation because I entirely support the right for people to own land, entirely am happy when the government sells assets to private hands (though not that they pocket the proceeds), and indeed think if this is really what the company wants to do, they should knock themselves out. It’s just… so pathetic that it’s just plain embarrasing to live on the same planet with these guys. ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-ten-commandments-nutjobbery/285700/32 "2005-01-21T05:56:56Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > Second, will somebody be keeping an eye on the tax records to ensure that property taxes are being paid on said plot of land? The property may still be tax-exempt. I have no idea what Wisconsin law is on the issue, but in many states, property owned by fraternal/charitable organizations is exempt from real estate taxes. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-ten-commandments-nutjobbery/285700/33 "2005-01-21T07:41:14Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Why? Were you under the mistaken impression that Darwin was an atheist? Well, he was an agnostic. What religious views were you under the impression that he held? ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-ten-commandments-nutjobbery/285700/34 "2005-01-21T07:45:18Z")
Hopefully nothing about the forged account of where he ‘saw the light’ and rejected his doubting ways upon his deathbed, as, unfortuantely, the woman who claimed he said it wasn’t there. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-ten-commandments-nutjobbery/285700/35 "2005-01-21T08:34:04Z")
You know, if I weren’t already a believer, I would run shrieking from almost any fundamentalist Christian who approached me today. They are obsessed; they have lost their perspective. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-ten-commandments-nutjobbery/285700/36 "2005-01-21T10:34:17Z")
> [@jinwicked](#): > > Hell, I pulled Darwin (because of all the recent evolution flap) or Marx off the top of my head (yay for an evil socialist in front of the courthouse!), but you could just as well put a statue of part of the Quran or Vishnu or Buddy Christ or anything else that doesn’t jive with their worldview there. It really isn’t relevant. Doesn’t your party have enough problems without invoking Karl Marx? > [@](#): > > I know they can dish it out, I want to see if they can take it. I’ll bet you dollars to donuts they’d find some way to justify either not allowing another group to buy the land in the first place, or forcing them to take their monument down. I welcome someone to prove me wrong. A disingenuous welcome indeed since your subjunctive assertion is not falsifiable. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-ten-commandments-nutjobbery/285700/37 "2005-01-21T10:39:31Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Doesn’t your party have enough problems without invoking Karl Marx? > A disingenuous welcome indeed since your subjunctive assertion is not falsifiable. Don’t you have enough problems with like, mental health and credibility and such, without getting involved in a debate about Darwin v creationism? ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-ten-commandments-nutjobbery/285700/38 "2005-01-21T10:42:56Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Doesn’t your party have enough problems without invoking Karl Marx? > A disingenuous welcome indeed since your subjunctive assertion is not falsifiable. What the fuck are you talking about? What is it with you and claims of things not being “falsifiable” that are easily falsifiable? Another group puts up something, and BANG, instant falsification. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-ten-commandments-nutjobbery/285700/39 "2005-01-21T12:52:49Z")
> [@jinwicked](#): > > I know they can dish it out, I want to see if they can take it. I’ll bet you dollars to donuts they’d find some way to justify either not allowing another group to buy the land in the first place, or forcing them to take their monument down. I welcome someone to prove me wrong. Normally, of course, in debate the proponent of an assertion is the one responsible for proof – that is, you cannot posit an idea and demand to be proven wrong. In this case, assuming, as **tomndebb** does, the bid process is open to all, the proof is in the pudding, so to speak. If another group wants to place a different monument, all they have to do is outbid the Ten Commandments group. I cannot imagine the city would announce such a sale, and then, after another group won the bid, say, “Oops, just kidding!” ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2005, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-ten-commandments-nutjobbery/285700/40 "2005-01-21T13:07:54Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Not to worry: > If (as I suppose) it has to be open bids, just collect donations from members of the Church of the SubGenius, Lovecraft fan clubs, various neo-pagans, and assorted groups and outbid Myler with some ridiculous amount of cash. Then put up a granite block inscribed > > An you harm none, do as you will. > Give me slack. > You will be eaten first. C’mon folks! Have you \*been \*to a New Moon lately? I can’t collect enough cash to cover for rental space and cookies! I’m beginning to think the phrase “ridiculous ammount of cash” is actually anathema to neo-pagans! Or should that be “an-athame”? 😃 What I’m wondering is if this plan is as close to “Bearing False Witness” as I think it is. It’s certainly intending to deceive. And in front of a court house, no less, which adds an extra dollop of irony to the cappuccino of life. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-ten-commandments-nutjobbery/285700.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-ten-commandments-nutjobbery/285700.md?page=3)