THE TWELVE
COMMANDMENTS – TEN OF MOSES, AND TWO MORE
by Dr. Lawrence Wilson
© August 2020,
LD Wilson Consultants, Inc.
All information in this
article is for educational purposes only.
It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease
or health condition.
The
Ten Commandments given to Moses are basic rules of behavior. They are also the basis for Western
civilization. Please do not doubt
this. Anyone who challenges the
validity and importance of the Ten Commandments is a destroyer of modern
civilization, no matter what they claim.
Western
civilization is solidly based upon the principles found in the Hebrew Bible. The Ten Commandments that were given to
Moses about 3500 years ago are perhaps the most important of these principles. For an earlier set of similar laws,
read The Seven Laws For The Children Of Noah.
THEMES OF THIS ARTICLE
1.
The Twelve Commandments are a set of common sense rules that are extremely
important for everyone today. They
are not a ÒreligionÓ, as some believe.
2.
The Twelve Commandments are about loving others properly. They are not just prohibitions and
ÒrulesÓ. They also may help us
understand the grand plan of the Universe and how we fit into it, so that we
may live happily.
3.
Modern societies ignore the Ten Commandments at their great peril. In other words, the rules work very
well, and need to be taught widely or a society easily falls into moral decay,
and degenerates into tyranny and lawlessness.
4.
The Commandments can be interpreted in different ways. In other words, their meaning is not
always simple. Thus, it is worth
discussing and thinking about them clearly.
5.
One can evaluate a person, a community, or an entire society by how well they
follow these Commandments.
6.
Two other commandments can be added to the Ten Commandments of Moses to deal
with modern problems. They are 1)
Do not rape, and 2) Do not start wars.
They are somewhat redundant, but bear repeating in this day and
age. These are discussed at the
end of this article.
Let
us now discuss the Commandments one by one.
Note:
In different translations and traditions, such as the Talmudic, the
Augustinian, and the Philonic traditions, the
Commandments are not in the same order.
While perhaps confusing, this is not too important because the ideas
matter, not the exact order of the Commandments.
THE TWELVE COMMANDMENTS
I. YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS
BESIDES THE LORD, THY ONE GOD
Here
are two meanings of this all-important Commandment:
1. There
is only one Source, one Creation and/or one God. This
aspect is about the integrity of our Universe and how to worship. In this case, the word integrity means oneness, wholeness and
completeness. The Commandment
means that in one Source or idea is
found everything you will ever need.
2. Put God
first in your life, above all. The Commandment is about your
priorities. The idea is expressed
in the New Testament of the Bible in the statement, ÒSeek first for the Kingdom
of heaven, and all else will be added thereto.Ó All else in your life must be secondary, in other words, to
the concept that ONE Source or God rules all things.
3. To love or
recognize the one God means you must be one with the radiance or emanation of
God.
Implications:
1. We are all subsidiary to the grand scheme
of the Universe called God or the Creation.
2. We are all brothers and sisters. A
deeper meaning of the First Commandment is that since there is only one central
God or Source or Father, all people on earth are related. In other words, we share our humanity
with every other person on earth, no matter who they are. In this regard, we are all brothers and
sisters, and we are all children of the same Source or Father.
3. This Commandment is difficult for Hindus and
some others who worship multiple ÒgodsÓ. However, I believe there
is really no conflict. The Hindu
ÒgodsÓ are more like our Greek mythological ÒgodsÓ such as Zeus and others. They are humans, basically, who are
powerful and perhaps more advanced than us. However, they are not the ONE SOURCE or the ONE FATHER. Judaism brought forth a new, higher
idea, which is that above all the ÒgodÓ in Hinduism, Buddhism, Greek mythology
and many other pagan religions, there is yet a higher Source or God, who is One.
4. Does this mean there is a man (or woman) sitting
on a throne someplace ruling everything and everyone? Some
teach this, but my understanding is that the answer is no. The Bible does say things like ÒGod was
jealousÓ, or the Òwrath of GodÓ.
These and other statements make it sound like God is a human, with
emotions, just as we have.
However, we believe these statements were made to help people understand
God, rather than being actual physical descriptions of God.
We believe God is a radiance, or power, or
emanation of light. Could there be a ÒwrathÓ of such a God? Yes, it is possible that if you disobey
certain laws of physics, for example by jumping off a high building, then the
ÒlawÓ hits you hard and you fall down hard.
Could
such a God be ÒjealousÓ? Yes. One
meaning of the word jealous,
according to the dictionary, is Òafraid of losing something of valueÓ. It is possible that God, the Emanation
or Love principle, loves us so much that He or She is afraid of losing us to
sin or spiritual death.
In
other words, He or She wants us to behave in certain ways, and to mature and
work our way back to a high level of understanding and practice of good works
and love. Because of this, God may
be jealous - that is, somewhat
fearful - that we might go astray.
II. YOU SHALL NOT MAKE ANY GRAVEN
IMAGES OR IDOLS OF GOD, AND YOU SHALL NOT WORSHIP ANY IDOLS OR OBJECTS, NOT IN
THE HEAVENS, THE LAND OR THE SEAS
This
interesting Commandment is telling us that this God is invisible, and cannot be
worshipped with statues, golden calves, or other things. In other words, it means:
1. Do not
worship graven images, which are pictures or photos, and do not worship idols,
which are objects. These can be so-called religious images
and idols, or secular ones such as large buildings, beautiful or talented women
or men (either photos or living people), money, and other modern ÒidolsÓ.
2. The
proper way to ÒworshipÓ is thus not a material style of worship. Thus,
ÒworshippingÓ the family, money, the body, sex, love, children, friends,
spouses, lovers, occupations, cars, vacations, homes, or anything else is
always incorrect. Even worshipping
the angels, or the image of Jesus or Buddha, is wrong.
This
was a new concept in the time of Moses, as every other nation and group worshipped
many confusing gods, each of whom served in a different area such as
agriculture, the weather, financial support, love, and so forth. The Second Commandment is thus a great
simplification of religious concept and worship.
The secular humanists particularly dislike this
Commandment. They want to worship the earth, for
example, or the environment, or perhaps worship the animals, or people who need
their help. Some worship sex, or
perhaps friendship, above all else.
They dislike being told that these are all secondary to worshipping the
One God, the Source Of All Life and all Creation.
We
understand their desire, but they donÕt realize that all the things they
treasure and value so highly are products of the One God. If one truly worships the One God, one
automatically appreciates the environment, the animal creatures, and all else.
Implication. The emphasis in todayÕs modern society
on making a lot of money, for example, or on appearance, or on having a lot of
friends, or even on saving the earth, is wrong. The
emphasis must be on living in accordance with the principles outlined in this
article, and that alone. That must
be the standard, not so-called modern standards of happiness, wealth or
ÒgoodnessÓ.
This
does not mean that one should be selfish or unconcerned with oneÕs appearance,
or that it is fine to pollute the earth.
It simply means to keep your priorities clear, and things will work out
for the animals, the environment, and for you as well. I realize this is a difficult idea, and
I love the environment and the animals.
But this is different from worshiping them as my God.
III. YOU SHALL NOT MISUSE THE NAME OF
GOD, OR TAKE THE NAME OF GOD IN VAIN
This
means that if you swear an oath to God, you must mean it. The word to swear, as used in the Bible, means giving your powerful intent and commitment to something. This is an older use of the word. In modern times, the meaning of the
word to swear has been reversed, in
fact, to mean the use of coarse or slang language. This is most unfortunate in some ways.
This
Commandment is about your integrity of intent, and that you honor the name of
the Creator or Creation.
Why
is this important? For at least
three reasons:
1. God
should be the center of your Universe or thoughts at all times. The
name should therefore be a holy word and everything connected to Him must be
praised, loved and lauded. Mocking
or lying using the name of God, therefore, is a bad idea.
2. Using the name of God to cause harm to others is
also a terrible thing to do. This is sometimes called satanic, in Christian thought. It is when someone uses the name or
concept of God, Source or Creation to hurt others. Witchcraft, for example, is an example of taking the name of
God in vain.
Someone
might say ÒGod made me do itÓ, after doing something
evil. This is just one small
example of taking the name of God in vain. God never commands anyone to harm another, although it is okay
to harm another in self-defense only.
3. At a
practical level, swearing an oath to God was one of the few ways that society
had and still has to assure itself that a person is
telling the truth. It is fine to tell a judge, a jury or
just a friend that ÒI am telling you the truthÓ. However, invoking the name of God or
the Creation is a further stamp of approval, or proof, that you mean what you
say. This is why the punishment
for taking the name of the Lord in vain was death.
For
example, swearing an oath to God is required in America when someone is a
witness in a court case. It is also
required of all elected leaders in America at the federal and state
levels. They are required to place
their right hand on a Bible and pledge their allegiance to the United States
and the Republic for which it stands.
They must also swear to uphold, defend and protect the Constitution of
The United States.
Sadly,
many elected officials today do not like the Constitution and they seek to
destroy it. This is a horrible
contradiction and lie that these politicians must live with. They will someday have to answer for
their attempts to circumvent and destroy the US Constitution, and for their
mocking of the name of God. If
they do not like America, they should go and live elsewhere, or at least they
should not become elected officials in the government.
4. Another
meaning of this Commandment is that one must not ÒuseÓ God or the Creation for
greedy, lustful, violent, or other nasty purposes. Many
people do this, even preachers, at times.
This is all the misuse or abuse of name of God, and what it stands for. This is an abuse of the greatest power
the love that exists.
Liberals,
secular humanists, and atheists dislike this Commandment, as it imparts a
special meaning to the name of God or the Creation. They believe that God is not important or perhaps even fake,
so why bother making the name important?
They
have a point, in fact. If one does
not believe in a God, then why bother with swearing oaths to God? In fact, there is no point.
Politicians
should probably be asked if they will swear an oath to
God before being forced to do so to take office. However, if they wonÕt swear the oath, then they should not
be considered for the job in the first place, as they are probably not
trustworthy men or women. America
and most other nations no longer consider this important, but it is most
important if one wants honest and efficient government. Looks and words matter little, in
comparison with honesty, integrity and pure intent. I hope we learn this soon.
IV. YOU SHALL CELEBRATE THE SABBATH
OR SEVENTH DAY OF REST EACH WEEK, AND KEEP IT HOLY
A
meaning of the word Shabbat in Hebrew is one
day different. This
Commandment has been interpreted different ways, however:
1. Take a break from your daily ÒgrindÓ or daily
routine each week. This is a very healthful idea for most
people, though not all require it.
Thus, the Sabbath Commandment may simply be about rest, regeneration,
repairing the body and the mind, and even repairing machinery, tools,
automobiles and other things one uses all week long.
2. Spend a day or time each week praising God, not
just laying around, reading the newspaper, or watching random television, for
example.
This
is about setting aside a day each week, at the very least, to focus on God
rather than on secular matters that so easily fill up oneÕs time.
While
some people will not agree, we believe that if a person does the pushing down
mental exercise every day, then he or she is celebrating the Sabbath each and
every day. That is, one is
remembering the Creator and praising his Creation every day.
3.
The Bible states that God rested on the Seventh day, and so should we. Thus, this Commandment may have to do
with the cycles of activity and rest, in which a day of rest on the seventh day
is critical for completion, breaking patterns, and balancing out a personÕs
life.
This
Commandment is a reminder that the non-stop, Òrat raceÓ lifestyle is not
ideal. The antidote is that once a
week, stop your normal material life routine and dedicate the day to God or to
the Creation. This Commandment
compels us to slow down at least once a week.
A
nice idea, if possible, is not to drive the car except for necessities, and
donÕt spend the day on the telephone or email, and skip Facebook
and all social media sites, as well.
If you use the computer, use it for spiritual purposes only.
4. Religious people say that the Sabbath
Commandment is more than this. The Hebrew Bible specifies what must be
done and what must be left undone on the Sabbath.
However,
this is a source of controversy.
Some readers know that one reason Jesus was crucified was for healing
people on the Sabbath, and doing other things on the Sabbath that were
forbidden by the priests of the day.
Jesus
understood the Old Testament differently, and perhaps wanted to remind people
that the Sabbath Commandment is more about common sense and love, and not about
following mere rules and regulations, especially if people are harmed by such
rules and regulations.
The
author once worked for a man who operated a summer camp for children. On the Sabbath, there was a religious
service, there were no sports, everyone took showers and cleaned up a little,
the vehicles were repaired, and the counselors and staff relaxed. He told me that if God had not ordained
the Sabbath, we would need to invent one to maintain a sane and wholesome
rhythm of life.
V. HONOR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER, THAT THY DAYS MAY BE LONG UPON
THE LAND WHICH THE LORD THY GOD GIVETH THEE
Some
interpret this Commandment to mean that you must love and care for your parents
even if they are abusive or even hate you.
We
do not think this is corrrect. We also believe that the Commandment
does not mean you must:
A. Visit Mom or Dad every so often.
B.
Talk to them on the telephone for an hour a week.
C.
Let them into your home if they are very disruptive.
D.
Let them be around your children, if they are a very bad influence.
E.
Support them financially, although this is also considered a blessing in most
cultures.
F.
It does not even mean you must be on speaking terms with an abusive or
dangerous parent.
The
Commandment does mean that one should:
1.
Respect and honor your parents for giving you life on earth. For this, be forever grateful to your
parents, even if you have suffered in this life. Life is a gift if we choose to use it wisely.
2.
Honor the offspring of parents, which is everyone. This is a very important idea. To honor parents, one must honor their offspring.
3.
Forgive your parents for anything and everything that they did or failed to
do. This is also a key concept for
happiness. For details, read Forgiving Parents. Let your parents off the hook, rather than hold grudges and
dishonoring them in your mind, in your speech or in your actions. This is vial for healing for many
people.
4.
Some interpret this Commandment in a more metaphysical way. They say it means to honor the Father
in Heaven, and Mother Earth (our planet).
This
is a powerful idea. We are
dependent upon the Father in Heaven for our spiritual existence and we are
dependent upon food, water, air and warmth supplied by the planet for our
physical life and health. This is
certainly the truth.
VI. YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER
This
Commandment is often misunderstood.
It means you shall not take another life without good cause. In this sense, it is about your integrity
with the force called life.
While
the Commandment sounds absolute and all-inclusive, other parts of the Bible
make it clear that it is not. Killing another person is horrible, but
the Bible elsewhere permits one to kill another who is harming you first. It also allows killing an enemy in a
war situation. It also allows
killing animals for food and sacrifice.
It may even allow a killing to end the life of another person who is in
severe pain and who is terminally ill.
So if you kill in self-defense, for example, and for this reason only,
it is not considered murder.
I
often hear that Jewish and Christian people are hypocritical because they
engage in wars in which people are killed, even though the Bible forbids
it. However, the Bible does not
forbid killing in self defense or during wartime. As to which wars are justified, the
Bible does not specify these.
A modern example. One can argue that the wars in Afghanistan and
Iraq are not about the self defense of the NATO
nations, so the soldiers should not be there from nations that worship the God
of the Jews and Christians.
However, this is not true because these nations are havens for
terrorists who continue to attack and kill those in the Western nations. So the war and killing is justified, at
least on Biblical principles.
What about abortion? This
Commandment does not specifically discuss abortion. However, both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible
condemn abortion elsewhere in their texts.
This
is a major reason why some women, in particular, do not like the Hebrew or
Christian Bibles. This is
unfortunate, however, because the Commandments are designed for many
situations, and they are very good general rules.
The
ability to give birth is a truly a miracle and a sacred gift. When this is downplayed, as it is in
most modern societies today, we submit that the entire culture suffers. Many women are falsely told they are
just like men, and having children is a side issue. This horrible attitude is responsible for creating millions
of sick children and millions of depressed women. We urge everyone to think carefully about this.
Belief
in a ÒrightÓ to abortion denies the sacredness of life, and the sacredness of
women. This does not mean that
abortion is never indicated.
However, it is not a right, and we hope someday this will be corrected
in the laws of many nations.
What
about capital punishment, also called the
death penalty? The death penalty does not violate this Commandment. The Bible specifies the punishment of
death for certain crimes including rape, murder, perjury, and taking the name
of God in vain (this means swearing an oath on a Bible, and saying Òso help me
GodÓ, and then acting otherwise).
Murdering the spirit. One
can also murder anotherÕs spirit, or murder the self-esteem and dignity of
another. Therefore, an expanded
understanding of this Commandment is that one must not kill the Spirit, kill
the intellect, kill opportunities for others, or kill the dignity of another.
An
extension of this is that one must not render another person useless –
meaning one may not damage or harm another to the extent that the person can no
longer function well. For example,
vaccine injuries that leave millions of children autistic or with other severe
health problems may be understood as a type of murder.
Murdering yourself. This
Commandment also applies to oneself.
It is the prohibition against suicide, or intentionally taking oneÕs own
life. It might also imply that one
must not murder oneÕs own body slowly with deficient food, not enough rest and
sleep, the use of drugs and alcohol, too much work or even too much sex or
other indulgences.
One
can also, in effect, murder oneÕs own Spirit, self-esteem and dignity through destructive
thoughts or deeds.
This
principle can be applied to all the Commandments, not just this one. One can steal from oneself, one can
ÒadulterateÓ oneself in various ways, one can dishonor the Father and Mother
energies in oneself, and so on.
VII. YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY
The
meaning of the word adultery has been corrupted. In the original Hebrew, the meaning of adultery is any sex other than having sex with oneÕs
husband or wife.
This means that adultery includes sex between
single people, or what is called fornication. In other words, this commandment is not just for married
people. It applies to everyone.
Marriage,
according to the Bible, is only between a man and a woman. Therefore, the commandment about
adultery also forbids sex between those of the same gender.
The
Seventh Commandment does not say that one must not
look upon a woman with lust. This
excellent idea came from Saul or Paul, a disciple of Jesus.
Purposes of this commandment. Much
could be said about this commandment. It is about the sacredness of human bodies, the sacredness
and nature of marriage, and the problems that arise from having sex with just
anyone.
Having
sex tends to spread disease, often causes embarrassment, blends the energies of
people in unhealthy ways, and can deplete oneÕs nutrition. Regulating sexuality as this
commandment does will help reduce all of these and other problems that occur
due to having sex.
A deeper meaning to the Seventh
Commandment. Adultery,
like the word adulterate, means to
corrupt or ruin. A
deeper meaning to this Commandment is that one must not corrupt anything. In other words, do not adulterate
anything you do or have.
This
expanded meaning makes good sense.
It applies to everyone and applies to all of our life, not just sexual
life. For example, it means do not
corrupt, ruin or adulterate your children by spoiling them or lying to them,
perhaps.
It
means do not corrupt your business by lying to your customers or mistreating
them in some way. It means do not
corrupt your body by eating poor quality food or not resting enough, and so on.
In this regard, the Seventh Commandment
is about preserving integrity and wholesomeness in all things, persons and
situations.
VIII. YOU SHALL NOT STEAL
This
is an important Commandment in many ways.
It is a very broad statement that means you shall not appropriate
anything, or take anything, that does not belong to you. This includes real tangible property,
intellectual property, kidnapping a child, taking a life for no good reason, or
even taking or degrading the dignity or the self-esteem of another. It can apply to stealing exam answers
to get a better grade, and of course to stealing money or objects.
In legal terms, this Commandment sets down or
implies the principle of ownership of private property. This
is a basic legal concept in Western society, although it is under attack in
many Western nations.
Private
property rights are not a common idea in most of the world with its dictators,
or those that have communist, military or socialistic governments. In these nations, for example, the
government regularly steals from the people and sets a terrible example that
the people often follow.
ÒRedistributing
the wealthÓ, a popular phrase today, easily degenerates into plain stealing from
some to give to others whom the leader favors.
This
can be a difficult Commandment for many people to follow if they are parasites
on society. Some live by cheating
and stealing from others. I would
include in this group anyone who charges too much money for a product or
service, even if it is perfectly legal.
I would also include anyone who is part of a licensed monopoly group
such as doctors, lawyers, and union tradesmen. All have Òlegal arrangementsÓ that allow them to steal from
others, although it is technically legal.
In other words, they do not earn their living, but rather they receive
certain ÒbenefitsÓ as a result of their monopoly position in society.
Others
who routinely take from others legally are those on government welfare. They receive ÒperksÓ in the form of tax
breaks, food stamps, social security disability, unemployment benefits and
more. The reason these are
stealing, in one sense, is that the money for these programs is taken by force
from the general population. If
the funds were given freely, as in private charity, then such benefits would
not be stealing.
I am
not advocating the end of all government programs, but there is a problem when
any government or power takes the peopleÕs money by force. It always engenders anger and
resentment, and often cheating and lying.
Private charity and private welfare worked extremely well in America
until the government ruined it by taking over the welfare system during the 20th
century. There is no need for
government welfare, I maintain.
Another
group that routinely steals from the public are institutions such as the
Federal Reserve system, the banks, and others who
mystify money and take advantage of peopleÕs ignorance in this area.
Other
ways people cheat and steal things range from simple shoplifting to filing
false income tax reports, which cheats or steals from the government. Others cheat on health insurance forms
and in other ways. Inflating the
currency by the governments is a horrible type of stealing of the peopleÕs
wealth, and so forth and so on. So
this is not an easy Commandment to follow, and it is a very important one.
IX. YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS
This
is another complex and difficult Commandment to follow. I interpret this to mean that one should not
lie at any time, about anything, unless it is to preserve your life or
property. In other words,
this Ninth Commandment is about integrity with your speech and your
thoughts.
All
the Commandments are sacred, but this one is very special because your
words are deeds. Your
words and your deeds should match up perfectly every day. If they do not, you are bearing false
witness and violating this Commandment.
In
other words, this Commandment does not just mean one shall not give false
testimony in a court of law. It
means much, much more. For
example, it means one must not:
a.
Spread false rumors.
b.
Lie or exaggerate to make a point.
c.
Cover up or obscure the truth by telling half-truths or omitting important
information.
d.
Advertise falsely, which is extremely common. For example, an ad may feature a lovely young, scantily
clothed lady who has no interest at all in the product or service, but is just
being paid to look pretty and sexy.
This is just a subtle way of lying to consumers.
e.
Lying about money, as is done by the government when they waste it, and as is
done by many individuals, as well.
f.
Lying with the body - with words, or a smile, a gesture, a glance, seduction,
and in other ways.
g.
Lying to oneself. This is a fine line.
Sometimes one is caught in negative thinking, and one tries to
substitute positive thoughts instead.
This is not exactly lying, but rather trying to control the mind. However, many people lie to themselves
that things are not the way they really are. This can be a subtle form of self-hypnosis or brainwashing
in an attempt to put yourself to sleep to the truth.
An
exception, perhaps, is the use of prayers or affirmations such as the 23rd
Psalm of David. This psalm, along
with others, can help stop negative thinking and help calm the mind.
Lying
can be very subtle. It can mean
leading a person on in a relationship with gifts or praise, when they are
false. It can mean telling a child
a scary story just to keep the child in line. Learning to tell the truth and live the truth is a lifelong
struggle for everyone! Let no one
think they are above the fray, so to speak.
X. YOU SHALL NOT COVET YOUR
NEIGHBORÕS HOUSE, NOR HIS WIFE, NOR HIS MALE SERVANT, NOR HIS FEMALE SERVANT,
NOR HIS OX, NOR HIS DONKEY, NOR ANYTHING THAT IS YOUR NEIGHBORÕS
This
is an interesting Commandment because most people do not know the meaning of the word covet. It does not just mean to envy. To covet means to want to steal from another. This fascinating Commandment means you
should not seek or desire to take away or steal that which
belongs to others. It is
about integrity of desire in relation to action.
For
example, let us say your neighbor has a lovely wife or husband. It is perfectly okay to desire that you
should also have a lovely wife or husband. However, it is coveting
if you secretly or openly would like to take away your neighborÕs husband or
wife, and have him or her for yourself.
This is a fine distinction, but an important one.
An important political example. Some
politicians tell the voters that it is Ònot fairÓ that a few people own big
houses and drive fancy cars, while most of the people do not. These politicians spend their time
stirring up envy and hatred for the rich.
This is about coveting, and they encourage it.
This
is called class warfare talk in the
United States, and it is based on the writings of Karl Marx and Frederick
Engels. These two 19th
century political scientists based their entire world view
on the concept that progress in human society is all about a class struggle,
and hatred, envy and coveting between the rich and the poor. It is the theoretical basis of Marxism,
communism and socialism.
However,
this rhetoric violates the Tenth Commandment that warns us not to desire the
possessions or wealth of our neighbors.
Indeed, teaching this totally anti-biblical attitude tends to divide the
nation, and stirs up anger, resentment, hatred and often ultimately violence.
The
truth, by the way, is that some people work hard, so they have more money. Some are lazy, so they have less. Some also develop their talents, so
they earn more. Others would
rather do very little, so they tend to earn less.
Instead
of stealing the possessions from the wealthy, Abraham Lincoln and many other
great men said to teach the poor how to become wealthy. This works wherever it is tried, even
in modern Red China to some degree.
Yet it is not taught in high schools and colleges, which is truly a
shame. For more on this important
subject, read Capitalism and Freedom
on this website.
The
Tenth Commandment is quite specific, unlike all the other Commandments. It specifically mentions the neighborÕs
wife, maidservant, manservant, animals, or anything else that belongs to your
neighbor. Perhaps these are
spelled out to emphasize how inclusive and important it is not to covet. Perhaps this is why class warfare talk
is so pernicious.
Wishing evil upon others.
Another interpretation of the Commandment not to covet is that it means
do not wish evil upon anyone.
Coveting is a form of wishing evil on others, which is a form of sorcery
or witchcraft.
An
excellent, shorter discussion of the Ten Commandments is found in a section
called Living the Ten Commandments in
the The Rogues article.
TWO OTHER COMMANDMENTS
For
clarity, some have suggested two other commandments.
IX. DO NOT RAPE
Rape
is widespread all over the world.
It is part of the culture in some nations. In others, notably America and Europe, it may be part of an
effort by a foreign government to destroy the fabric of the society. After all, it destroys womenÕs lives in
a dozen ways, infects their husbands and boyfriends with diseases, and more.
The
raping must stop! Anyone caught
doing it pays dearly, I am told, even if the legal system does not punish the
crime hard enough. To read more
about this subject, please read Rape and Healing Rape on this website.
The
word rape has broader meanings such as to violate, to steal, to humiliate or to
Òrip offÓ another. All this may be
included in the Commandment not to rape.
XII. DO NOT START WARS
The
days of unrestricted war on earth need to end. Those who start wars pay dearly, I am told. There is no reason for aggression
against another sovereign nation.
No nation on earth needs the territory, people or resources of another
nation. This needs to be taught to
everyone on earth.
It
does not matter what the Queron teaches. Nor does it matter what Karl Marx
taught about the ends justifying the
means – one of the principles of communism. There must be no more aggression against other nations or
other people you disagree with!
The
word war can be expanded, in this
Commandment, but that is not the intent of it. People sometimes start wars with their family, their
friends, their employers or employees, and so on. However, at times, these are needed to bring to light the
truth, for example, or to make an example of someone so that others will not go
astray. So this Commandment only
applies to physical, cyber, electronic, psychotronic
and other outright and unprovoked attacks on the life and property and
territory that belongs to others.
OTHER TOPICS
THE ENTIRE BASIS FOR
WESTERN CIVILIZATION
Although
some will disagree, the Ten Commandments of Moses are the basis for modern
Western civilization. Please allow
me to explain. These Commandments
form a basic legal code that protects the innocent, punishes the guilty,
establishes a right to own and control private property, allows for
self-defense, forces people to treat each other civilly, and more.
In
so doing, the Commandments of Moses form the groundwork for the wonderful legal
system we have today in many Western nations that protects those who are honest
and decent, and hopefully jails those who lie, cheat, steal, murder, rape and
otherwise harm society and its citizens.
I believe this is the Òbig pictureÓ concerning the Ten Commandments. It is a marvelous legal code to guide
modern man in his quest for an advanced society.
Many
people have forgotten this aspect of the Ten Commandments, though not the
founders of America, who inscribed them all over the Supreme Court building in
Washington, DC, in every courtroom in the land, and in most early government
buildings, as well. The fact that
the Ten Commandments are now banned from being displayed in public schools and
courtrooms of America, for example, is totally insane.
The
argument for this is that they are a Òreligious symbolÓ, when they are nothing
of the sort. They are the basis
for a legal system that has produced a sane society, and they should be
hallowed, not banned.
One
could argue that the real cause of the downfall of some nations today,
including the communist nations, is that they do not abide by the these
Commandments. They
institutionalize lying, cheating, stealing and even murdering. If this ever happens in America, she,
too, will go down. I believe that
to the extent that a nation elevates the Ten Commandments, and it citizens actually
practice them, that nation will prosper.
This
is not because that nation is Òfavored by GodÓ, but because the Ten
Commandments are basic legal principles needed for an orderly and prosperous
society. This, once again, is why
class warfare talk by the Democratic Party in the USA is so damaging to
everyone. These politicians repeat
over and over that their opposition just favors the rich. Not so. The opposition to class warfare favors freedom, and allowing
people to accumulate wealth if they earn it legally and properly.
THE COMMANDMENTS ARE
NOT A ÒRELIGIOUSÓ SYSTEM
This
article focuses on the Ten Commandments as a logical and common sense system of
simple rules for living. A huge
mistake, in my opinion, is to just associate them with Judaism or Christianity,
as is the case today. It is true
that Moses was a Hebrew, but that does not mean that: 1) they are religious in
nature, 2) that one must be Jewish or Christian to follow them, or 3) that one
must be religious at all to appreciate them.
Many
secular people dislike the Bible, which they consider outdated, bigoted or
paternalistic, and they throw away the Ten Commandments as well. Then they wonder why their children
lie, cheat, steal, do drugs, and their lives end up in ruins. Society needs basic rules of conduct
and intent. The Twelve
Commandments are a simple moral code, not a religious order or religion. They are designed to help you live your
life as happily and joyously as possible, with as few problems as possible.
THE TWELVE COMMANDMENTS
AS A WAY TO GAUGE A PERSON AND A SOCIETY
The
word commandment in Hebrew also can
mean a type of gauge, much like the
gasoline gauge in an automobile.
We can thus use the Twelve Commandments as a way to gauge or measure of
how well a person is living life.
Those
who live a simple, honest, clean life do not always come out ÒaheadÓ in
societyÕs terms such as wealth or perhaps ÒloveÓ. However, following the Twelve Commandments properly is still
a wonderful way to gauge your life.
You
can also gauge or measure the righteousness of a society by noting how well that
society and its people, in general, practice the Twelve Commandments. Do the people worship false gods such
as sex, money, lust, fame, etc.?
Do people swear by God and then disobey their oath of allegiance, for
example, to the US Constitution which most have not even read? Do people balance their lives by taking
off a day of work each week, rather than working too much or slacking off too
much?
Furthermore,
is marriage between a man and a woman held sacred, or do many people cheat on
their spouses? Must you lock up
everything to prevent it from being stolen? Are rape and murder common? Do people respect truth, or do they lie
to each other and to themselves? And does the society pit the rich against the
poor with its taxes and other policies, causing envy and covetousness? Evaluating communities and nations in
this way may be extremely valuable.
It is a far more spiritual, and often practical, means to discern the
truth about a society than simply measuring its wealth or its technology.
Home | Hair Analysis | Saunas | Books | Articles | Detox
Protocols
Courses | About Dr. Wilson | Contact Us