balderdash111

Too bad you're done, b/c I have to ask what you are trying to say here.

A) Nobody is saying the 10 commandments are "bad." They are saying that they should not be posted in public buildings as a purported symbol of this country's Christian foundations.

(PS: yes, the Supreme Court also has the 10 commandments in it, but they are shown alongside many other ancient sources of laws (non Judeo-Christian). It's all about context)

B) I am completely lost between "so...." and the first "naaaaaa"

C) The laws of the United States are definitely not based on the 10 commandments. Observe:

Here are the commandments (these seem to be a modernised and simplified version of the text, but the points are the same). Italicised text is my commentary on how they tie into US laws.

1. You shall have no other Gods before me

Well, that's directly counter to the establishment clause, so clearly US laws aren't based on this.

2. You shall not make for yourselves an idol

Ditto.

3. You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God

Hmmm... this isn't in our laws either, so still nothing.

4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy

Nope

Edit: come to think of it, some states had (and still have) so-called "blue laws" which prohibit sale of alcohol on Sundays, so maybe this one counts after all. I will revise below.

5. Honor your father and your mother

If by "honor" you mean "don't hit, kill or otherwise injure" then you have a winner. But otherwise no.

6. You shall not murder

Ah, here's one! Murder is prohibited in the 10 commandments and by law.

7. You shall not commit adultery

Score this a "maybe." I think adultery used to be illegal in some states, and it's still grounds for divorce everywhere.

8. You shall not steal

Yup.

9. You shall not give false testimony

Another "maybe." I think the original text refers to "false witness," but we'll go with testimony here. If we're talking about lying to police or lying in court, then we have a match. Otherwise, it's not illegal to lie.

10. You shall not covet

At first, I was going to give a generous "maybe" on the theory that "covet" might have originally meant something like "steal." But since stealing is already covered, as is adultery (the original is about coveting your nieghbor's wife and property), this can only really be about wanting to take things. No laws prevent that.

So, all in all, the 10 Commandments don't do all that well. Even counting the maybes, you only get 4 out of 10.

Edit: Make that 5 out of 10, if you count the blue laws.

And what of the 5 that count - are they inherently religious principles? Murder? Stealing? Lying to authorities? Adultery comes close, but I dare say the Judeo-Christian doesn't have a monopoly on that concept. The only one I see as arguably directly tied to the 10 commandments is the one about keeping the seventh day holy.

Edited to reflect the blue laws -- see above.