Changing the 10 Commandments

chelseamb11 · March 2012

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9123866/Churches-adopt-new-Ten-Commandments.html

So I read this article the other day. Basically it's about a church that has rewritten the 10 commandments in order to reflect modern values. For example, "Thou shalt not commit adultery" has become "affair-proof your relationship" and "honor thy father and mother" has become "keep the peace with your parents".

I was curious on people's takes on it, both religous and non-religious. I personally think it's messed up. I don't think God wrote those commandments to be changed. Even then, he knew perfectly well what the world would be like now and even in the future of now. If he wanted them to morph with "modern values", he would have told Moses: "these are the laws to live by.. but only until 2012".

WDYT?

lbarr088 · March 2012

I consider myself religious, not fire and brimstone church every Sunday religious, but religious. I grew up in the Christian faith but haven't found a church I like so there's that...

I see that it is paraphrasing the overall gist of the Ten Commandments but I don't agree with it. They are what they are and are perfectly understandable on their own. The values within the Ten Commandments should hold true regardless of what state society is in and I don't think there is a need to modernize. When doing that it leaves it up to the individual's interpretation and that is a slippery slope (and why religion pisses me off at times).

em01092 · March 2012

Eh, I don't really mind so much. As long as the meaning is the same, then whatever. It's like the different versions of the Bible for me (KJV, NIV, etc). I know this is kind of more drastic, and I get why some people don't like it, but it doesn't bother me.

Girlie1030 · March 2012

Semantics.

Now, I'm not religious (or even a believer) so I take no offense to changing the text of what is believed to be word of God though I could see how some might.

On the other hand though, if this new "modernized" version of the commandments can actually reach a younger demographic and possibly help them in their faith, is it really such a bad thing?

AllAboutTheBenjamin · March 2012

I think as long as they are still the actual 10 commandments I don't really care, I guess. There are several translations of the Bible but they all say the basic same thing.

I'd have a problem with it if they were amended to something like, "The 10 Commandments, plus a couple other things you shouldn't do" or "The 9 Commandments" because they figured one of them wasn't that big of a deal.

Some of the translations are okay. Like "Honor thy father and they mother" becomes "keep the peace with your parents." It's pretty much the same. "Thou shalt not steal" becomes "prosper with a clear conscience," which can mean many things. Not stealing is pretty straight forward, so the amending of it is kinda confusing.

I dig the original 10 commandments, lol. Nothing wrong with them.

LP11509 · March 2012

From what I can tell, they aren't changing the message of the original commandments, just the wording. If modernizing the wording is able to help younger people understand the message better, then I think it's a good thing.

ETA: I'm glad that churches realize that it is necessary to adjust as time goes on. If they didn't, then the world would be a very different place, and being a woman would kind of suck.

ETA again: The first edit is meant in general terms, not pertaining to the wording of the commandments.

ErinG93 · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_changing-the-10-commandments?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:79bd1ea2-74df-48e6-90f8-cc533b70da9ePost:6cbe7586-5c84-4821-a3ce-c7be3e700c1e">Re: Changing the 10 Commandments</a>:
[QUOTE]Eh, I don't really mind so much. As long as the meaning is the same, then whatever. <strong>It's like the different versions of the Bible for me (KJV, NIV, etc).</strong> I know this is kind of more drastic, and I get why some people don't like it, but it doesn't bother me.
Posted by em01092[/QUOTE]

<div>
</div><div>Yep. Changing the commandments to make sense for a younger audience is, in my opinion, no different than the different versions of the bible. I'm not religious at all though, but I can see why they did it. </div>

KateJ10 · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_changing-the-10-commandments?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:79bd1ea2-74df-48e6-90f8-cc533b70da9ePost:691dd3f6-3f6e-4f91-bc36-d07f66e44ffb">Re: Changing the 10 Commandments</a>:
[QUOTE]Semantics. Now, I'm not religious (or even a believer) so I take no offense to changing the text of what is believed to be word of God though I could see how some might. On the other hand though, if this new "modernized" version of the commandments can actually reach a younger demographic and possibly help them in their faith, is it really such a bad thing?
Posted by Girlie1030[/QUOTE]

<div>
</div><div>Agreed!</div>

Nebb · March 2012

God didn't write anything.

em01092 · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_changing-the-10-commandments?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:79bd1ea2-74df-48e6-90f8-cc533b70da9ePost:691dd3f6-3f6e-4f91-bc36-d07f66e44ffb">Re: Changing the 10 Commandments</a>:
[QUOTE]Semantics. Now, I'm not religious (or even a believer) so I take no offense to changing the text of what is believed to be word of God though I could see how some might. On the other hand though, <strong>if this new "modernized" version of the commandments can actually reach a younger demographic and possibly help them in their faith, is it really such a bad thing? </strong>
Posted by Girlie1030[/QUOTE]

<div>This is what I was thinking. I agree.</div><div>
</div><div>This isn't the first time the Bible has been rephrased. I'm pretty sure the word choice changed slightly when they were translated from language to language. Also, the Bible being published in English in the first place was when someone finally realized most people* didn't even understand it as it was in Latin (though shifting from Latin versus rephrasing English is different, I know). Some thought that the Bible was too worthy a document to be printed in such a "lowly" language as English. The point is it was changed to target a different audience. I don't think King James or Guttenberg have a monopoly over the Bible. </div><div>
</div><div>Also, FTR I was raised Christian but I'm not really religious. I have my beliefs but I don't attend church regularly anymore. </div><div>
</div><div>ETA*-I meant people in England, obviously, prior to the Reformation. </div><div>
</div><div>
</div>

NuggetBrain · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_changing-the-10-commandments?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:79bd1ea2-74df-48e6-90f8-cc533b70da9ePost:ce7ec123-b02e-48b1-8ac2-8f8b24077e53">Re: Changing the 10 Commandments</a>:
[QUOTE]God didn't write anything.
Posted by Nebb[/QUOTE]

Uh, yes he did. "Thou shalt not steal" is SUPPOSED to be "don't take ppls stuff lulz!!"

God writes things in text-speak because he's so busy.

lbarr088 · March 2012

I'm not adamantly opposed to it either I should add especially now after reading through most of it. I guess I've always considered them to be pretty translatable/understandable to any day and age.

chelseamb11 · March 2012

I think the adultery one gets to me, only because it shifts the blame on to the person who's cheated on. The new one doesn't say "don't cheat". It says "Make sure your relationship is strong enough so they don't cheat on you". At least that's how I read it. Most of them are alright, but I don't see how the wording of the originals is that confusing anyway.

And lol on the text speak Nuggs.

Nebb · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_changing-the-10-commandments?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:79bd1ea2-74df-48e6-90f8-cc533b70da9ePost:0dff17f9-d837-4790-8b5a-007a6f932edd">Re: Changing the 10 Commandments</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Changing the 10 Commandments : Uh, yes he did. "Thou shalt not steal" is SUPPOSED to be "don't take ppls stuff lulz!!" God writes things in text-speak because he's so busy.
Posted by NuggetBrain[/QUOTE]

I bet god gets a kick out of damn you auto correct. He's been there.

em01092 · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_changing-the-10-commandments?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:79bd1ea2-74df-48e6-90f8-cc533b70da9ePost:45ee88ad-a19f-4c06-8f8d-e668486cda11">Re: Changing the 10 Commandments</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>I think the adultery one gets to me, only because it shifts the blame on to the person who's cheated on. The new one doesn't say "don't cheat". It says "Make sure your relationship is strong enough so they don't cheat on you".</strong> At least that's how I read it. Most of them are alright, but I don't see how the wording of the originals is that confusing anyway. And lol on the text speak Nuggs.
Posted by chelseamb11[/QUOTE]

<div>I get this grief that you have with this one.</div><div>
</div><div>Then I think this opens up the debate on whether or not it's 100% one persons fault or the other, or if the person who was cheated on ignored the signs that their spouse was unhappy and did nothing to try and fix their marriage. A local radio show just debated this last week. Interesting points on both sides. </div>

Girlie1030 · March 2012

I don't think a lack reading comprehension was the catalyst for the change.

"Unlike the dos and don'ts most people imagine when quizzed about the maker's instructions, the message is meant to be both a challenge and an encouragement."

That to me reads that this guy was just trying to draw in and hopefully inspire more people by updating the phrasing.

AllAboutTheBenjamin · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_changing-the-10-commandments?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:79bd1ea2-74df-48e6-90f8-cc533b70da9ePost:45ee88ad-a19f-4c06-8f8d-e668486cda11">Re: Changing the 10 Commandments</a>:
[QUOTE]I think the adultery one gets to me, only because it shifts the blame on to the person who's cheated on. <strong> The new one doesn't say "don't cheat". It says "Make sure your relationship is strong enough so they don't cheat on you".</strong> At least that's how I read it. Most of them are alright, but I don't see how the wording of the originals is that confusing anyway. And lol on the text speak Nuggs.
Posted by chelseamb11[/QUOTE]

Lol, sheesh.

dmiller9274 · March 2012

I don't care if someone wants to rephrase the 10 Commandments so that they are easier to understand. Although, I'm pretty sure if you can't comprehend the meaning of the 10 commandments, you probably aren't capable of understanding them no matter how they are phrased.

The problem I have with this is that the meanings or the "word" isn't the same. “thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain” becomes “take God seriously”. Seriously? It seems like it's another way to over simplify it so that following religion isn't too hard for people. Being a Christian is sometimes hard work, I think it's supposed to be.

NuggetBrain · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_changing-the-10-commandments?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:79bd1ea2-74df-48e6-90f8-cc533b70da9ePost:b1fa13d6-e279-434b-95e1-0c85a2540d81">Re: Changing the 10 Commandments</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Changing the 10 Commandments : I bet god gets a kick out of damn you auto correct. He's been there.
Posted by Nebb[/QUOTE]

F'reals. Just look what happened when he emailed one of the angels to make sure that a palm tree's branches were "really big sticks".

<a href="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/images/store/4/10/b4192aa3-3223-43df-9a8d-c2d61c8f8c8c.large.jpg" title="Click to view a larger photo" class="PhotoLink"><img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/images/store/4/10/b4192aa3-3223-43df-9a8d-c2d61c8f8c8c.medium.jpg" alt="" /></a>

lbarr088 · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_changing-the-10-commandments?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:79bd1ea2-74df-48e6-90f8-cc533b70da9ePost:b1fa13d6-e279-434b-95e1-0c85a2540d81">Re: Changing the 10 Commandments</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Changing the 10 Commandments : I bet god gets a kick out of damn you auto correct. He's been there.
Posted by Nebb[/QUOTE]

<div>Make sure you CHOCOLATESHART your neighbor as yourself.</div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div>
</div>

NicoleSahara · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_changing-the-10-commandments?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:79bd1ea2-74df-48e6-90f8-cc533b70da9ePost:af0bf72d-3c37-4c83-8283-21e87284e0dc">Re: Changing the 10 Commandments</a>:
[QUOTE]I don't care if someone wants to rephrase the 10 Commandments so that they are easier to understand. Although, I'm pretty sure if you can't comprehend the meaning of the 10 commandments, you probably aren't capable of understanding them no matter how they are phrased. The problem I have with this is that the meanings or the "word" isn't the same. “thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain” becomes “take God seriously”. Seriously? It seems like it's another way to over simplify it so that following religion isn't too hard for people. Being a Christian is sometimes hard work, I think it's supposed to be.
Posted by dmiller9274[/QUOTE]

Totally agree with this.

fluttaby32 · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_changing-the-10-commandments?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:79bd1ea2-74df-48e6-90f8-cc533b70da9ePost:45ee88ad-a19f-4c06-8f8d-e668486cda11">Re: Changing the 10 Commandments</a>:
[QUOTE]I think the adultery one gets to me, only because it shifts the blame on to the person who's cheated on. The new one doesn't say "don't cheat". It says "Make sure your relationship is strong enough so they don't cheat on you". At least that's how I read it. Most of them are alright, but I don't see how the wording of the originals is that confusing anyway. And lol on the text speak Nuggs.
Posted by chelseamb11[/QUOTE]

I read this completely differently. I think they are taking it one step further, and saying not only "don't have an affair"- but "remove any temptation". I dont see how that blames someone who has been cheated on. Say if you have a friend you are startin to develop feelings for, or an emotional attachment, you would remove them from your life. Don't have things in your marriage that could lead to one of you cheating. Know what I mean?

Nebb · March 2012

He's my for real opinion. I think I'd be more concerned if whoever controls that stuff did nothing to keep the text relevent and modern enough for people to easily understand and apply to their lives. We aren't really living in "thou shalt not" type of times anymore. Changing with the times while retaining your values is important for survival and relevence now a days.

chelseamb11 · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_changing-the-10-commandments?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:79bd1ea2-74df-48e6-90f8-cc533b70da9ePost:bcfc09df-029e-40aa-b982-78d8f337c092">Re: Changing the 10 Commandments</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Changing the 10 Commandments : I read this completely differently. I think they are taking it one step further, and saying not only "don't have an affair"- but "remove any temptation". I dont see how that blames someone who has been cheated on. Say if you have a friend you are startin to develop feelings for, or an emotional attachment, you would remove them from your life. Don't have things in your marriage that could lead to one of you cheating. Know what I mean?
Posted by fluttaby32[/QUOTE]

That makes total sense actually.

fluttaby32 · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_changing-the-10-commandments?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:79bd1ea2-74df-48e6-90f8-cc533b70da9ePost:a62e68e7-84b8-4739-9aa2-58b15bb665bd">Re: Changing the 10 Commandments</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Changing the 10 Commandments : That makes total sense actually.
Posted by chelseamb11[/QUOTE]

I think so too :) Glad I could help!

ceh789 · March 2012

I'm pretty sure "affair-proof your relationship" was lifted directly from Cosmo.

annie912 · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_changing-the-10-commandments?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:79bd1ea2-74df-48e6-90f8-cc533b70da9ePost:274ff46b-9cc1-4593-851b-2ca4d45f6064">Re: Changing the 10 Commandments</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm pretty sure "affair-proof your relationship" was lifted directly from Cosmo.
Posted by ceh789[/QUOTE]

Are you saying he plagarized?

lbarr088 · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_changing-the-10-commandments?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:79bd1ea2-74df-48e6-90f8-cc533b70da9ePost:5f239084-515f-4846-a9f0-13604d7abee5">Re: Changing the 10 Commandments</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Changing the 10 Commandments : Are you saying he plagarized?
Posted by annie912[/QUOTE]

<div>Plagiarism is stealing. Therefore SINS were committed in writing the new version commandments. What do we do now?</div>

AllAboutTheBenjamin · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_changing-the-10-commandments?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:79bd1ea2-74df-48e6-90f8-cc533b70da9ePost:5f239084-515f-4846-a9f0-13604d7abee5">Re: Changing the 10 Commandments</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Changing the 10 Commandments : Are you saying he plagarized?
Posted by annie912[/QUOTE]

I'm pretty sure she's just joking. You know, hardy-har-har.

annie912 · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_changing-the-10-commandments?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:79bd1ea2-74df-48e6-90f8-cc533b70da9ePost:d84820cd-8516-4216-be2f-f902952b272c">Re: Changing the 10 Commandments</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Changing the 10 Commandments : Plagiarism is stealing. Therefore SINS were committed in writing the new version commandments. What do we do now?
Posted by lbarr088[/QUOTE]

I guess we have to consider them all to be invalid based on that. It's clearly not coming from a credible source. Well, my weekend plans have just changed....

annie912 · March 2012

In all seriousness, I'm actually okay with the updated wording. I get the argument of a church not changing its beliefs just because times have changed, but I see nothing wrong with changing (updating) the way it's stated in order to fit the times. Many churches run the risk of seeming "irrelevant" and I don't think a lot are doing enough to really speak to people and address current issues. I was raised Catholic, and that is one of the issues I have with the Catholic Church.

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