Religion talk : The Ten Commandments
I'd like to preface this discussion by saying that I am not, in fact, a Christian, Jew or Catholic of any description. In the past, I have been a member of the Roman Catholic church, but I no longer follow that practice. I am also not holding anything against Catholicism, this is just something that I think should be shared.
Many of us know about the Ten Commandments. If you don't, they are essentially a set of rules in Christianity and Judaism given to us by God through Moses, outlining what a 'good person' does and does not do. This is the list, ordered from most important to least important:
1. Thou shalt have no other Gods before me. 2. You shall make no idols 3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain 4. Keep the sabbath day holy 5. Honor your father and your mother 6. Thou shalt not kill 7. Thou shalt not commit adultery 8. Thou shalt not steal 9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor 10. Thou shalt not covet
Aside from the fact that many people reading this will now be singing 'Karma' by Jojo Siwa in their heads, this list is one of the core features of Christianity.
I can speak for Christianity when I say that most people misinterpret these rules.
The commandment that I see most misunderstood is
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain
Now, everyone's always saying that this means 'Oh, don't say things like "Oh my God" or "Jesus Christ"'--Let me ask you something. Do you really think that this was important? In the historical and religious context that the Ten Commandments were given in, tell me, do you think that it was an important notion to not say "oh my God"?
Compare it to the other Commandments--all things like 'do not kill one another', 'don't cheat on your spouse', 'don't lie for the detriment of others'--Do you see how 'don't say 'oh my God'' doesn't fit?
Of course, that doesn't mean that people should start swearing on God's name very liberally, that's not the point of this post.
The point of this post, really, is to call out so-called 'Christians' who do use the Lord's name in vain.
See, this Commandment--"You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain"--it doesn't mean what most think it means.
So, if it doesn't mean that, what does it mean?
It means that you do not use God's words and scriptures to justify your acts of hatred and unholiness.
And, with that, many 'Christians' and 'Catholics' are directly going against one of the Ten Commandments. One of the three most important Commandments, in fact.
The most important thing about being Christian is loving everyone--because that's what Jesus does!--what are you doing? Hating people and justifying it with 'God'.
Can I just say: That's not God you're using to justify your actions.
That's the devil.
