For a very long time, those of us in the Judeo-Christian tradition have tried to live our lives according to a simple (albeit challenging) code of conduct: The 10 Commandments. Here they are:
1. I am the LORD your God. You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
4. Honor your father and your mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.
Like I said, this is a simple list – but isn’t always easy to follow. In fact, I would venture to say that most of us violate at least the spirit of each during the course of normal life. However, there is no doubt that if everyone at least made a good faith effort to observe The 10 Commandments, the world would be a better place. Yes, if we all following them perfectly, the world would be a beautiful place, but even trying helps.
Today, there are many folks who live by a godless secular code that – until now – was unwritten and perhaps not even understood by its adherents. To help such people better articulate their creed, I offer for them a new set of commandments; if you are going to live by an ethical system you might as well be able to describe it.
The 10 commandments RSV (Revised Secular Version):
1. You shall find inspiration in your own definition of a higher power that makes you feel good.
2. Words are a natural way of expressing ourselves and can be used however we like, provided they don’t hurt the feelings of others.
3. Sunday is just another day and if you need to work that day you need to work.
4. The concept of a father and mother is outdated and is replaced by the community, represented by the government, which is to be honored and feared.
5. You shall not kill except in the following instances: an unborn baby, an unwanted baby who survives an abortion, a disabled person who you believe does not have an appropriate quality of live or an elderly person who has outlived his usefulness.
6. Adultery is an obsolete term. With advances in openness and birth control, relations between consenting adults are healthy and harmless.
7. If you take from those who have more than you have, it is acceptable redistribution of possessions.
8. It is fine to lie if the end purpose is positive.
9. It is only good and natural that you would be interested in your neighbor’s wife, provided she is attractive and a willing object of desire.
10. If you neighbor has more than you have, it is only natural that you would want – and deserve – a share of his wealth.
The original 10 commandments will bring you the freedom to live life as God intended. The new commandments will allow you to do what you feel like doing today.
The original 10 commandments will put you on the road to happiness and heaven.
The new commandments will likely make you miserable and send you to a much warmer afterlife.
We each get to pick; choose wisely.
