On Establishing a US Religion

There's a fun little article on SFGate called Just which commandments are the 10 Commandments? It examines a little bit of the variations in the commandments, as well as lists some which, for obvious reasons, never made the cut.

It brings up the shadow-side of the 10-commandment battle which the conservatives don't like to address. If they win, what's to stop any religious organization from insisting that they be allowed to install a monument on public grounds? There's nothing. The only way that can be prevented is if there is an argument which suggests only the catholic commandments are acceptable. Obviously, however, as soon as that distinction is made, we have a problem with the state 'adopting' a religion, which is clearly not allowable in our system.

The pro-commandments people try to hide this problem by focusing on the merits of the commandments - that no one, regardless of faith, can have a problem with these rules. They're universal concepts which should be embraced. Which isn't necessarily wrong - most of the commandments are good rules to live by, but that doesn't change the fact that they're religious doctrine.

I'm sure there are fine rules in other religions as well, which we could all stand to benefit from. Most of the tenets of Buddhism, I think, are worthy rules (No, I'm not a Buddhist).

The people in Alabama who are fighting this fight feel that, by allowing the statue to be removed, they lose something.

The fact is, even if they win - they'll lose.