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"A monument to the Ten Commandments should be allowed to stand in a state courthouse."
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| Total # of Responses: 642 - 2/7/04 |
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51% |
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3% |
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1% |
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3% |
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41% |
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We have received feedback on this issue from people all across America. Review the graph to the left for a quick snapshot of the responses received to date, or read the responses below.
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Larry, AL
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... neutral in matters of superstition
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January 28,2004
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Government should be neutral in matters of superstition, meaning there should be absolute separation between Government and religion.
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Peggy, HI
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... should not promote
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January 28,2004
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Absolutely not. That is a public government building paid by all tax payers and should not promote any one religion.
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Jim, AZ
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... moral basis
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January 28,2004
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The 10 Commandments are not the expression of one church group only but have a broad acceptance in many religious groups, therefore not just one expression of faith is being expressed or endorsed.
Also, the 10 Commandments are the moral basis for the formation of our laws in America.
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Len, OR
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... this country should aspire ...
January 28,2004
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I see no harm in having the ten commandments in public building. I also see no harm in having In Allah We Trust on our currency. I find it small minded that the moral majority can't take the time to find morality in other religions. THAT is what this country should aspire to. But no... government benefits are allowed to "married" people, but only as defined in the Bible. The religious right is wrong in believing that their "right" is superior to other rights. The government is not allowed to condone one religion while condemning another. Why then, is marriage sacred only when defined by Christianity? However, the ten commandments are simply common sense moral guidelines, which surely exist in other major world religions. But let us not post any common sense anywhere, for that would undo the confusion spread by both moral majorities and minorities! Common sense is the ticket -- It just seems that nobody has any. Instead, they are guided by their beliefs (instead of intellect).
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David, TX
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... state belongs to GOD
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January 28,2004
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Yes it should.Because it is the foundation of Our judical system.Man did not event the ten commandments,it came from the mind of Alimghty GOD,(His Son)>Yeshua.The state belongs to GOD.The ten com. is a fare way to govern people.
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Jeff, TN
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... is to disagree with god
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January 28,2004
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What ever happened to 'Render unto Caesar . . .'? Aren't there a myriad of historical examples of the State demanding that which is to some religiously reprehensible, whence a justification for revolution? If the monument implies the State implements the Church, must it not also imply that the Church implements the State and that therefore to disagree with the State is to disagree with god? So many religious people, back to the xtian martyrs and the Cathars, for example, have died to prevent these odious associations that I find it impossible to believe any genuinely religious person would sanction them.
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Spek,
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... part of muslim faith
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January 28,2004
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I watched the interview on TV just now re: this topic. I think its interesting how the interviewer and judge in question both made reference to someone of the muslim faith not being ok with the monument as it "is not their faith".What perhaps they might be interested to find out is that the 10 commandments are in fact a part of muslim faith, religon and history.I personally am not bothered about monuments as long as they are not trying to convert anyone. But find it interesting that someone who is supposedly religous, is so ignorant to not only other faiths but even his own.Moses was a Jew! Can he not see the fallacy in his argument of "Christianity was what this country was founded on". He should then perhaps ask himself, what Christianity was founded on? What were the teachings of Christ. Even HE was a Jew! Judaism, Christianity and Islam are forever locked with the same story and semetic background.Perhaps on the basis of his ignorance, it shouldn't be allowed.Because i find myself asking if he would be cool with Qu'ranic scripture in a monument? And i somehow have a hard time beleiving it.
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Olga Bourl, WA
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... that would be unconstitutional
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January 28,2004
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Why, nooooooo - that would be unconstitutional (not to mention divisive). Don't we already have enough churches, synagogues, mosques and temples? (Please, people, take your monuments to your respective houses of worship - that's where they belong.)
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Suzanne, NE
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... goverment is contridicting
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January 28,2004
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I believe that if America still puts In God we trust on currency, and the Pledge of Allegiance in schools, that the Ten Commandments should be allowed to stand in a courthouse. By not allowing the Ten Commandments in a courthouse, the goverment is contridicting themselves and therefor should remove In God We Trust from all currency and the Pledge of Allegiance from all schools. Now would that be such a wise idea?
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Mike, ID
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... strikes me as arrogant ...
January 28,2004
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why do christians think that they have a monopoly on morals (the 10 commandments)? why do they worship these 10 commandment monuments? doesn't it say,"thou shalt not make unto thee, any graven images...nor worship them"? doesn't it also say, "thou shalt not have any gods before me"? also, why do they think that they have exclusive rights to this country? this strikes me as arrogant. what a way to win new converts! why do they think that god is such a weakling- thay claim that he was taken out of the classroom when they banned vocal prayer in public schools (u can still pray, just not vocally. nobody can take away that right). why do they claim that athieism is a religion? doesn't religion require a belief in a supreme being or beings? or could it be that these people who spread these lies & half truths r not really a fair representation of the christian religion? their view of the gospel seems to b: "i come to your door & knock it down, barge in & shove my religion down your throat". doesn't it really say: "i come to your door & knock..." sounds like a choice, not a requirement. by the way, i'm not a christian, but i do believe in god. & at least i'm honest.
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Usman, LA
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... Muslims do believe
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January 28,2004
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I would like to bring to the attention of Ms. Gwen Ifill that the followers of Islam called Muslims do believe in the ten commandments contrary to what you said on the show.
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Jason, FL
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... uphold every faith
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January 28,2004
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If we allow a monument of the ten commandments then we need to allow monuments of all religious faiths, the government allowing the ten commandments to stand in a government/public property would say that government stands and promotes THAT religion and that my faith is not regarded as much and that they will not uphold my constitutional right to believe in my own faith and force there's!
If this issue is not viewed as every faith has a place and the government should uphold every faith then the wars of Europe between the protestants and Christians and all other religious wars will resurface, we can't hold value in the constitution or our government!
as far as religion in schools they can't or don't teach every religion or take there meaning out of context. religion should be a personal and family choice. I for one value being raised Christian because that is what my parents hold faith in but as an individual I believe in another faith and I don't speak against there faith and neither should the government against any other.
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Tara,
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... not let the country
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January 28,2004
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let's not let the country fall into the hand of the fundementalists!
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Stacie, WA
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... Americans have been lied to
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January 28,2004
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What a fine public education system we have, when most Americans have been lied to about the true, rich, heritage our country and it's laws were founded upon.
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Curtis, TN
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... long as they agreed
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January 28,2004
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We first have to understand that The Ten Commandments are not Christian. They're Jewish. I wouldn't have a problem with the courthouse putting up the 10 Commandaments so long as they agreed to also post the Beatitudes, readings from the Bahagavad-Gita, writings from Confucionism, the Hindu scripture, the Koran, etc. Let's have all of them, not just the ones from the Judeo-Christian tradition. Right wingers are wrong to try to justify their religious agenda by claiming the founding fathers were religous fanatics. The Founding fathers were 18 Century Rationlists for the most part, not church going religionsits. Perpetrating these characterizations of the founding fathers is not historical fact. Jefferson didn't really believe in God and Lincoln didn't either. I don't care how many times they said in public that they did. This country was NOT founded upon the Christian faith. That's a total lie perpetuated by the religious right. It was founded upon the rational, humanist philosophies of 18th century European philosophers. Christians are not the only religious believes in this country and they never have been.
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Michael, HI
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... religious oppression ...
January 28,2004
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A look at countries like modern Iran that have no clear separation of church and state policies is helpful in understanding the reason for that separation as defined by the framers of the U.S. constitution. Conflicts and religious oppression like that which resulted in the demolition of the Buddhist shrine in Afghanistan by muslim authorities are the natural result of state endorsement of particular religious institutions. However general, vague, or benign said state endorsements may seem, they inevitably divide people of different beliefs, and result in hostility—often in violence.
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Alan, OT
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... they are the foundation
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January 28,2004
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The Ten Commandments are our God given heritage and one I am so thankful for. They help me to distinguish between right and wrong, good and bad,wisdom and foolishness. I believe they are the foundation upon which our justice sytem has been built. I can only hope that they are a reminder and guide to those people administering justice today. Man has not written any new or better commandments.
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Reader, OH
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... decision they made
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January 28,2004
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the front runners or forefathers that form or founded America were a people that had a heart for God.
it's evident that every decision they made was through prayer to God.
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James, LA
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... the basis of our laws
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January 28,2004
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Our US Constitution, the basis of our laws, mention nothing about the Ten Commandments.
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Jimmy, NC
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... Nobody can force religon
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January 28,2004
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All national Ruling bodies have some form of religous background. Ours happens to be Christian. Nobody can force religon upon you, that is a matter of choice, the basis of democracy. But following that basis also means that in a disputed debate, as we are bound to have here in the United States of the Offended, if brought before a voting body that the majority has control. Now it seems that if the majority speaks the judicial system starts making laws to govern the majority and thats not how the checks and balance is supposed to work. So if this is a democracy and this is a voting issue and majority says that there should indeed be a monument then so be it. Isn't there something of the law in the Commandments after all? Or do we have to come up with some other basis to build the judical system on because of the words, Thou shall not steal. If you choose not to be governed by our laws as basic as this ,then you should make plans to leave.
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