North Dakota just passed a bill permitting the display of the Ten Commandments in its
public schools, stating, “there is no reason why they shouldn’t be displayed.”
There is a reason! “First and foremost,” the Ten Commandments are a sacred Judeo-
Christian religious text, which makes their display inappropriate (and unconstitutional) in
public buildings, including public schools.
If that is not convincing enough they do not belong, the first commandment should:
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3).
This country was built upon religious freedom. We are free to believe in any god, many
gods or no god at all.
Moreover, the First Commandment is completely incompatible with the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
One (the First Commandment) abhors religious freedom and diversity, while the other (the Constitution) protects religious diversity and demands that government respect it.
What this religious intrusion into government is about is an attempt to place the
imprimatur of government behind one religion’s belief. Government must stay out of the religion business just the way our founding fathers intended. That is the reason they gave us a godless (religion-free) Constitution.
For those who feel compelled to display something in our public school, how about a
copy of the First Ten Amendments – the document that underwrites our religious
liberties!
Borden Applegate
Jackson