Posting the Ten Commandments in School Classrooms Is a Good Idea

On June 19, 2024, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed into law a bill that will require the Ten Commandments to be posted in every public school classroom by January 1, 2025. Supporters of this move, emphasize that the Ten Commandments are relevant to the history and founding of the United States and therefore should be displayed.

Within a week, nine Louisiana families backed by the ACLU, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation filed a federal law suit to prevent this from happening. The plaintiffs include Christian, Jewish, Unitarian Universalist, and nonreligious persons. Their reasons for filing this suit were instructive.

First, they claim that the law violates the Establishment Clause of the U S Constitution. There are also concerns that posting the Ten commandments will interfere with their right as parents to raise their children in their own religion. Then there is the fear that their children may feel pressured to adopt the commandments as their own or become religious because of them. Or perhaps they will not feel that they can express their own religious beliefs at school. Further, these parents believe the State is imposing a particular religion, Protestantism, because they chose the Lutheran version of the commandments instead of the Catholic or Jewish versions.

Actually I think parents have little to worry about. In my high school in the 1950’s we had the teaching of the Bible, prayer, and the Ten Commandments. Participation was entirely voluntary. Some students responded by believing, some ignored the information, some chose atheism, and one guy I knew became a criminal. So cheer up, parents, your child can become a criminal with or without the Ten Commandments. And I know of no student who changed from the religion of their parents. In fact, their religious faith became stronger because of exposure to the Bible’s moral teachings.

The objection to the use of the Protestant version is puzzling to me because the numbering of the commandments is slightly different but the meaning of the Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant versions is essentially the same. Perhaps the Catholic and Jewish versions should be offered as well.

Now, what about the constitutionality of this law? In his book, “Separation of Church and State, What the Founders Meant,” historian David Barton reminds us that the First Amendment’s first clause, called the Establishment Clause, reads “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,” which means the federal government shall not establish a state church. The second clause in the First Amendment, the Free Exercise Clause, says “or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” which forbids “the federal government from interfering with the people’s public religious expressions” (p.7)

“Both clauses,” he explains, “restricted the actions of the federal government; neither restricted the actions of citizens.” (p.7) So, he continues, “the founding fathers did expect basic Biblical principles and values to be present throughout public life and society,” (p.7), that is for the people to have “free exercise” of their religion. And “for the first 150 years after the First Amendment was written this was the only meaning that was held by the courts and the public.” (p.7)

This understanding changed in a 1947 Supreme Court decision, Everson v. The Board of Education. Here the court quoted from an 1802 letter from Thomas Jefferson in which Jefferson made it clear to the Danbury Baptist Association that because of the “wall of separation between church and state” they need not fear government interference. However the court reversed the meaning of Jefferson’s letter and held it to mean that the federal government can deny people the right to public religious expression. This interpretation was completely unfounded and contrary to the meaning of the First Amendment.

So, if this case goes to the U S Supreme Court and they rule in favor of the State of Louisiana, it will not be because the justices are biased or conservative, it will be because they know how to read and follow the meaning of the Constitution.

If They are Against the Ten commandments,

What are They For?

And what are those who oppose the Ten Commandments for? You find out by looking at the Ten Commandments and asking what the opposite is of what they teach. By implication, they want to keep children from learning about the Judeo-Christian God, they oppose worship of God, they wish to make man the center of things instead of God, they oppose public displays of faith, and they discourage respect for Him.

Also suggested in their attitude toward their fellow man is to encourage disrespect for legitimate authority figures, approve of hate, murder and violence; approve of loveless sex, rape, and adultery; devalue lifetime commitment in marriage; approve of theft; encourage deceit and dishonesty; and favor coveting what one doesn’t have over gratitude for the blessings one does have.

Lastly, what positions are suggested in their attitude toward morality. They would oppose a transcendental, authoritative, consequential morality which applies to all people; they would oppose the development of conscience; they would advocate a relativistic “morality” based on self-interest and personal opinion.

We are not saying that everyone who opposes the posting of the Ten Commandments holds all of these views. Nevertheless, when they declare their opposition to the Ten Commandments, they are supporting these views by default. And the problem here is that these default positions hurt people and society immensely.

The Benefits of Posting the Commandments

Now let’s consider some of the benefits of posting the Ten Commandments. First, they inform that there is a transcendence to moral values, which are generally shared among the cultures of the world and which agree with conscience. Everyone knows that it is wrong to steal, murder, and falsely accuse someone, for example. Such a guide provides a reasonable and authoritative standard to consult when making moral decisions.

Then the Commandments tell us that we all have intrinsic value. If we are not to mistreat others and they are not to mistreat us, it is because we and they have real value. This knowledge helps us to love ourselves and others. Here self-esteem and respect for others is encouraged.

Further, the Commandments enhance personal relationships because they produce trust. When treated well, I can trust another person and they can trust me when I treat them well. And trust is essential in relationships with family and in friendships, marriage, business, commerce, finance, law, and government. Without trust, relationships are damaged. With personal fidelity and trust, they thrive.

Moreover, the commandments provide a moral compass, a reference point to consult in order to be a good person in this world and to make society a better place to live for everyone.

We think our children deserve to know the difference between right and wrong and what a loving God has to say about living a moral life. Why should they be deprived of these great principles of morality, especially the ones that teach them how to get along with others? And why should they not be exposed to the idea that there is a moral God? After all, most Americans believe in God, and no one is forcing them to believe in him. These teachings are not our enemies; they are our friends. They make our lives better.

The Ten Commandments posted in schools offer students an opportunity to think about moral guidelines, to adopt a moral frame of reference, and to engage in moral behavior which will enhance their lives immeasurably. If God and morality are absent in our schools, students will think they are not important, or worse, choose to live immoral and anti-social lives which hurts everybody. Our society needs an infusion of moral thinking, speech and behavior in every segment of society. In my view, posting the Ten commandments in our schools will be a step in the right direction.

Moral ignorance destroys virtue; moral knowledge encourages moral behavior. The Ten Commandments are arguably the best statement of morality we have. We should show them to our children.

Postscript: In a nation founded on Christian principles, as ours was, the underlying foundation for moral thought and behavior came from the Bible. When these Biblical principles were essentially removed from our society by banning Bible teaching and prayer in our schools, a moral vacuum was created. This has resulted in moral confusion and even the acceptance of immoral ideas now redefined as moral.

And without God’s moral standards in our society, civil law, obedience to the law, and personal freedom are all threatened. This is why it is so serious when factions in our society attack the Ten Commandments and morality in our culture. Even now there is a disintegration of our society from within. When these factions oppose the Ten Commandments, they are promoting evil and opposing good. We deserve better.