So should our public schools be a place for posting words attributed to a god of an ancient people demanding sole recognition as the god of that people?
The second of the "Ten Commandments, besides its meaning being disputed between the two major branches of Christianity, would, if obeyed, have a devastating effect on our arts and our economy: "Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth, or in the waters under the earth."
This commandment has long been absent from the Roman Catholic version (since the Seventh General Council of year 787), although it may have been lately restored to the catechism. It has been in apparent conflict with the Church's long use of icons and statues. These are only "venerated" according to Church, which now interprets them to be "visual aids" for worship and intervention.
If respected as a basis for secular law, then public support and use of sculpture would have to stop. There would be no more commemorating soldiers of our various wars or of public heroes like Jonas Salk. Are we to bring up our children to feel that such "graven images" are wrong?
The third commandment is not to take the name of "the Lord thy God" in vain. This pertains to the name by which "thy God" had introduced himself in the first commandment, which children are not generally apprized. And what does "take in vain" mean? And why are the names of all other gods not include
