First of all, may God bless the good that is taking place within your group there in Brussels. We cannot thank all of you enough!
Regarding this recent effort, great to have a set of values posted for guidance in public institutions and especially in our schools, but extremely important and prudent not to formulate them so as to appear that they are acceptably usurping the original Ten Commandments. You are not intending this but as we can see, even many of your respondents here are interpreting it that way. To avoid this misconception by those of both the Judeo-Christian and non Judeo- Christian beliefs, may I respectfully suggest that you not make it a list of ten rules (choose another number), and avoid in any way likening the list’s wording to the original Ten Commandments. They are not to be tampered with in any manner. In your list of course, values that are implied in the Ten Commandments would naturally be included, but please not to give the secular world something that so obviously omits God from what could be misconstrued as a new way of looking at the Ten Commandments (again we understand that this is not what you were intending - and as we have come to know and love you, we again see your heart in a good and right place on this). Tragically, God’s omission across the board is precisely why this world is in such chaos and confusion.
When one adheres to these rewritten rules one winds up right back at the place where man is placed as the highest moral authority. This is what allows human entities to step in and appoint themselves as the “most correct” authority that knows best for everyone (WHO, CDC, FDA, WEF, etc). Don't remove God from his rightful place.
And are they not hanging (or painted) in the Supreme Court behind the justices? I believe the Code of Hammurabi is situated there as well.
The depiction shows that there is a moral code, there is justice for keeping or not keeping it, and man has reached out to God for millennia in search of it. We are wise to do the same.
I was in fourth grade when the Lord’s Prayer and reading of a Psalm was removed from school. Replacement with a moment of silence was a moment of mind wandering - a completely empty practice.
The premise that many, if not most, cite for keeping God out of the classroom (claiming its just an unscientific myth) is really far fetched at this point imo. Here we are as a species hacking DNA and RNA all the while insisting we aren't alone in the universe, yet we also claim there is no vastly superior being who did these things on a much much grander scale way way before we did our little hacks? Having this discussion in a classroom has exactly zero to do with the Constitutional prohibition against the government establishing a particular religion (for example, like the religion of wokeness and its sacramental litmus test of partaking, ironically enough, "the dangerous Trump vaccine").
A note: this is not meant to replace the Ten Commandments.
This is a document that can be used in secular and government spaces and buildings. Children need guidance and a set of values in their public school education, this or a set of similar rules can help provide that gap, while still maintaining a secular wall between the state and religion that is required by law.
I grew up in a secular family. I can count on two hands how many times I've been in a church (other than cathedrals as tourist). Yet it is natural for an adolescent to begin questioning the meaning of life and death. Suddenly, at 16, I had a transcendent, experience following which I had no doubt of God's existence. Then again at 32 only more detailed and remarkable. I read the Bible in my 20s thinking there must be something to it and I would not say there isn't, though I wasn't moved by it. I've been searching ever since for greater spiritual insights and I find them in numerous and varied sources. Love is the guiding light, not any specific text or list of commandments posted on a school room wall. Love is not a simple concept. It is, in fact. All encompassing, beyond spacetime constraints or quantifying; the very source of who and what we are and created in Its likeness. The religious, particularly fundamentalist Christians, think "A Course In Miracles" is of the devil, for the author stated she was a scribe for Christ (not a channeler). They've never read the book. The reason I turn to it is because the work is so brilliant that it is beyond ordinary human capability to have produced it. Near death experiencers (the true ones, many are false now) as well are the grace, the guiding light, of God. They too state emphatically, Love is what matters above all things. Please read ACIM Dr. Malone. I'd be greatly interested in your opinion.
Leslie, it's complicated isn't it? The author of A Course in Miracles would have been burned at the stake not that long ago. The Divine works through us all in various ways. God is too often referred to as "him" as if there is a gender to the Divine!
Actually there is! “In the image of God, he created him (man): male and female he created them.” Gen 2. Therefore, God is both male and female. That’s my reading, but we don’t have to agree. So no contention please.
Dear Dr. Malone, With all due respect, I don't think this should have been posted. You may not have intended it to do so, but It presents a secular replacement for The Word of God. " The logic of the separation of church and state" ..... " maintaining a secular wall between the state and religion that is required by law." Indeed, What is this logic? And what is this law? This misinterpretation of a secular wall is causing great harm, not just to our children, but to all of us. Resist efforts to remove God from our lives. Fear not. Acknowledge God and quote His Law! Live by His Law. That is what should guide us and our children.
The concept is good, there needs to be a moral order set by the teacher. However, a wall of separation is not in our Constitution. Please see my comment for where it is written.
What is morality? Yet another, man-made replacement for God's word? You will never find truth, much less God's blessings upon our nation by means of a substitute system. It won't work.
I think an issue here, which has been alluded to by some other commentators, is that not all of us are Christians -- the Ten Commandments are specifically from the Christian tradition. I suppose we can get into the weeds of this, but as far as I'm concerned, a major problem with so much of society is a lack of accountability. Oh, karma . . .
Hate to break this to you, but the ten commandments have already passed away.... The apostle Paul says so. At least for those of us who believe Paul's gospel. Study Romans, chs3-6. Specifically:
Romans 6:14 KJV — For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Later, in Galatians ch5, Paul argues that one must keep the entire law to be saved by it... Which no man has ever done (except the Christ) nor ever will do. If one violates even a single precept, then the guilt is complete under the entire law. More importantly, Paul repeats, or testifies to ONLY NINE of the ten commandments, having never promoted keeping the sabbath within his writings... Thus eliminating the10 commandments for the Body of Christ.
All that said, should anybody NOT believe Paul's gospel (1 Cor 15:1-4), then they ARE back under the Law, not grace.... So I guess you may have a point after all.
Yes, perhaps too simple. I am not competent to debate this, but while I do not disagree with it as a goal or aspiration, I think the Golden Rule is subjective and not suitable as a rule with which everyone has to comply.
Thanks for your response. I understand what you're saying. To me, rules that specify exactly what to do don't explain "why". You can just blindly follow them if you're so inclined. The Golden Rule prompts one to reflect on your own behavior from the other person's point of view, which promotes a deeper understanding I think.
Yes. That's a good point! The rule is not universally applicable. On the other hand, I don't think it's likely the kind of careless person you describe would even pay attention to such guidelines in the first place, much less follow them.
As for simplification, may I present THE TWIN COMMANDMENTS:
BE TRUE
BE KIND
The Commandments, trimmed down from ten to two, simplified to the essentials, adhering to the spirit of Albert Einstein’s famous quote:
“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.”
Even that architect of excellence, Tom Peters, could only whittle the ten down to seven commandments. He could have added an eighth: BE CONCISE. Seven is still too many commandments to commit to.
Two commandments, equal twins, can be committed to memory and known by heart:
I'm having difficulty with # 1. Its position in the list makes it seem like a foundation for the rest. And it is malleable. Who determines "good"? I'm sure Gates, Gov Newsom, Trudeau, etc. feel they are examples of good authority. It's a secular list, true, but somehow I feel that respect must be earned, not an edict.
Me too. Although I appreciate the concept, but who then determines what is “good”? What we have witnessed over the last three years is government trying to break their arms patting themselves on the back by trumpeting how very good they are...Saving grandma, etc. I feel it is difficult to assign a “good” if there is no room for God.
On #1 “Respect for (“good”) Authority” is too subjective as when our “good” authority mandated untested vaccines for “The greater good”. How about changing it to, “Respect for authority that also respects individual freedoms, liberties and rights of privacy”.
I thought perhaps the video may have offended. It was probably wrong of me to have put it up here on Dr. Malone’s substack. I am glad that neither of us was offended, so much can be lost without the aid face to face conversation. Peace be with you.
I try to live by the Golden Rule (do unto others, as you would have others do unto you- Matthew 7:12). It's easy to remember. Unfortunately, even the Golden Rule is not easy for mere humans to follow and one's intentions can be misinterpreted by others. But we all have to try our best and succeed wherever we can.
Thank you for standing strong, and thanks to your readers for being the kind of Golden Rule folks I would like to hang out with every day.
Big E., I ease my mind realizing that 'OTHERS" perceptions, interpretations, likes, et cetera, IS THEIRS; For my own sanity, I will never internalize such huge array of opinions.
Your post, as usual, made me think so I took a look at the actual 10 commandments which I haven’t done in years. I always have loved successful people. I love that freedom creates success in different measures depending on the persons thoughts, ideas and drive, it’s freedom. If a group of people are envious of those freedoms and want to destroy them for their success and freedoms is this not a sin? Are we not living under a sinful government that is hellbent on destroying our successes? J.Goodrich
A government lacking a moral compass is to my mind a sinful, or perhaps merely an amoral one. The ten commandments provided our Founders a functioning moral compass by which to steer our ship of state. I have not seen that anyone has arrived at an improvement, certainly not any of the ravings by marx and I say that as an agnostic of over 60 yrs duration.
I’ll take the 10 Commandments given over 4000 years ago by a wise, just and loving Creator. They work just fine considering they come from a high authority than ourselves and cannot be adjusted for cultural norms
Wish I could have been a fly on the wall for this conversation!!! The Bible is so fascinating!!! There’s a lot of people fighting with, and for you on their knees Dr. Malone.
I honestly believe respect for authority is what has led us to the dystopian horror we are suffering today. I understand inserting “(good)” is an attempt to counteract this concern, but the problem is “good” is often defined by the very authority demanding our obeisance, so this is subjective and highly susceptible to corruption.
I appreciate your encouraging people to reflect on their guiding principles and just published a piece where I outlined my core values here:
I distilled mine down to these top five pairings, each of which includes subsets of values:
• anti-tyranny | pro-liberty
• anti-fear | pro-courage
• anti-hatred | pro-love
• anti-illusion | pro-reality
• anti-destruction | pro-creation
I encourage everyone to go through the process of identifying their values to help them transcend the lifetime of indoctrination into sets of beliefs designed to engineer public opinion and manufacture consent for ease of ruling, exploitation, and mental enslavement.
The rules have been slightly modified from the email version - please use those on the website.
First of all, may God bless the good that is taking place within your group there in Brussels. We cannot thank all of you enough!
Regarding this recent effort, great to have a set of values posted for guidance in public institutions and especially in our schools, but extremely important and prudent not to formulate them so as to appear that they are acceptably usurping the original Ten Commandments. You are not intending this but as we can see, even many of your respondents here are interpreting it that way. To avoid this misconception by those of both the Judeo-Christian and non Judeo- Christian beliefs, may I respectfully suggest that you not make it a list of ten rules (choose another number), and avoid in any way likening the list’s wording to the original Ten Commandments. They are not to be tampered with in any manner. In your list of course, values that are implied in the Ten Commandments would naturally be included, but please not to give the secular world something that so obviously omits God from what could be misconstrued as a new way of looking at the Ten Commandments (again we understand that this is not what you were intending - and as we have come to know and love you, we again see your heart in a good and right place on this). Tragically, God’s omission across the board is precisely why this world is in such chaos and confusion.
Under Deutoronomy 4:2 having this in the classroom would violate my Christian beliefs, TBH
Actually, the original ten are quite suitable to place in any classroom.
Agree. How can obedience be achieved to these commandments without reference to God? Also secularism is whst got us here in the first place,
When one adheres to these rewritten rules one winds up right back at the place where man is placed as the highest moral authority. This is what allows human entities to step in and appoint themselves as the “most correct” authority that knows best for everyone (WHO, CDC, FDA, WEF, etc). Don't remove God from his rightful place.
Bingo. Man places himself upon God’s throne.
Genesis 3:4-6
We throw God out and and we see what/who rushes in...
And are they not hanging (or painted) in the Supreme Court behind the justices? I believe the Code of Hammurabi is situated there as well.
The depiction shows that there is a moral code, there is justice for keeping or not keeping it, and man has reached out to God for millennia in search of it. We are wise to do the same.
I was in fourth grade when the Lord’s Prayer and reading of a Psalm was removed from school. Replacement with a moment of silence was a moment of mind wandering - a completely empty practice.
The premise that many, if not most, cite for keeping God out of the classroom (claiming its just an unscientific myth) is really far fetched at this point imo. Here we are as a species hacking DNA and RNA all the while insisting we aren't alone in the universe, yet we also claim there is no vastly superior being who did these things on a much much grander scale way way before we did our little hacks? Having this discussion in a classroom has exactly zero to do with the Constitutional prohibition against the government establishing a particular religion (for example, like the religion of wokeness and its sacramental litmus test of partaking, ironically enough, "the dangerous Trump vaccine").
A note: this is not meant to replace the Ten Commandments.
This is a document that can be used in secular and government spaces and buildings. Children need guidance and a set of values in their public school education, this or a set of similar rules can help provide that gap, while still maintaining a secular wall between the state and religion that is required by law.
I understand what you are attempting. I can only say that without God, nothing will truly improve.
Sorry, compromise on this is a no go. You should know this by now.
I grew up in a secular family. I can count on two hands how many times I've been in a church (other than cathedrals as tourist). Yet it is natural for an adolescent to begin questioning the meaning of life and death. Suddenly, at 16, I had a transcendent, experience following which I had no doubt of God's existence. Then again at 32 only more detailed and remarkable. I read the Bible in my 20s thinking there must be something to it and I would not say there isn't, though I wasn't moved by it. I've been searching ever since for greater spiritual insights and I find them in numerous and varied sources. Love is the guiding light, not any specific text or list of commandments posted on a school room wall. Love is not a simple concept. It is, in fact. All encompassing, beyond spacetime constraints or quantifying; the very source of who and what we are and created in Its likeness. The religious, particularly fundamentalist Christians, think "A Course In Miracles" is of the devil, for the author stated she was a scribe for Christ (not a channeler). They've never read the book. The reason I turn to it is because the work is so brilliant that it is beyond ordinary human capability to have produced it. Near death experiencers (the true ones, many are false now) as well are the grace, the guiding light, of God. They too state emphatically, Love is what matters above all things. Please read ACIM Dr. Malone. I'd be greatly interested in your opinion.
Leslie, it's complicated isn't it? The author of A Course in Miracles would have been burned at the stake not that long ago. The Divine works through us all in various ways. God is too often referred to as "him" as if there is a gender to the Divine!
Actually there is! “In the image of God, he created him (man): male and female he created them.” Gen 2. Therefore, God is both male and female. That’s my reading, but we don’t have to agree. So no contention please.
Dear Dr. Malone, With all due respect, I don't think this should have been posted. You may not have intended it to do so, but It presents a secular replacement for The Word of God. " The logic of the separation of church and state" ..... " maintaining a secular wall between the state and religion that is required by law." Indeed, What is this logic? And what is this law? This misinterpretation of a secular wall is causing great harm, not just to our children, but to all of us. Resist efforts to remove God from our lives. Fear not. Acknowledge God and quote His Law! Live by His Law. That is what should guide us and our children.
The first rule is an abomination. It will be misused by tyrants. All powerful government is an atrocity. Unworthy of fealty and respect.
The concept is good, there needs to be a moral order set by the teacher. However, a wall of separation is not in our Constitution. Please see my comment for where it is written.
What is morality? Yet another, man-made replacement for God's word? You will never find truth, much less God's blessings upon our nation by means of a substitute system. It won't work.
They are called ethics and philosophy classes. Push for those, not for teachers to teach secular spiritual morality outside of curriculum.
I think an issue here, which has been alluded to by some other commentators, is that not all of us are Christians -- the Ten Commandments are specifically from the Christian tradition. I suppose we can get into the weeds of this, but as far as I'm concerned, a major problem with so much of society is a lack of accountability. Oh, karma . . .
The Ten Commandments were written in stone by the hand of God because they are unchanging and will not pass away.
It is not a good idea to change times and laws (see Daniel 7:25).
Matthew 5:18 (KJV)
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
I recommend sticking with what was given for remembrance to us who have short memories (see Exodus 20).
Hate to break this to you, but the ten commandments have already passed away.... The apostle Paul says so. At least for those of us who believe Paul's gospel. Study Romans, chs3-6. Specifically:
Romans 6:14 KJV — For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Later, in Galatians ch5, Paul argues that one must keep the entire law to be saved by it... Which no man has ever done (except the Christ) nor ever will do. If one violates even a single precept, then the guilt is complete under the entire law. More importantly, Paul repeats, or testifies to ONLY NINE of the ten commandments, having never promoted keeping the sabbath within his writings... Thus eliminating the10 commandments for the Body of Christ.
All that said, should anybody NOT believe Paul's gospel (1 Cor 15:1-4), then they ARE back under the Law, not grace.... So I guess you may have a point after all.
If you want to make rules, I think you should keep it simple. They are more likely to remember them.
1) Respect the rights of others.
2) Keep your promises.
3) Tell the truth.
Maybe simpler still would be, "Do unto others ..."
Yes, perhaps too simple. I am not competent to debate this, but while I do not disagree with it as a goal or aspiration, I think the Golden Rule is subjective and not suitable as a rule with which everyone has to comply.
Thanks for your response. I understand what you're saying. To me, rules that specify exactly what to do don't explain "why". You can just blindly follow them if you're so inclined. The Golden Rule prompts one to reflect on your own behavior from the other person's point of view, which promotes a deeper understanding I think.
Russ, There are some people that "do unto themselves" great harm and I wouldn't want that done to me. Make sense?
Yes. That's a good point! The rule is not universally applicable. On the other hand, I don't think it's likely the kind of careless person you describe would even pay attention to such guidelines in the first place, much less follow them.
That one is the best of all, it is all encompassing of passion and support for others, will return to you.
I am a big fan of KARMA, more so than religion.
As for simplification, may I present THE TWIN COMMANDMENTS:
BE TRUE
BE KIND
The Commandments, trimmed down from ten to two, simplified to the essentials, adhering to the spirit of Albert Einstein’s famous quote:
“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.”
Even that architect of excellence, Tom Peters, could only whittle the ten down to seven commandments. He could have added an eighth: BE CONCISE. Seven is still too many commandments to commit to.
Two commandments, equal twins, can be committed to memory and known by heart:
BE TRUE
BE KIND
https://imagined.com/blog/the-twin-commandments-be-true-be-kind/
I'm having difficulty with # 1. Its position in the list makes it seem like a foundation for the rest. And it is malleable. Who determines "good"? I'm sure Gates, Gov Newsom, Trudeau, etc. feel they are examples of good authority. It's a secular list, true, but somehow I feel that respect must be earned, not an edict.
Me too. Although I appreciate the concept, but who then determines what is “good”? What we have witnessed over the last three years is government trying to break their arms patting themselves on the back by trumpeting how very good they are...Saving grandma, etc. I feel it is difficult to assign a “good” if there is no room for God.
I just made a comment expressing similar concerns :-)
On #1 “Respect for (“good”) Authority” is too subjective as when our “good” authority mandated untested vaccines for “The greater good”. How about changing it to, “Respect for authority that also respects individual freedoms, liberties and rights of privacy”.
Conundrum. All rights come from God. This is why God must be removed from Society.
I am sorry if offended you in some way, sister.
Dear brother, I must confess I have no idea how I could have offended you given we are of one mind. Point me to the post that did this please.
I thought perhaps the video may have offended. It was probably wrong of me to have put it up here on Dr. Malone’s substack. I am glad that neither of us was offended, so much can be lost without the aid face to face conversation. Peace be with you.
I was unaware you posted a video.
It was the old one with Wilkerson.
These are not as God intended....When you take GOD out of GOOD you get O.
Unless we return to the original 10,
It won't effect volition... because "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom ".. without the beginning you forfeit the whole..
That’s true Lana.
I try to live by the Golden Rule (do unto others, as you would have others do unto you- Matthew 7:12). It's easy to remember. Unfortunately, even the Golden Rule is not easy for mere humans to follow and one's intentions can be misinterpreted by others. But we all have to try our best and succeed wherever we can.
Thank you for standing strong, and thanks to your readers for being the kind of Golden Rule folks I would like to hang out with every day.
Big E., I ease my mind realizing that 'OTHERS" perceptions, interpretations, likes, et cetera, IS THEIRS; For my own sanity, I will never internalize such huge array of opinions.
Your post, as usual, made me think so I took a look at the actual 10 commandments which I haven’t done in years. I always have loved successful people. I love that freedom creates success in different measures depending on the persons thoughts, ideas and drive, it’s freedom. If a group of people are envious of those freedoms and want to destroy them for their success and freedoms is this not a sin? Are we not living under a sinful government that is hellbent on destroying our successes? J.Goodrich
A government lacking a moral compass is to my mind a sinful, or perhaps merely an amoral one. The ten commandments provided our Founders a functioning moral compass by which to steer our ship of state. I have not seen that anyone has arrived at an improvement, certainly not any of the ravings by marx and I say that as an agnostic of over 60 yrs duration.
Wasn't it Adams who said our Constitution was meant and fit only for a moral and religious people?
Do not know but if so he was right
I’ll take the 10 Commandments given over 4000 years ago by a wise, just and loving Creator. They work just fine considering they come from a high authority than ourselves and cannot be adjusted for cultural norms
This is wonderful Doc! God bless you! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Great list. only one thing I might add, The Golden Rule. That is the one I use most on my secular friends and family.
Wish I could have been a fly on the wall for this conversation!!! The Bible is so fascinating!!! There’s a lot of people fighting with, and for you on their knees Dr. Malone.
I like all of these except for #1:
1) Respect for (good) authority.
I honestly believe respect for authority is what has led us to the dystopian horror we are suffering today. I understand inserting “(good)” is an attempt to counteract this concern, but the problem is “good” is often defined by the very authority demanding our obeisance, so this is subjective and highly susceptible to corruption.
I appreciate your encouraging people to reflect on their guiding principles and just published a piece where I outlined my core values here:
• “My Two-Year Stackiversary: Lattice of Coincidence + The Courage to Face the Truth” (https://margaretannaalice.substack.com/p/my-two-year-stackiversary-lattice)
I distilled mine down to these top five pairings, each of which includes subsets of values:
• anti-tyranny | pro-liberty
• anti-fear | pro-courage
• anti-hatred | pro-love
• anti-illusion | pro-reality
• anti-destruction | pro-creation
I encourage everyone to go through the process of identifying their values to help them transcend the lifetime of indoctrination into sets of beliefs designed to engineer public opinion and manufacture consent for ease of ruling, exploitation, and mental enslavement.
In addendum.....
I like all of these except for #1:
1) Respect for (good) authority.
Article A: Thou shalt not fail to question it.
Much better! 😆 So I would go with:
1) Always question authority.
Or more broadly, "Always practice thoughtful skepticism."
Amen Margaret. I feel that was the worst case scenario of past 3 years. We failed miserably.
More than that is how to get folks engaged again? Has mass hypnosis suddenly vanished?
I'm not seeing that. Things keep moving 2 Fast and 2 Furious for 2 Many. Randy