Is our government and our system of law based upon Christianity, in the US? This is split from another thread.

First I'd like to ask: If our laws are based upon Christianity, which sect? Catholicism? Some form of Protestantism? The values and beliefs of those sects vary greatly. If it's based on the Bible, which translation? And which interpretation of that translation? Interpretations vary greatly.

So you're saying that US Laws were in no way based on the laws of a religion (christianity/catholicism) and that swearing on the bible in court for example is just a gimmick. --Doc Sark

You don't have to swear on the Bible. You can take an alternative oath, and merely swear or affirm to tell the truth.

In fact, Article 6, Section 3 of the US Constitution states:

Clause 3: The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.

( http://www.house.gov/Constitution/Constitution.html )

And in the Bible, Matthew 5:

33"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' 34But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.



Its just coincidence that robbery, murder, slander etc are illegal and that they also are in the ten commandments.

Let's take a look at how many of the Ten Commandments are law, or have anything to do with law. There is the question of WHICH Ten Commandments you mean, of course, because the list isn't definite. Some list "Have no graven images" as one of the commandments and combine coveting wives and property into one; some leave out the graven images and split the last commandment into two. Let's go with the first list.

There is also a great deal of question as to what these commandments even MEAN. Taken in their original ancient Hebrew context, they could very well mean things very different than what the modern English versions mean. For example, you might read http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_10co.htm . But let's just go with the common-sense modern English approach.

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Not law. In fact one could argue that our country was founded on the principle of religious freedom, and our government is expressly forbidden from promoting this commandment in any way.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me. And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

This would outlaw taking pictures of anything, or painting, or making a statue. This is far from illegal.

The rest of that commandment is rather interesting: "visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me"? This certainly isn't law; people can't be punished if their great-grandfather committed a crime. Not only is it not law, it's outright IMMORAL by my standards, to punish a child for the crimes of his ancestors. Interestingly, there's a thread in this forum about people seeking reparations from other people whose ancestors were slave owners; those cases have been struck down by the courts, so far as I know.

Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Not law. Freedom of speech one of the basic human rights in this country. "Jesus sucks"; you can't send me to jail for saying that.

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Not law. Businesses operate on Sunday (and Saturday, depending on which Sabbath you like).

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Not law. Closest thing I can think of is parental rights over their children; this isn't unique to Christianity, and it has nothing to do with honoring.

Thou shalt not kill.

This is law. It's also far from unique to Christianity. And it happens to be disregarded when the US goes to war, or when criminals are put to death. Depending on your interpretation of "kill", though.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Not law. Adultery is icky, but legal.

Thou shalt not steal.

Law, but again, far from unique to Christianity. I can find you some Buddhist scriptures which say not to steal.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Law; no lying in court.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Not law, and rather silly.


Now, we have three commandments which are law, and seven that have nothing to do with law.

Where is the Biblical basis for freedom of press? Freedom of assembly? Right to bear arms? Etc. etc.

You can argue that our society was founded by Christians, and that much of our culture and tradition in modern times is still Christian. I will agree. Our laws and our morals and our values, however, are not Christian, and haven't been for a long time, if they ever were.