OPINION: Let’s be good people, for God’s sake (and our own)

Let’s get one thing straight from the beginning. I see nothing improper in posting the ten Commandments in a classroom — any classroom — although I’d not need to be the trainer explaining to a kindergartner why they’ll’t covet their neighbor’s spouse. Whereas these commandments don’t characterize each tradition in any given classroom wherever in America, they do characterize the final gist that almost all cultures present in a single method or one other on dwelling collectively as a neighborhood in peace.

The ten Commandments are usually not enshrined in U.S. regulation, apart from a pair. In the event that they have been all of the regulation, one in every of our presidential candidates can be in actual bother with No. 10 (the aforementioned prohibition on coveting thy neighbor’s spouse). What they create is a technique to dwell collectively — one thing the traditional Hebrews wanted, apparently. I suppose wandering collectively within the desert for 40 years can get in your nerves and also you want some tips to get you out in a single piece as a united neighborhood.

Nothing in these commandments ought to actually upset anybody, as most cultures have some variation of them to information their communities. So, sitting in a classroom with them on a wall shouldn’t, to my thoughts, actually upset anybody. It’s not forcing faith down their throats. It’s merely highlighting what one faith felt was vital for dwelling collectively in peace.

Right here’s the factor, although. If we hold these commandments in lecture rooms, we should always rotate them with the “commandments” from different dominant religions in America, so that everybody will get an opportunity to see simply how alike we’re in what we predict is vital. As an example, listed below are some commandments from the Qu’ran. See if any appear acquainted to you:

“I’m God; there is no such thing as a god however I, the Merciful, the Compassionate.

• (1) You shall not affiliate something with Me,

• (2) You shall not homicide a human.

• (3) You shall not commit adultery.

• (4) You shall not steal.

• (5) You shall not dishonor your mother and father!”

Listed here are six “enemies” from Hinduism, which doesn’t have commandments however has a really strict ethical code of conduct for all times:

• Lust or want for sensual pleasure — काम — Kama.

• Anger — क्रोध — Krodha.

• Greed — लोभ — Lobha.

• Attachment — मोह — Moha.

• Ego — मद — Mada.

• Envy or jealousy — मत्सर्य — Matsarya.

Some look sort of acquainted, don’t they?

I suppose I don’t see why a toddler of any faith ought to flip away from a poster with the ten Commandments when those self same guidelines apply to them, even when the emphasis is a bit completely different. However I do perceive why mother and father who observe these different religions would marvel why their instructions aren’t additionally hanging up someplace within the faculty for all youngsters to learn and respect. Whether or not you name it lust, adultery or coveting your neighbor’s spouse, it’s all the identical factor in all these religions. It’s not allowed.

I discover myself questioning if all these “good” Christians aren’t only a bit apprehensive as a result of most are supporting a presidential candidate who would have bother entering into heaven primarily based on the Hebrew 10 Commandments. They appear to really feel everybody else however he ought to observe them.

Instilling an ethical code into our kids is a good suggestion, particularly if it’s a code we observe, whether or not or not it’s a part of our authorized system. However Christians have to cease pondering they’re the one ones who’ve an ethical code. Each main faith on the planet has one, and they’re all remarkably related.

So positive, let’s hold ethical codes in all our colleges — ethical codes from each faith in America, in order that regardless of the place a scholar appears to be like, she or he or they’re confronted with the beliefs that permit human societies to exist. These are beliefs that every one main religions possess — even Wiccans. Theirs is extra merely acknowledged. “If it harms none, do what you’ll.” The Rede, the Wiccan code, emphasizes a person’s duty to stop hurt to others and creates private duty.

So there you’ve gotten it. We are able to paper the partitions of all our colleges with the ethical codes that can flip college students into good, sincere residents of an excellent sincere state. Or, like I did once I was in Catholic faculty, the youngsters can simply memorize and spit again out phrases and ideas barely understood however which, if repeated correctly, will get you an A in faith class.

Elise Patkotak is an Alaska columnist and creator. Her guide “Coming Into the Metropolis” is offered at AlaskaBooksandCalendars.com and native bookstores.

The views expressed listed below are the author’s and are usually not essentially endorsed by the Anchorage Each day Information, which welcomes a broad vary of viewpoints. To submit a bit for consideration, e mail commentary(at)adn.com. Ship submissions shorter than 200 phrases to letters@adn.com or click on right here to submit through any net browser. Learn our full tips for letters and commentaries right here.