The Christofascists continue their relentless campaign to force the entire country to worship their religion as they do. Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas (naturally!) wants to pass a resolution pronouncing a “Ten Commandments Weekend” (WebCite cached article):
Expressing support for designation of the first weekend of May as Ten Commandments Weekend to recognize the significant contributions the Ten Commandments have made in shaping the principles, institutions, and national character of the United States.
For many years now the Decalogue has been one of the Religious Right’s great obsessions. For example, Roy Moore, once Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, lost his job in 2000 over his placement of an idol to the Decalogue in that court’s building. They obsess over the Decalogue, in spite of the fact that Christians are forbidden to be idolators (e.g. 1 John 5:21 etc.), and in spite of the fact that Jesus Christ himself explicitly and clearly rendered the Decalogue obsolete, as the gospels report:
One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that He is one, and there is no one else besides Him; and to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as himself, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” (Mark 12:28-34a)
Christians therefore have no business worshipping the Decalogue. None. Period. End of discussion.
Note, I won’t even get into a discussion of what sort of blathering idiot Rep. Gohmert is. His record speaks for itself. I wish him the best of luck in coercing me to worship the Decalogue with him.
Hat tip: The Friendly Atheist.
Photo credit: Texas State Preservation Board.