I thought I share some quick thoughts on “The Ten Non-Commandments.”
It’s originally from a page on Facebook called Unite Women.
Here’s my quick take:
- Nonbelievers in their worldviews are not going to be consistent. This is where in pressing the antithesis the Christian apologists points out that the unbeliever’s profess worldview are logically problematic. Unbelief is inherently irrational, contrary to the wisdom of God.
- Let’s look at non-commandment five which talks about “God is not necessary to be a good person or to live a full and meaningful life.”
- The author merely stated this with no proof.
- Yet in light of non-commandment three which requires that “the scientific method is the most reliable way of understanding the natural world” the author is under obligation to prove this is a good understanding of living in the natural world. But the author doesn’t do this, and fail his or her own criteria (for the rest of this article I will assume “she”). Point three is the self-defeater of point five.
- There are serious problem with a secular account of the origin of ethics/morality. See my Apologetics Session 7: Atheism and the problem of Morality and Apologetics Session 8: Evil and the problem of Atheism.
- Given non-commandment five is self-defeated within this ten non-commandment and also the meta-epistemological problem within non-commandment five, this undermines the rest of the ten non-commandments since the other non-commandments are prescriptive in nature (requiring “ought” and “ought not,” etc). Already this is problematic at a worldview level.
- Ironically given non-commandment five does not fulfill its own requirement of non-commandment number three and also non-commandment three impale itself with its own weight, we see it violate non-commandment number two: “Strive to understand what is most likely to be true, not to believe what you wish to be true.”
The irony of it all would be entertaining if it wasn’t Heaven and Hell in the balance.
Very good points. The overall system is rather self-contradictory.
Somethign else I noticed though is that VII (which restates the golden rule) is nearly a direct quotation of Jesus! That, along with the fact that it is “10” rules written on a stone tablet remind me of the fact that Satan cannot create anything. He only takes what is Good and twists it. He’s a counterfeiter.
I enjoyed this post. I do think it was hard to follow a little because you would have to keep referring back to the picture but I’m not sure I’d say you need to rewrite it.
You made a good observation Concerning the counterfeit nature of this picture. Truly, you would be as you said so funny if it wasn’t so sad with how much is at stake! There will be many who follow this in rejecting Christianity because it appeals to autonomous self. May God have mercy!
Hi Jim, I disagree with 3,4,5 and 9 and agree with your observations, Controlling your body does not give you the right to have an abortion. The current majority consensus of the scientific world is to accept pure random change evolution as fact without considering supernatural involvement. Full and meaningful life is subjective, as is one right way to live. Some truth mixed in with some worldly fluff. – Blessings!
So true. There is a mixing of some truth or worldly present positions. I appreciate you Reading this and commenting. I hope to look at this for another post. Hope you are doing well!
Hi Jim, God’s faithfulness, especially with regard to my wife’s dementia and my own well being, is more than good. I continue to marvel at His faithfulness. Blessings, brother!
As soon as “control over one’s body” leads to abortion, it involves someone else’s body, and however small (s)he might be, (s)he has a right to live and make choices, too. (Thank you, Madame Obvious.🙄)
You got a point there!
Non-commandment five is the only one that mentions God but only to dismiss Him as irrelevant to living a “good” life. Good point that this goes against non-commandment two which tells one to strive to know what is true, not what one wishes to be true. The fifth one is what some wish to be true.
It is comforting that the true ten commandments start out by asserting that they come from the authority of God since God is speaking them:
[Exo 20:2-3 KJV] 2 I [am] the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
I have no clue on whose authority those ten non-commandments rest. They have no solid ground to stand on. They are also without rational grounding since they are stated as mere assertions without proof, without argument, without evidence.
Amen you hit it on the nail with your last paragraph: “ I have no clue on whose authority those ten non-commandments rest. They have no solid ground to stand on. They are also without rational grounding since they are stated as mere assertions without proof, without argument, without evidence.”
My sister-in-law shared this this week, while we were visiting. We had a brief discussion about it, her mostly rolling her eyes at me, but still genial. I did have to ask for a definition of “good,” and that got the biggest eye-roll with, “we all know what good basically is.” At least she likes having me as a b-i-l, even though we have this major disagreement.
I just prayed for your sister-in-law and that God use what you talk to her about
Excellent post brother Jimmy! Outstanding analysis as usual. 🙂
Anti-Theism Presupposes Theism
Point VIII. WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO CONSIDER OTHERS, INCLUDING FUTURE GENERATIONS.
Answer: Says who? By what standard? Rebuttal: I can just as easily say: WE DO NOT HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO CONSIDER OTHERS, INCLUDING FUTURE GENERATIONS.
The same for Point IX: THERE IS NO ONE RIGHT WAY TO LIVE.
Answer: I can just as easily say: THERE IS ONE RIGHT WAY TO LIVE.
Thanks for addressing this issue to help people stay on the narrow path. Just another instance showing the need for: (a) Biblical literacy, (b) catechism and (c) being in church submitted to elders worshipping God just to name a few. All on a consistent basis.
Thank you for the links to other posts brother! I really look forward to checking them out. God bless you brother Jimmy!
You’re right About anti theism Presupposes theism. Thanks for your comments and your insights! You’re so many ways to slice. This is why we’re gonna have at least part two if not more!
Thank you for this, and to make it a part 1, I can look forward to more on the subject.
You are welcome! Thank you for reading this, I think there’s so many way to slice this that that is why I thought it’ll be worth having a second post if not more! Hope you are doing well!
Doing fine. And I pray that you are rested from your trip.
Thanks for this rebuttal to the 10 Non-Commandments. As you ably point out, it’s totally irrational for atheists to moralize.
It is irrational, indeed thanks for reading this And your comment it’s been warm here and I pray it’s not as warm for you today
Thanks! We currently have a nice mild spell in ROC. 71 today and 70s next four days. Hope you get some relief from the heat soon!
Good stuff, Brother! There is so much inconsistency in these 10 non-commandments; I was especially, but not only, struck by the inconsistency between #4 and #6. Also, what in the world does “good” mean without any reference to God?!
Exactly! As you said it, “ what in the world does “good” mean without any reference to God?!”
I hope no one in their right mind follow these ten non commandments.
It’s crazy isn’t it?
The author and adherents to this list will find out what the Lord Jesus Christ thinks of their morality and good works on judgment day. Woe to those who call evil good and good evil (Isa 5:20). I am looking forward to more posts on this!!!!
Thanks for reading this and your thoughts! I’m also looking for the part two. How our class is going?
Excellent brother. This is it: “Nonbelievers in their worldviews are not going to be consistent.”
Amen thank you for reading this Michael. I hope you have a blessed Saturday.