The Ten Commandments Disproven

The first problem with trying to justify a morality based on commandments like the Ten Commandments is that the notion of commandments is anti-contextual, that is to say, they don't take context into account at all. But there is no such thing as an action without context - all our actions exist in a context that dictates what values they effect. Therefore commandments are false automatically because they assume a fantasy world where actions exist without context.

Another problem is that commandments go against the virtue of moral autonomy as a general rule. They do not appeal to reason but to intimidation and force. They are, in short, anti-values and anti-virtues - believers can only act to repress them in other people. Thus commandments do not give us morality but in fact take it away.

Many of these commandments demand death for people who break them, making them against personal rights and freedom as well. All of the Ten Commandments go against our current laws as well.

In this short analysis, I am very generous, using most charitable interpretations (except for the "kill"-is-really-"murder" nonsense), and not, for example, including productivity for commandment 2, where Christians would most likely ban the trade of such images as well.

All references are from Logical Structure of Objectivism. Anyone who wants to read more about the logical justification of each value and virtue is free to consult and search the chapter I've listed for each.


1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Opposing secular values and virtues :

* Autonomy - the commitment to acting by one's independent judgment. (ch. 6) Necessary for the use of reason.
Commandment 1 orders us to subjugate our judgment. A person's independent judgment that other gods exist, despite the lack of evidence for either position, is considered inferior because of this commandment. Failure to follow moral autonomy leads to prejudice, social control and ultimately thought control.

* Non-coercion - one should not initiate the use of physical force against others. (ch. 6) Necessary for a free society and the use of reason.
Since there is no initiation of force involved in "having other gods", to punish someone for it is a violation of the secular virtue of non-coercion.

Better secular principle : Don't accept claims without evidence.


2. 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:

Opposing secular values and virtues :

* Art - selective re-creation of reality according to value-judgments. (ch. 4) Necessary for the concretization and integration of principles in one's life.
The secular value of art is based on "likenesses of things", and therefore goes against commandment 2.

* Non-coercion - one should not initiate the use of physical force against others. (ch. 6) Necessary for a free society and the use of reason.
Since there is no initiation of force involved in "making graven images", to punish someone for it is a violation of the secular principle of non-coercion.

Better secular principle : Make art according to your rational value-judgments.


3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain

Opposing secular values and virtues :

* Non-coercion - one should not initiate the use of physical force against others. (ch. 6) Necessary for a free society and the use of reason.
Since there is no initiation of force involved in "taking the name of God in vain", to punish someone for it is a violation of the secular principle of non-coercion.

Better secular principle : We give power to words when we make them taboo. Destroying the taboo destroys the power of its words.


4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Opposing secular values and virtues :

* Productiveness - the commitment to taking responsibility for achieving one's values. (ch. 5) Necessary to apply one's rational understanding into action.
Commandment 4 goes against the secular virtue of productiveness by limiting the individual's choices of production, making one day out of seven useless. It orders progress to be limited by fiat.

* Non-coercion - one should not initiate the use of physical force against others. (ch. 6) Necessary for a free society and the use of reason.
Since there is no initiation of force involved in productiveness, to punish someone for it is a violation of the secular principle of non-coercion.

Better secular principle : Work whenever you want.


5. Honor thy father and thy mother:

Opposing secular values and virtues :

* Justice - the commitment to evaluating other people objectively and acting accordingly. (ch. 6) Necessary for the accomplishment of our values in society.
Interpreting commandment 5 very generously, as an order solely to praise or respect and not to obey, it still breaks the secular virtue of justice, in that it asks us to not evaluate objectively one's parents, or not act accordingly. In breaking justice, we almost always break the virtue of honesty also - the commitment to grasping the truth and act accordingly.

* Non-coercion - one should not initiate the use of physical force against others. (ch. 6) Necessary for a free society and the use of reason.
Since there is no initiation of force involved in "taking the name of God in vain", to punish someone for it is a violation of the secular principle of non-coercion.

Better secular principle : Judge your parents and act accordingly.


6. Thou shalt not kill.

Opposing secular values and virtues :

* Non-sacrifice - the recognition that one should not devote oneself to other people's values. (ch. 6) Necessary for the accomplishment of our values in society.
By demanding that we forego self-defense in favour of extreme pacificism, commandment 6 demands sacrifice, breaking the secular virtue of non-sacrifice.

* Commandment 6 also stands against forms of recreation such as hunting.

Better secular principle : Defend yourself against the initiation of force.


7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Opposing secular values and virtues :

* Justice - the commitment to evaluating other people objectively and acting accordingly. (ch. 6) Necessary for the accomplishment of our values in society.
By demanding that we forego certain kinds of relationships, commandment 7 goes against the secular virtue of justice, in that it demands that we do not act accordingly to the desirability and willingness of others to participate in consenting sexual relations.

* Commandment 7 also stands against the value of sexuality, in certain contexts.

Better secular principle : Relationships should be guided by the consent, values and needs of the individuals, not religious institutions.


8. Thou shalt not steal.

Opposing secular values and virtues :

* Non-sacrifice - the recognition that one should not devote oneself to other people's values. (ch. 6) Necessary for the accomplishment of our values in society.
By demanding that we forego stealing necessities of life in emergency situations, commandment 8 demands sacrifice, breaking the secular virtue of non-sacrifice.

Better secular principle : When your life is in danger, think about your life first.


9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

Opposing secular values and virtues :

* In its non-political form, goes against prudent predation and some other special contexts. In its political forms, however, there would be more important values against it, including the right to free speech.


10. Thou shalt not covet...

Opposing secular values and virtues :

* ALL values we do not already possess.

* Purpose - the commitment to values and accomplishment based on them. (ch. 4) Necessary to apply one's rational understanding into action.
* Integrity - the commitment to acting in accordance with principles in pursuit of long-range values. (ch. 5) Necessary for a healthy moral character (i.e. action in accordance with reason).
* Productiveness - the commitment to taking responsibility for achieving one's values. (ch. 5) Necessary to apply one's rational understanding into action.
By demanding that we not pursue values that we do not already possess, commandment 10 forces us to forego purpose, integrity and productiveness in most contexts.

* Non-coercion - one should not initiate the use of physical force against others. (ch. 6) Necessary for a free society and the use of reason.
Since there is no initiation of force involved in coveting, to punish someone for it is a violation of the secular principle of non-coercion.

* The repression of feelings is also extremely counter-productive and mentally damageable, leading to a degradation of all spiritual values.

Better secular principle : Emotions are not a standard of knowledge. Treat emotions as they are - guides to your internal states. Don't repress or give into them, but treat them like any other fact.

Continue to part 2.