I am new here, but this is a topic I feel I can jump in with both feet. :-)

I am an American Christian - but still feel strongly that the Ten Commandments should not be displayed in the schools. Some of them do shape American legal laws, but it is primarily the last five - don't murder; don't commit adultery; don't steal; don't lie under oath; don't covet your neighbor's property. That last one isn't a law, but I'd argue it's mainly because it's a thought not an action and it's very hard to legislate thought. We have hate crimes but those are thoughts paired with action, not thought alone.

The first five commandments are very religious in nature. They really have no part in a society that is free to *all* religions. This sounds like an okay idea, but what about the people who aren't religious, or whose religions don't have a weekly sabbath? It's not inclusive to recognize this as a central moral tenet of their land. And in America at least our Constitution says that the government won't set up an official state religion.

And from a very practical point I wouldn't feel comfortable with quotes from other religions' holy books being displayed like that. To be fair I can't have my own tradition's quotes plastered on the walls of the courthouses, schools, etc.

I take the point about morality - but there are better and more effective ways to do this than making a case over displaying the words. How about encouraging parents to teach their children what those words mean? Or have the parents learn them themselves. It's surprising how many people claim to be Christian, fight to get the commandments posted, but still can't name five out of the ten if asked.

Marta