How do the ten commandments influence todays society?

Answer 1

The Ten Commandments are a pillar of Western civilization. They have improved the conduct of billions of people. These Commandments are so important that God revealed His presence to the entire Israelite nation when He spoke these Commands. And He scribed them in stone (Deuteronomy ch.9); unlike the rest of the Torah, which He had Moses write (Deuteronomy 31:24). What would Western society look like without these Commandments?1) "I am the Lord your God..." has shaped the Western beliefs about God. Pantheism and polytheism, which were excuses for immorality, are out. Without this Command, all of us might still be pagans.
2) The 7-day week, including a day of rest for everyone, is thanks to the Fourth Commandment.
3) Without the Fifth Commandment, society might still permit abandoning our aged parents to die.

4) Without the Sixth Commandment, we might still be killing our own children. Aristotle, who was among the greatest of the Greeks, and Seneca, the famous Roman, both write that killing one's young babies is perfectly acceptable; and that was the practice in their societies. And the Roman law of Patrias Potestas allows a father to kill any of his sons, at any age and for any reason.

The above are just a few examples.

Answer 2

The "Ten Commandments" are generally applicable only to the Christian/Jewish segment of the world's population - about 1/3 of the people. Of those many people are of varying degrees of living secular lives and may or may not consider any boundaries set up by religious laws.Most laws in even secular countries are often pointed to as being directly influenced by the "Ten Commandments" but this would be difficult to prove as there is no requirement in law to:

• believe in the Christian/Jewish God (this is generally law which impossible to pass in most countries)
  
• not worship idols
  
• swear or curse
  
• not work on Sundays
  
• honor your parents
  
• not commit adultery (divorce law is more about property rights, not adultery)
• not be jealous of your neighbours status or possessions
  

Of the three remaining (about stealing, killing and libel/slander and such) all are covered by civil or criminal law and result from processes that would grow in society from common sense, not from godly inspiration. These are present in all societies, not just ones where the "Ten Commandment were known.

As consequence the "Ten Commandments" have little or no impact on today's society

Answer 3

he Ten Commandments are of limited importance in today's society.

The first three commandments are essentially different ways of saying to worship no other god. But those who belong to the Abrahamic faiths do not need these commandments while those who do not, including Buddhists, Hindus, atheists and others, are unaffected by these commandments.

The next commandment says to do no work on the Sabbath, nor to require or request others to do so or even allow an animal to do so, and is almost never honoured.

The fifth commandment is to honour your father and your mother, a useful social rule usually observed out of filial love rather than by bringing to mind a commandment. It is rather doubtful that family cohesion would disappear without this commandment.

The last five commandments define some important moral ideals, although only stated in general terms: do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness against your neighbour, do not covet that which belongs to your neighbour, including his wife or slaves. We need moral and legal guidance far wider than these, and no doubt our consciences and the secular laws are much more influential in today's society.

The Ten Commandments have achieved a mystique beyond their importance.

Answer 4

The Ten Commandments are a consideration to Christians. The 2/3 of the world's population that are not Christian probably are no more committed to or familiar with the Christian version of the Ten Commandments than Christians are familiar with the Eightfold Path of Buddhism or the version of the commandments in Sura Al-An'en 6:151 of the Quran.Among Christians, secular Christians may be aware of, but not schooled in or concerned with, the application of the Ten Commandments to their life.
As a consequence the Ten Commandments not a major influence on today's global community.

Answer 5

We still follow the ten commandments in a way in court,.Like murder, robbing, committing adultery, telling lies under oath are all against the law of the land.