How did the ten commandments influence todays society?

Answer 1

Essentially, the Ten Commandments embody the relationship between a supreme being and people and how people one another. The Ten Commandments have directly influenced most of the law in the Western World.

Answer 2

The Ten Commandments are found in the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament under the Book of Exodus. They are a list of ten commandments or guidelines to live by dealing with one's relationship to God and relationship to one another. The Ten Commandments are read as guidelines for three major world religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. These three religions follow these guidelines as well as other doctrine in their particular religion. Other religions have similar list to follow, Christians also have the Beatitudes, Muslims also have five pillars, Buddhist have the wheel of enlightenment, ect.

Answer 3

The Ten Commandments are a pillar of Western civilization. They have improved the conduct of billions of people; but because of His covenant with them (Exodus ch.24), God specifically honored the Israelites with being the nation which would be the ones to receive and treasure the Ten Commandments (Exodus ch.19-20) until they had been absorbed by humanity in general. These Commandments are so important that God revealed His presence to the entire Israelite nation when He spoke these Commands. And He inscribed them in stone (Deuteronomy ch.9); unlike the rest of the Torah, which He had Moses write (Deuteronomy 31:24).

1) "I am the Lord your God" reminded the Israelites to be aware of God constantly. More recently, the very first paragraph in the Code of Jewish Law (Shulchan Arukh) reiterates this command.
2) "You shall not have other gods" told us (and tells us) not to make anything other than God too important. Example: not to "worship" gold, or mighty people, or anything other than God.
3) "You shall not use God's name needlessly" told us to deal with God's names with the utmost reverence. Other than in prayer and reading the Tanakh, we don't pronounce any of God's names at all.
4) "Remember the Sabbath day": told us learn the halakhot (laws) of Shabbat (Sabbath) and to prepare for the holy day properly (nice clothes, food ready, etc.). The Sabbath is a testimony to the Exodus and to the Creation of the world (Exodus 20:10; Deuteronomy 5:14).
5) "Honor your father and mother": to do our best to honor and assist them; and to avoid being cheeky to them.
6) Do not kill: also hints at avoiding character assassination or endangering someone. Slander is forbidden in Judaism even when it's not untrue.
7) Do not commit adultery: flirting is playing with fire.
8) Do not steal: even a prutah (penny) should not be filched.
9) Do not bear false witness.
10) Do not covet: to avoid jealousy and gazing longingly at what is not ours. To realize that the other fellow's possessions have been allotted to him by God.

(Parts of this answer have been worded in past tense because of the Question, but the Ten Commandments and their importance have not changed.)

See also:

How the rest of the Torah influenced the Israelites (since you only asked about the 10 Commandments)

How has the Hebrew Bible influenced Western society?

What is the history of the Hebrew Bible?

Answer 4

Such commands as You Shall Not Steal (etc.) had a powerful moral effect on society at large.