A note: this is not meant to replace the Ten Commandments.
This is a document that can be used in secular and government spaces and buildings. Children need guidance and a set of values in their public school education, this or a set of similar rules can help provide that gap, while still maintaining a secular wall between the state and religion that is required by law.
I'm having difficulty with # 1. Its position in the list makes it seem like a foundation for the rest. And it is malleable. Who determines "good"? I'm sure Gates, Gov Newsom, Trudeau, etc. feel they are examples of good authority. It's a secular list, true, but somehow I feel that respect must be earned, not an edict.
On #1 “Respect for (“good”) Authority” is too subjective as when our “good” authority mandated untested vaccines for “The greater good”. How about changing it to, “Respect for authority that also respects individual freedoms, liberties and rights of privacy”.
I try to live by the Golden Rule (do unto others, as you would have others do unto you- Matthew 7:12). It's easy to remember. Unfortunately, even the Golden Rule is not easy for mere humans to follow and one's intentions can be misinterpreted by others. But we all have to try our best and succeed wherever we can.
Thank you for standing strong, and thanks to your readers for being the kind of Golden Rule folks I would like to hang out with every day.
Your post, as usual, made me think so I took a look at the actual 10 commandments which I haven’t done in years. I always have loved successful people. I love that freedom creates success in different measures depending on the persons thoughts, ideas and drive, it’s freedom. If a group of people are envious of those freedoms and want to destroy them for their success and freedoms is this not a sin? Are we not living under a sinful government that is hellbent on destroying our successes? J.Goodrich
I’ll take the 10 Commandments given over 4000 years ago by a wise, just and loving Creator. They work just fine considering they come from a high authority than ourselves and cannot be adjusted for cultural norms
Wish I could have been a fly on the wall for this conversation!!! The Bible is so fascinating!!! There’s a lot of people fighting with, and for you on their knees Dr. Malone.
I honestly believe respect for authority is what has led us to the dystopian horror we are suffering today. I understand inserting “(good)” is an attempt to counteract this concern, but the problem is “good” is often defined by the very authority demanding our obeisance, so this is subjective and highly susceptible to corruption.
I appreciate your encouraging people to reflect on their guiding principles and just published a piece where I outlined my core values here:
I distilled mine down to these top five pairings, each of which includes subsets of values:
• anti-tyranny | pro-liberty
• anti-fear | pro-courage
• anti-hatred | pro-love
• anti-illusion | pro-reality
• anti-destruction | pro-creation
I encourage everyone to go through the process of identifying their values to help them transcend the lifetime of indoctrination into sets of beliefs designed to engineer public opinion and manufacture consent for ease of ruling, exploitation, and mental enslavement.
Ten Rules to Live By
The rules have been slightly modified from the email version - please use those on the website.
Actually, the original ten are quite suitable to place in any classroom.
A note: this is not meant to replace the Ten Commandments.
This is a document that can be used in secular and government spaces and buildings. Children need guidance and a set of values in their public school education, this or a set of similar rules can help provide that gap, while still maintaining a secular wall between the state and religion that is required by law.
The Ten Commandments were written in stone by the hand of God because they are unchanging and will not pass away.
It is not a good idea to change times and laws (see Daniel 7:25).
Matthew 5:18 (KJV)
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
I recommend sticking with what was given for remembrance to us who have short memories (see Exodus 20).
If you want to make rules, I think you should keep it simple. They are more likely to remember them.
1) Respect the rights of others.
2) Keep your promises.
3) Tell the truth.
I'm having difficulty with # 1. Its position in the list makes it seem like a foundation for the rest. And it is malleable. Who determines "good"? I'm sure Gates, Gov Newsom, Trudeau, etc. feel they are examples of good authority. It's a secular list, true, but somehow I feel that respect must be earned, not an edict.
On #1 “Respect for (“good”) Authority” is too subjective as when our “good” authority mandated untested vaccines for “The greater good”. How about changing it to, “Respect for authority that also respects individual freedoms, liberties and rights of privacy”.
These are not as God intended....When you take GOD out of GOOD you get O.
Unless we return to the original 10,
It won't effect volition... because "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom ".. without the beginning you forfeit the whole..
I try to live by the Golden Rule (do unto others, as you would have others do unto you- Matthew 7:12). It's easy to remember. Unfortunately, even the Golden Rule is not easy for mere humans to follow and one's intentions can be misinterpreted by others. But we all have to try our best and succeed wherever we can.
Thank you for standing strong, and thanks to your readers for being the kind of Golden Rule folks I would like to hang out with every day.
Your post, as usual, made me think so I took a look at the actual 10 commandments which I haven’t done in years. I always have loved successful people. I love that freedom creates success in different measures depending on the persons thoughts, ideas and drive, it’s freedom. If a group of people are envious of those freedoms and want to destroy them for their success and freedoms is this not a sin? Are we not living under a sinful government that is hellbent on destroying our successes? J.Goodrich
I’ll take the 10 Commandments given over 4000 years ago by a wise, just and loving Creator. They work just fine considering they come from a high authority than ourselves and cannot be adjusted for cultural norms
This is wonderful Doc! God bless you! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Great list. only one thing I might add, The Golden Rule. That is the one I use most on my secular friends and family.
Wish I could have been a fly on the wall for this conversation!!! The Bible is so fascinating!!! There’s a lot of people fighting with, and for you on their knees Dr. Malone.
I like all of these except for #1:
1) Respect for (good) authority.
I honestly believe respect for authority is what has led us to the dystopian horror we are suffering today. I understand inserting “(good)” is an attempt to counteract this concern, but the problem is “good” is often defined by the very authority demanding our obeisance, so this is subjective and highly susceptible to corruption.
I appreciate your encouraging people to reflect on their guiding principles and just published a piece where I outlined my core values here:
• “My Two-Year Stackiversary: Lattice of Coincidence + The Courage to Face the Truth” (https://margaretannaalice.substack.com/p/my-two-year-stackiversary-lattice)
I distilled mine down to these top five pairings, each of which includes subsets of values:
• anti-tyranny | pro-liberty
• anti-fear | pro-courage
• anti-hatred | pro-love
• anti-illusion | pro-reality
• anti-destruction | pro-creation
I encourage everyone to go through the process of identifying their values to help them transcend the lifetime of indoctrination into sets of beliefs designed to engineer public opinion and manufacture consent for ease of ruling, exploitation, and mental enslavement.