Is Texas Taking the Ten Commandments in Vain?

Texas lawmakers have mandated the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms, a decision now facing legal scrutiny. The law requires the commandments to be at least 16 by 20 inches, clearly visible and easily readable throughout the room. This issue has reached the Supreme Court in the case of Nathan v. Alamo Heights Independent School District.

Supporters argue that displaying the Ten Commandments provides students with moral clarity and connects them to American history and law. However, Rabbi Mara Nathan, the lead plaintiff, believes that religious beliefs should be instilled by parents and faith communities rather than politicians and public schools.

The dispute arises from a state deeply religious yet not uniformly so, with 27% of Texas adults identifying as evangelical Protestants and 26% as religiously unaffiliated. At first glance, this appears to be a familiar church-and-state conflict. Yet, delving into the specifics of the displayed commandments reveals a more nuanced issue.

One commandment states, "Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain," commonly understood today as a ban on profanity. The older religious interpretation is broader, prohibiting the invocation of God's name falsely or for unworthy purposes. This presents a challenge for Texas, as the state is using God's words to achieve a political and civic objective, transforming scripture into evidence for something scripture never claims to be: a statement about American national identity.

Another commandment, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image," poses a visual challenge. While a 16-by-20-inch poster may not be a golden calf, the commandment addresses the human tendency to take sacred things and give them a physical form that can become objects of reverence. By turning the Ten Commandments into an official display, Texas has inadvertently created a strange result: the state insists on the commandments being seen but not necessarily heeded.

This peculiar situation raises questions about the state's insistence on the commandments' presence while allowing students to share the classroom without reciting or accepting them.

The ninth commandment, "Thou shalt not bear false witness," presents an empirical test for Texas. While supporters claim that the Ten Commandments are foundational to American law, the commandment specifically addresses worship, idols, and the Sabbath, areas American law leaves untouched. This highlights a difference between influence and foundation.

Additionally, Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant traditions interpret the Ten Commandments differently, leading to a curious decision by Texas to adopt a single version for every classroom. Ultimately, while the state can mandate the commandments' display, it cannot compel individuals to believe or obey their moral teachings.