Ten Commandments display
Sullivan County Courthouse
Blountville, Tennessee

Ten Commandments issue never left, and it isn't going away

by Lewis Loflin
Also see Sullivan County Religious Wars

On May, 29 2001 the high court's rejection of Books v. City of Elkhart allows a lower court ruling prohibiting government endorsement of the Commandments to stand. That means their plaque must go while Sullivan County remains in limbo. Jeff Lynn of Americans United said it best, "Today's announcement should help bring the Religious Right's Ten Commandments crusade to a screeching halt," "The writing on the church-state wall is clear: It's not the government's job to promote religion."

Three justices, Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Chief Justice William Rehnquist, took the unusual step of issuing a dissent today, announcing they wanted to hear the case for apparent political reasons. Rehnquist said the Commandments monument "simply reflects the Ten Commandments' role in the development of our legal system." What he doesn't specify is where because no biblical character or phrase exists in any of out nation's legal documents.

In response, Justice John Paul Stevens issued a statement of his own. He wrote that Scalia, Thomas and Rehnquist failed to note that the Elkhart monument begins with the lines, "THE TEN COMMANDMENTS -- I AM the LORD thy God," which appears in a larger type size than the rest of the Commandments. "The graphic emphasis place on those first lines," Stevens said, "is rather hard to square with the proposition that the monument expresses no particular religious preference...."

At issue was a Ten Commandments monument erected in front of the city municipal building in Elkhart, Ind., in 1958. Local residents William Books and Michael Suetkamp filed suit against the city in 1998 over the granite tablet, which are 6 feet tall and stands alone in front of the city building. Last December, the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the display violates the separation of church and state. TV preacher Pat Robertson's legal group, the American Center for Law and Justice, was representing Elkhart and encouraged the high court to consider an appeal.

The Supreme Court's decision to not to hear the case represents yet another hindrance for the Religious Right. Controversy over government endorsement of the religious text has grown dramatically in recent years. Religious Right groups such as the Family Research Council have aggressively lobbied for government displays of the Ten Commandments in city halls, public schools and other public buildings.

In addition, congressional legislation, such as the "Ten Commandments Defense Act," has been introduced several times to allow displays of the Decalogue in public buildings. Similarly, over the past two years, 18 state legislatures have considered bills on the issue.

Even President George W. Bush showed his ignorance as he weighed in on the issue during the 2000 campaign, indicating that he would support changing the law to allow the display of the "standard version" of the Commandments in public schools and other buildings. The only problem there is no standard version -- different faith traditions use different interpretations, and no Christian version matches the Hebrew version. So far federal courts have struck down Commandments displays in South Carolina, Kansas, Kentucky and Indiana in a separate case.

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Ten Commandments issue will be back

Editorial, Bristol Herald Courier

5/31/01

Sullivan County Attorney Dan Street is probably right that an Elkhart, Ind., lawsuit would have been ``the perfect case'' for resolving the question over whether Ten Commandments displays on public buildings are constitutional.

The U.S. Supreme Court, or at least most of its justices, apparently felt that way; Chief Justice William Rehnquist and Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas wanted to hear the case. In a highly unusual written dissent, all said they found nothing wrong with the monument, saying it ``simply reflects the Ten Commandments' role in the development of our legal system.''

Actually, it's probably as well that the high court sat this one out. Whether you agree with them or not, the fact that three justices jumped to that conclusion without actually hearing the case doesn't speak well for their objectivity on the matter. But eventually, someone will probably have to settle the question of whether displaying the Ten Commandments in public buildings squares with the First Amendment.

As it stands, there are parts of the country where no legal barrier exists to Ten Commandments displays, like the plaque erected two years ago in the Sullivan County Courthouse. In other areas like the federal 7th Appeals Circuit _ which includes Elkhart _ lower-court rulings have barred such displays. Does that mean it's constitutional in certain parts of the country and not in others?

Of course, there's another issue having to do generally with other religious displays on public property and ultimately, no court can decide it for us. America is growing ever more diverse in terms of religion; even the Mountain Empire is no exception. If using public property to witness to the one group's faith could mean courting trouble, legal or otherwise, is it a good idea?

Ten Commandments issue never left, and it isn't going away

6/16/01

To the editor:

In regard to ''The Commandments issue will be back,'' (Herald Courier May 31), the issue has never left. The Supreme Court tarnished its reputation with the Florida vote count fiasco, and the actions of some justices deciding this case before even hearing it reek of politics, not law.

There isn't a single biblical character or phrase anywhere in the Bill of Rights or Constitution. Our legal system is based on a variety of ideas, including the Enlightenment, French Revolution, Greek philosophy, Roman law, etc.

Nature and nature's god is the God of Deism, while Washington, Jefferson, Paine, Franklin, etc., were Deists. A lot of others were Christian, but not the ''agents of intolerance'' who locked the courthouse doors during the plaque dedication. The Ten Commandments are about intolerance and elitism, but America is about freedom, equality.

''Christian,'' to County Commissioner Gonce, means only selected Protestant denominations. Proof of this is the Catholic-bashing campaign being carried out in Kingsport by some apparent plaque supporters.

''In God We Trust,'' etc., came after the Civil War for political reasons. These fundamentalists treat history like they do Scripture: distort what is written to fit their agenda and ignore the rest.

The fact is, over 90 percent of evangelicals have never read the Bible. Being a Christian is acting like one, not screaming it from street corners or the courthouse stairs. The Bible really has some great ideas, and I encourage everyone to read it for him or herself, and then actually follow some of it.

Lewis Loflin
Bristol, VA.

America paying price for ignoring Ten Commandments and love

6/21/01

To the editor:

In a letter Saturday, Lewis Loflin commented on the Ten Commandments. Thinking people wonder what's happening. Family tragedies abound. National apostasy is leading to national ruin. ``Spiritual wickedness in high places'' abounds.

Politicians break their sacred vows to our state and national constitutions. Original meanings disappear. (Translation: more taxes.) Now that less emphasis is being placed on the Ten, we are building more jails. Many inmates formerly worked and paid taxes. We will pay those lost taxes and the confinement costs of the commandment-ignoring, covenant-breaking offenders. Ouch, huh?

How many of the Ten can our nation ignore with impunity? Does righteousness still ``exalt'' a nation? Is the God of Heaven reaching the limit of His forbearance? When will the boom be lowered on us? Answer: It's being lowered right now, only so slowly that our deadened perceptions hardly notice any change.

Remember the story of the frog in gently warming water. He was comfortable, so he remained right there, until he cooked to death. Should Christians stand around quietly, doing nothing, waiting for some non-biblical ``secret rapture'' to occur?

Far from it! We should realize that it is our duty to labor diligently to save others, all the while looking with strong faith to the Creator God for His help. In that regard, we commend the Haven of Rest and like places for their marvelous works of compassion, made possible by generous local residents.

One wonders if as many such facilities would have been needed, had the Ten been correctly presented, i.e., as being the end result of God's love, correctly activated in accord with the text, ``If ye love me, keep my commandments.''

Phil Morrison, MD
Bristol, TN.

Christians have a duty not to keep silent about sin

7/1/01

To the editor:

In answer to Mr. Loflin's recent letter, the Ten Commandments show us all how we should live, and that we all come far short every day of God's perfection.

Mr. Loflin wants Christians to bury themselves, keep silent, and let sin run rampant. I'm sorry, but I can't do that. I stand against homosexuality, drinking, premarital and extramarital sex, and a host of other sins that Mr. Loflin wants us to tolerate.

The Bible plainly teaches against these sins. There are so many people not reading the Bible, and the few who are don't believe it anymore. Those very few of us born-again, Bible-believing, Bible-teaching Christians who read it and love God are going to keep on standing against sin and for right. Jesus loves everyone, but hates sin. Like him, I love all people, but I too, hate sin.

As for Dr. Morrison, who suggested that the doctrine of a secret rapture is unbiblical, Christ is coming to take believers home to Heaven. We don't know when, but He is coming. Read Matthew 24: 39-44; 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18. Use a King James Version Bible. Too many of the other versions pervert or leave out parts of important passages.

Mrs. Cynthia C.
Bristol, TN.

Bring religion into politics, and it will be judged like politics

7/7/01

To the editor:

I appreciate Mrs. Cantor's letter "Christians have a duty not to keep silent about sin" (Herald Courier July 1). I'm glad she didn't deny anything in my letter (Herald Courier June 16). She is proof I was right about over 90 percent of fundamentalists having never read the Bible.

Dr. Morrison was correct that "secret rapture" wasn't biblical; in fact the word "rapture" doesn't exist in the KJV Bible she demands everybody read. A mystic named John Nelson Darby conceived this occult nonsense in 1827. Since the 1970s, other cults such as Christian Reconstructionism (Dominion Theology) and the Neo-Nazi Christian Identity Movement have infiltrated numerous fundamentalist churches.

Fundamentalists can talk "secret rapture" all they want, but I didn't put Sullivan County Emergency Services on "rapture" alert for Y2K or hide in my basement with a seven-year supply of toilet tissue. That's why Mr. Spangler of Bristol Virginia called it "hype."

This "sin" business has nothing to do with targeting Catholics, etc. They're being attacked for their religious beliefs only, and that's bigotry. Millions are just as moral as these Bible-thumping hypocrites without any Ten Commandments. I didn't stand before them in Blountville and claim the intent was "historical," knowing the only intent was religious

It's up to Christians to deal with these cults, read the Bible and follow it. I've never at any time said they couldn't discuss their religion, but as long as they drag it into politics, they can't hide behind Scripture to escape scrutiny and criticism. Expect a lot of scrutiny.

Lewis Loflin
Bristol, VA.

And from another attempted attack in 1999:

Law treats religions equally, like it or not

To the editor:

I enjoyed Mr. Gillespie's article on me entitled "Question is on setting a moment of silence." Mr. Gillespie didn't dispute that America is not founded on the Bible or that Christians have no special moral or legal standing over anyone else, and he even admitted Jesus "did not believe in cramming his message down someone's throat." He simply chose to attack the writer.

Let us cut through the chaff and get to the point: When these people talk of prayer in school, they mean Protestant Christian only. They want teacher-led Christian prayer to promote their version of Jesus, nothing more. The law gives no special treatment to anyone; we are all treated equally, and it drives some Christians insane. Again, I will say that nobody prevents any child from praying in school, and I would be the first to fight it if they do.

Mr. Gillespie correctly stated that the Declaration of Independence mentioned "Laws of Nature and Nature's God;" he failed to mention that it does not refer to Jesus who never even claimed to be God. It refers to a God who loves everybody and holds that we are all "created equal." There is simply no mention of Jesus, Moses, or any other biblical character. Fundamentalist Christians assume it meant Jesus just like they assume the earth is only 6,000 years old. Where's the proof? To hang the Ten Commandments with our Bill of Rights is simply promoting another distortion of the facts.

Finally, Mr. Gillespie suggests that I somehow want to censor Robertson, Falwell and the Christian Coalition: I want nothing of the kind! Their stupid statements on Jews, the Telletubbies and how God will drown Orlando, FIa., for allowing Gay Day speak for themselves. The fact is that they are their own worst enemies and their irrational ravings do more damage to their cause in one day than Carletta Sims and I can do in a thousand years.

Lewis Loflin
Bristol, VA.

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