Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Here I discuss my thoughts on the Great Disconnect—one might call this one the Ultimate Disconnect—between
Yahweh's priorities, as indicated by the Ten Commandments, and what really matters in the
world.
The Ten Commandments, Yahweh's first spoken announcement to humanity at large, are to
be found in Exodus Chapter 20. What is Yahweh's first public utterance, the most vital tenet
of morality that all humans must observe? Don't have any other gods besides Yahweh. Really.
That's the big kahuna. But to adequately address Yahweh's emotional insecurity, we need three
further commandments: don't make idols, don't misuse its name, and honor Yahweh by following
its example of taking a day off once a week.
What really matters in the world? What really matters is suffering; the only useful basis
for morality is the well-being of creatures that have the capacity to suffer. Certainly
it is not Yahweh's neediness that matters.
Once Yahweh gave us the bedrock of morality, it moved on to the most vital tenet of morality
concerning human interpersonal relationships: honor your father and mother. Really. That's the
big kahuna. What's next? Don't ***. For Yahweh, your relationship with your parents
is more important than not killing people. Four more prohibitions round out the Ten Commandments,
Yahweh's first and most important public service announcement of all time: don't commit adultery,
steal, give false testimony against your neighbor, or covet.
Only two of these ten commands are unambiguously useful: don't *** and don't give false
testimony. The command to honor one's parents doesn't allow for the all-too-frequent incidence
of dishonorable parents. The word adultery emphasizes official marriage, leaving out unofficial
but equally valid relationships. Stealing can often be justified, especially in a world
where the rich have everything and the poor have nothing. Coveting occurs in one's own
mind, and like everything else in one's mind, cannot harm others.
Two reasonable commands, four ridiculous, and four grossly inadequate as a basis for
a functional society. Worse than the content is what has been left out. Why no prohibition
against torture? ***? Slavery? Sex with children? Plutocracy? Why no insistence on mercy? Compassion?
Empathy? Introspection? "Love your neighbor" does finally show up, but much later. It doesn't
make the top ten, or even the top thirty.
The Great Disconnect starts with the Supreme Being itself and its top priorities. Its main
concern is to protect its fragile ego, which it demonstrates by introducing itself to humanity
with four self-serving commandments. It then demonstrates its concern for—one might even
say competence at promoting—human social harmony, by belching out a few ill-considered
trifles, omitting myriad other ideas that could have made inconceivable positive differences
to human history. That's 10.1. Thanks for watching.