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muriel_volestrangler

(106,180 posts)

19. Yes, it was the DeMille version that another state chose a year or two ago

Reply to SorellaLaBefana (Reply #3)

Sat Mar 21, 2026, 01:26 PM

Mar 21

and it does seem to be the preferred version among Republicans.

https://www.thetorah.com/blogs/ten-commandments-in-every-classroom-the-texas-bill-version

It leaves out the important bits of context like "which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage" - which both notes these Commandments were specific to the Hebrews, and that they were explicitly anti-slavery - embarrassing for a white-dominated country in the 1950s with Jim Crow still going. Or "thou shalt not do any work" on the Sabbath - which the USA obviously ignores in a major way.

A smaller change is that the text paraphrases “ox and ass” as “cattle,” which was likely motivated by a desire to avoid the word “ass.”

OK, I can see that's worth doing to avoid one of the more obvious jokes in class.

on edit: Yeah, it's the 1950s DeMille version they've gone for, as documented above. See https://web.archive.org/web/20260321172819/https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Amend/SA0682.pdf (why am I linking an archive of the Tennessee state site? Because Tennessee is so goddamn proud of its legislature that it geoblocks the UK from accessing its website, that's why.)

https://www.salon.com/2024/07/07/ten-commandments-gone-wild-the-christian-rights-latest-distraction/

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Tennessee Senate passes bill making schools put up Ten Commandments [View all] BumRushDaShow Mar 21 OP

"Teacher! Teacher! What does 'adultery' mean???" no_hypocrisy Mar 21 #1

Which version of the ten commandments??? seabiscuit5920 Mar 21 #2

And which version of "THE 'Decalogue'" would that be? Cecil B. DeMille's I would wager. SorellaLaBefana Mar 21 #3

Yes, it was the DeMille version that another state chose a year or two ago muriel_volestrangler Mar 21 #19

I see this biting them in the a** in the high schools ms liberty Mar 21 #4

Well, if... GiqueCee Mar 21 #5

Why do they keep doing this when these stupid laws keep getting struck down??? LymphocyteLover Mar 21 #6

"Thou shalt not kill" seems to be translated a lot of different ways by theists. walkingman Mar 21 #7

Ironic, isn't it? Love thy neighbor, no false gods, blah, blah, blah. What an insult to the commandments. Firestorm49 Mar 21 #8

A historic document. Ponder that. twodogsbarking Mar 21 #9

The commandments havent done much good historically. Karadeniz Mar 21 #10

The Lord's Prayer is Next to be Posted eringer Mar 21 #11

I can't think of a better way to make kids give up these toxic religions. travelingthrulife Mar 21 #13

These religious creeps need to be taxed back under their rocks. travelingthrulife Mar 21 #12

But I thought the old testament Farmer-Rick Mar 21 #14

Unquestionably unconstitutional. That is a religious test on our public schools. Martin68 Mar 21 #15

AGAIN? I thought this was settled law... CTyankee Mar 21 #16

3 days earlier, in a neighbouring state: Arkansas school districts blocked from displaying Ten Commandments muriel_volestrangler Mar 21 #17

Also post the articles of secession and confederation and explain how they violated the 10 commandments and constitution ChicagoTeamster Mar 21 #18

Do they have to be right side up? BWdem4life Mar 22 #20