The Ten Commandments are, needless to say, a very old set of rules by which to live. Although the version (and order) of The Ten Commandments sometimes varies slightly from one religion to another, the ideas presented are generally the same.

According to Judeo-Christian teachings, The Ten Commandments (which came written on two stone tablets) were given to Moses on Mount Sinai.

Well, that was obviously quite some time ago. In today's far more modern era, one might ask if a new, updated, or otherwise revised Ten Commandments might be in order. I've decided to analyze The Commandments (as I learned them in Sunday school by memorizing the Baltimore Catechism more than 40 years ago).

"I am the Lord Thy God. Thou shalt not have false gods before me." Does this one need updating? I don't think so. An awful lot of people believe there is one God/Creator, although some people believe that God is more of a force or Nature. Whatever one believes, it seems to me that the idea of not worshipping anything or anyone other than whoever or whatever is behind the creation of the universe makes a lot of sense.

"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord Thy God in vain." This one, like the previous one, is about respecting God (or whoever or whatever is behind the creation of the universe and life). I don't see why this new millenium should mean changing this one.

"Remember to Keep Holy the Lord's Day." Now, this one - in view of the fact that "the Lord's Day" is different for all people, and some people have no "Lord's Day" at all - would seem, on the face of it, to need a little revision. Even this one, however, still presents a concept that it is a wise one. That is that separating one day a week from the others, and devoting that day to religious, introspection, rest, and/or family time is always an important thing to do in life. Life can't be, or at least shouldn't be, all about work all the time. Neither should it be all about play. Having one day a week to step back, take a break, worship if you're someone who belongs to a religion, spend special time with loved ones, and generally breaking up "the same old routine", is a healthy thing for individuals and families.

"Honor Thy Father and Mother". This one would certainly seem to apply as much today as it did a couple of thousand (or so) years ago. Most fathers and mothers are good, loving, parents; so it would seem to go without saying that honoring one's parents is the least anyone can do. Some parents may not particularly deserve an awfully high degree of "honoring", but one really should at least acknowledge and somewhat honor the fact that he would not exist were it not for parents.

Another interpretation could actually be that the "Father" applies to the Creator or that "Mother" applies to the Earth. Again, it's just not a bad idea to keep such a concept in mind throughout one's life.

"Thou Shalt Not Kill". Here's another one that would seem to go without saying. As a kid, I was taught that "kill" didn't just include actually killing someone. It also included harming ourselves or others. Whether or not "kill" also technically means "killing" the spirit or soul of others is something I don't happen to know. I'm guessing it may, because, certainly, psychologically abusing or not loving a child must break some Commandment; and this is the only Commandment that would seem to cover the harming of another's spirit.

"Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery". This one was pretty much skipped over by the nun who taught my first-grade Sunday-school class, but I've since gained a clearer understanding of what "adultery" actually is. We may live in a time when an awful lot of people don't seem to take adultery too seriously, but I can't help but think Commandment VI is still a pretty good rule by which to live. If you seriously consider all the consequences that can occur as a result of breaking this Commandment, it becomes clear that this one (old fashioned or not) still makes a lot of sense.

"Thou Shalt Not Steal". While we may live in a time in which ways to steal, and things to steal, are far more numerous than they were in Moses' day, most people (if they're honest with themselves) can see the wrongness in taking what does not belong to us (and worse, leaving the person/people from whom one steals without what is rightfully theirs).

"Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbor". As with stealing, our modern age offers vastly numerous more ways to "bear false witness" against "neighbors" (family, friends, neighbors, and people we don't even know); so even though this Commandment may have been important when Moses was around, I think it is of possibly more significance to those of us who view what we read on screens (rather than stone tablets).

"Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Wife" (or, I'm presuming, "Thy Neighbor's Husband" in the case of women - although I could be wrong, of course.) On the one hand, I'm not sure that a little "coveting light" under some circumstances is such an evil thing; on the other hand, nothing good comes from coveting thy neighbor's spouse. This Commandment, if written today, might be worded, "Get your mind off other people's spouses." Re-wording might have more impact, but the I think the basic idea is still a good one.

"Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Goods." As with coveting wives, nothing much good (and certainly nothing constructive) ever comes from coveting other people's stuff (or employees - although The Bible referred to "man servants" and "woman servants", I'm calling their modern-day counterparts, "employees").

I suppose if I were re-writing The Commandments, I may consider blending IX and X, turning The Ten Commandments into The Nine Commandments, and wording that ninth Commandment as follows: "Get your mind off other people and what they have, and just figure out how to get whatever it is you wish you had on your own and without trying to take from people who already have what you wish you did."

On second thought, maybe I would add a tenth Commandment. That might be: "Thou shalt not think that because you live in a modern time the very basic, common-sense, first nine Commandments no longer make any sense." (After all, if we're truly honest with ourselves; and if we're willing to face some unpopular realities; we realize that The Ten Commandments are actually pretty reasonable, and that they actually do still make quite a bit of sense.)