Love Thy Neighbour??

[Always Free]

Is this one of the ten commandments? If so, can anyone tell me what it means?

I would have thought it basically means---be nice to everyone---yes?
I ask this because recently I have gotten to realise how un-neighbourly some people, religious people that is, can be. It's all about getting what they want and stuff anyone else. Sneaky, sly, greedy, selfish you name it this person I know, in particular is it.

also----

Are the ten commandments still valid (for want of a better word) for todays religious people?

[Tricky]

Originally posted by Always Free
Are the ten commandments still valid (for want of a better word) for today's religious people?

Some of them have good general advice, although none of them should be taken as absolute law, as there are always exceptions. I made a rather lengthy discussion of them here (http://www.randi.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&postid=373421&highlight=commandments#post373421) where I commented on the applicability of them to today's world and showed where Christians regularly violate some, or at least render them meaningless (like "keeping the Sabbath day holy").

[Upchurch]

Originally posted by Always Free
Are the ten commandments still valid (for want of a better word) for todays religious people?
Why does the recent display of idiocy by Rev. Fred Phelps at Fred Rogers' funeral suddenly spring to mind? I can't think of a neighbor I love more than Mr. Rogers.

[Skeptical Greg]

Originally posted by Always Free

Are the ten commandments still valid (for want of a better word) for todays religious people?

Like anything, they are subject to interpretation and like many things, they may have mean't somewhat different things several thousand years ago.

I have always found: " You shall have no other gods but me", to be interesting, because it implies their are other Gods.

Of course, modern day apologetics, rationalize that this really meant something like; do not put material wealth or anything above God.

However, if that was what was intended, why not be very precise about it? It would have been easy to say:

" You shall put 'nothing' above me. "...:confused:

[Michael Redman]

Love thy neighbor is the one thing that Jesus told his followers to do. He said it replaced the old law. Anyone who claims to be a Christian, but rejects this principle in favor of the draconian pronouncements of the old testiment is, well . . .

[Man of jade]

I dont believe love thy neighbour is a commandement, but i think "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" AKA Dont backstab a friend.

[A_Feeble_Mind]

Originally posted by Man of jade
I dont believe love thy neighbour is a commandement, but i think "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" AKA Dont backstab a friend.

It actually means something more like "Don't gossip or spread lies about anyone."

And, love thy neighbor is one of the two "greatest" commandments:

"Love the Lord thy God... and love thy neighbor as yourself."

[aggle_rithm]

Jesus wasn't a big stickler for rules, so he replaced the Mosaic law with "Love God and love your neighbor". Much easier to remember.

A few years back I read a book about the history of ancient Israel. I learned something very interesting: After the death of Solomon, Israel split into two countries: Judah in the south and Northern Israel in the north. In time, cultural differences began to emerge. The Hebrews in the south were more devout and orthodox, while those in the North, farther away from the Temple, began to slacken in their observance of the national religioin. In Jesus' time, the same cultural differences existed: In Judeah (formerly Judah), the Jews were strict about the Mosaic law, while in Nazareth (formerly Northern Israel) they were more laid back. Guess which one Jesus came from...?

[shemp]

I think it means "Go next door and shag your neighbor's wife."

But then they said "Thou shalt not covet they neighbor's wife ... nor his ass."

I really didin't want to shag my neighbor's ass anyway, but I guess this means it's OK to shag my neighbor's wife if I don't enjoy it.

[Sanamas]

It's easy to get by this. You just consider some people to not be your neighbors.

[TylerD]

I don't think "Love thy neighbor" is one of the ten commandments, it's something that Jesus told his followers to do in the Sermon of the Mount.

I don't think it's as valid as it looks on paper. How is it possible to love everyone? Answer: it's not. There will always be some ******** out there that you just can't stand.

[Yahzi]

Are the ten commandments still valid
They are as valid as they have ever been. The thing you are missing is that they only apply to other people.

[Dancing David]

I thought it was 'love your neighbor as yourself.'

Peace

[Skeptical Greg]

Originally posted by Dancing David
I thought it was 'love your neighbor as yourself.'

Peace
According to who?

The Golden Rule (http://www.fragrant.demon.co.uk/golden.html)

The two versions attributed to Jesus:

Luke 6:
31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise

Matthew 7
12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

But also:
Matthew 22
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

[DrChinese]

Originally posted by Michael Redman
Love thy neighbor is the one thing that Jesus told his followers to do. He said it replaced the old law. Anyone who claims to be a Christian, but rejects this principle in favor of the draconian pronouncements of the old testiment is, well . . .

Jesus said it was a commandment, like the eleventh commandment, except that it was more important that the other 10 more commonly known ones.

(However, there are actually 613 commandments in the Old Testament in total. Seriously.)

[Man of jade]

Shemp:
http://hem.passagen.se/markusyt/skola/fysik/troll.jpg

[GrapeJ713]

The great source says...

19:18 "Love thy neighbor as thyself." This is by far the best verse in Leviticus, and one of the best in the entire bible. It seems out of place here, however, since in the next chapter God orders us to kill wizards (20:6), children who are disrespectful toward their parents (20:9), adulterers (20:10), and homosexuals (20:13). And throughout the Old Testament, God encourages the Israelites to kill their neighbors every chance they get. (See Numbers 31 and 1 Samuel 15 for just two of many examples.)

http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/lev/notes.html#19:18

[Always Free]

Originally posted by Man of jade
Shemp:
http://hem.passagen.se/markusyt/skola/fysik/troll.jpg

Oh there you are Shemp! Nice to see you again.

If I had a dollar for everytime I thought you were going to say exactly what you said, I would be rich. :p


Thanks all for your replies. Yes, the commandments are open to interpretation aren't they.:confused:

I mean, take today for instance, my neighbour backed her car into mine tonight and drove off without telling me. Minor damage to my car but she hasn't returned home yet. How hard can it be to inform me and say sorry, I'll pay for the damage??

I rang the police for advice and they gave me some. I left a reasonable note on her door for when she returns. I guess I'll have to see what happens. Thou shalt be honest, should have been the commandment.

Tricky, I will read your link as I suspected this topic would have been discussed in this forum previously.

[aggle_rithm]

Originally posted by Dancing David
I thought it was 'love your neighbor as yourself.'

Peace

So if you're a masochist, it's OK to beat up on your neighbor.

[Gregor]

Wait, I thought Jeshua said this is in Mark 10:17-22:

"17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18 And Jesus said . . . 19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me."

Damn - so here he's deleted five of the ten, added one called "defraud not" and added one about selling all your belongings.

I just can't keep up with those commandments.

[Always Free]

For those who are the religious type, how do you interperet this commandment? How does it fit into your lives? Do you go to church every Sunday then forget the lessons you are taught as soon as you walk out? Do you go to work Monday morning and see how quickly you can ruin the day of your fellow worker for your own benefit?:(