“The Ten Commandments are displayed in the Supreme Court of the United States.”
“There are more trees in the United States today than when the pilgrims first landed.”
What do these two claims have in common and so what?
Brad Bull
It’s important because, in a 9-8 decision, a federal appeals court ruled that public schools in Texas are allowed to display the Ten Commandments, which might lead to a Supreme Court landmark case. This represents a profound threat to the United States’ status of a democracy for all.
In terms of the trees, I heard the population claim in 2010 on a radio talk show I monitored for examples of deception. I use this claim to teach critical thinking. I don’t know who counted the trees of North America in the 1600s, but, for the sake of discussion, let’s grant the premise that there were more trees in 2010 than when the pilgrims landed. The radio host made the claim in the context of making fun of “tree huggers” for being concerned about spotted owls losing their habitats. He claimed such concern was cutting into logging and paper company profits, injuring the U.S. economy. The host claimed the logging and paper companies planted 10 trees for every one they cut down; thus, more trees being planted than cut meant there was no problem.
Have you ever tried to build a nest in a sapling pine that’s 6 inches tall?
This is an example of why a half-truth is more dangerous than a bald-faced lie. Half-truths are harder to catch. This reality demonstrates the importance of studying critical thinking via books like Daniel Levintin’s excellent volume A Field Guide to Lies — Critical Thinking with Statistics and the Scientific Method.
“A half-truth is more dangerous than a bald-faced lie. Half-truths are harder to catch.”
How does this relate to the Ten Commandments being on display in the Supreme Court? We often hear this assertion when someone is arguing against separation of church and state. They’ve usually just said something like, “The phrase ‘separation of church and state’ isn’t in the Constitution.” Yet most of these Christians would assert belief in a triune God even though the word “trinity” doesn’t appear in the Bible.
Representations of the Ten Commandments are, in fact, displayed in the U.S. Supreme Court. However, assertions made out of context form the key methodology that allow pseudo-historians like David Barton to make big profits with potboiler books. (One such book by Barton was recalled by Christian publisher Thomas Nelson because of the distortions identified by even fellow conservative evangelicals). However, before identifying how the Ten Commandments are actually displayed in SCOTUS, let’s look at how they are not displayed.
I had an amazing experience touring the Supreme Court building. The courtroom is majestic. Above where the justices sit, a frieze installed in the 1930s depicts allegorical figures. In the center are two figures representing Majesty of Law and Power of Government. The elbow of Majesty of Law rests on a pedestal featuring the Roman numerals I through X. My group’s tour guide asked the significance of these numerals. A chorus of voices said, “The Ten Commandments.” The guide smiled and said, “No. They represent the first 10 amendments to the Constitution — The Bill of Rights.” This also is stated at the SCOTUS website.
The South Wall frieze at the Supreme Court includes Menes, Hammurabi, Moses, Solomon, Lycurgus, Solon, Draco, Confucius and Octavian.
One Christian dominionist website takes strong issue with the Bill of Rights versus Ten Commandments claim, asserting the tour information misleads guests and fails to mention “numerous representations of the Ten Commandments found in and around the Supreme Court building.” However, while the article correctly lists examples of depictions of the Ten Commandments, it’s as if the writers were oblivious to what else is depicted, or they are intentionally doing what they accuse others of doing: Not telling the whole truth.
Yes, there is a sculpture of Moses holding tablets — over the rear entrance and representing Judeo-Christian culture. However, he is with Confucius (Asian culture) and Solon (Greek culture). The front entrance pediment features allegorical figures representing Liberty, Order, Authority, Council and Research.
Yes, inside the courtroom, there is another sculpture depicting Moses holding the commandment tablets. However, he’s standing in line with 17 other lawgivers. And — brace yourselves, Christian nationalists — one of the figures represents Muhammad holding a Quran. (Likely in response to objection by the Muslim community in the 1990s, the current SCOTUS curator publication delicately says this sculpture “is a well-intentioned attempt by the sculptor, Adolph Weinman, to honor Muhammad and it bears no resemblance to Muhammad. Muslims generally have a strong aversion to sculptured or pictured representations of their Prophet.”)
Other depicted lawgivers include Hammurabi, king of Babylon, the country where ancient Israel was taken into exile; Draco, of 600 BC Athens, who surely worshipped Greek gods; and Confucius, the basis of the religion-like philosophy of Confucianism.
“Those who say the Ten Commandments are posted in the Supreme Court omit yet another key piece of context.”
Those who say the Ten Commandments are posted in the Supreme Court omit yet another key piece of context. In the portrayal of Moses and the two tablets, sculptor Weinman, with his penchant for allegory, offered a subtle insight when it comes to the commandments. I have not been able to find direct evidence of his intent, but the nature of the display of the two tablets of the commandments seems far too nuanced to be merely coincidence. Explaining this requires background information.
The first Baptist pastor in the United States was Roger Williams. He was exiled to what is now Rhode Island for opposing the theocratic government of Massachusetts. When Thomas Jefferson eventually spoke of a wall or hedge separating church from state, he was quoting Williams. Williams differentiated two sections of the Ten Commandments. The first “table” consists of the first four laws that pertain to individuals’ relationship with God (like having no idols). Rogers maintained these were matters of personal conscience over which the state has no purview. The second table, commandments six through 10, address the civil relationships between people. These kinds of laws (like not to steal) are the domain of civic government.
Yes, carved in stone above SCOTUS, on the same plane with other law givers, Moses is holding two tablets. But guess what. The only visible tablet contains commandments six through 10 — those pertaining to human-to-human relationships. The first tablet — with laws pertaining to God — is hidden by tablet two.
One of the commandments about human relationships says not to bear false witness. Those using the Supreme Court’s display to justify posting the Ten Commandments in schools and other official locations need to first practice obeying the commandments by not bearing the false witness of deceptive half-truths. So, if you’re reading this: Beware of being a false prophet and beware of following false prophets by not assuming winsome charismatic ministers are telling the truth. The whole truth of history clearly demonstrates the oppression of religious government and shows that a wall of separation promotes the integrity of both state and faith communities.
Brad Bull has served as a hospital chaplain, pastor, professor and therapist. He has served on mission trips to Haiti, Honduras, Mexico and the Philippines. All these experiences made him thankful for the best of the United States while yearning for her ongoing improvement.