The Ten
Commandments are not good because God gave them to us; he gave them to us
because they are good.
Commandments are not good because God gave them to us; he gave them to us
because they are good.
You don’t have to believe God or even believe in God to realize that the rules for
everlasting life are also good rules for just plain living. (Click on the links to read just some of the
research I found to back up the Ten Commandments.)
I. I am the Lord your God, You shall have no strange gods
before me
II. You shall not take the name
of the Lord your God in vain
of the Lord your God in vain
While
studying differences in unemployment benefits between European countries,
researchers stumbled into the discovery that people who believe in God are
usually more content in life. They also found that Catholic and Protestant
Christians have higher satisfaction in life and they cope better with stressful
situations.
studying differences in unemployment benefits between European countries,
researchers stumbled into the discovery that people who believe in God are
usually more content in life. They also found that Catholic and Protestant
Christians have higher satisfaction in life and they cope better with stressful
situations.
If you
believe in God, then it’s a no-brainer than you don’t take his name in
vain—using it as if it were of no importance or worse, using it to damn
something is not respectful of our Lord.
believe in God, then it’s a no-brainer than you don’t take his name in
vain—using it as if it were of no importance or worse, using it to damn
something is not respectful of our Lord.
III.
Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day
Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day
Who are the
happiest people? According to a report from Gallup, the more frequently people
attend their church, mosque or synagogue, the happier they are. Churchgoers are
especially happy on Sundays while those who don’t go to church on Sunday
experience a decline in their moods on that day.
happiest people? According to a report from Gallup, the more frequently people
attend their church, mosque or synagogue, the happier they are. Churchgoers are
especially happy on Sundays while those who don’t go to church on Sunday
experience a decline in their moods on that day.
IV. Honor your Mother and Father
For most people, having strong family ties brings greater contentment than a
big income. Researchers tracked 274 married people over a decade, they found
that while income did contribute to happiness up to a point, the quality of
family relationships was much more important.
big income. Researchers tracked 274 married people over a decade, they found
that while income did contribute to happiness up to a point, the quality of
family relationships was much more important.
V.
You shall not kill
You shall not kill
Murder is obviously is
bad and not the path to happiness so that is not been the subject of a study
technically. However, abortion is killing and that has been studied. Seventy Percent of Post-abortive Women Report
Negative Consequences
bad and not the path to happiness so that is not been the subject of a study
technically. However, abortion is killing and that has been studied. Seventy Percent of Post-abortive Women Report
Negative Consequences
The New Testament also
warns against anger against others. “You have heard that it was said to the men
of old, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.’
But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable
to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and
whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be liable to the hell of fire. (Matt 5: 21-22).
warns against anger against others. “You have heard that it was said to the men
of old, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.’
But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable
to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and
whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be liable to the hell of fire. (Matt 5: 21-22).
Forgiveness Brings
Happiness
Hundreds of
studies show how a strong connection between forgiving others and our own well-being.
Happiness
Hundreds of
studies show how a strong connection between forgiving others and our own well-being.
VI. Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness
Honesty may boost your health, suggests a study
that found telling fewer lies benefits people physically and mentally.
that found telling fewer lies benefits people physically and mentally.
Each week for 10 weeks, 110 individuals, ages
18-71, took a lie detector test and completed health and relationship measures
assessing the number of major and minor lies they told that week, says lead
author Anita Kelly, a psychology professor at the University of Notre Dame in
Indiana. She presented findings at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, which ended Sunday.
18-71, took a lie detector test and completed health and relationship measures
assessing the number of major and minor lies they told that week, says lead
author Anita Kelly, a psychology professor at the University of Notre Dame in
Indiana. She presented findings at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, which ended Sunday.
“When they went up in their lies, their
health went down,” says Kelly. “When their lies went down, their
health improved.”
health went down,” says Kelly. “When their lies went down, their
health improved.”
VII.
You Shall Not Commit Adultery
You Shall Not Commit Adultery
Studies consistently reveal that 90 percent of Americans believe adultery
is morally wrong. Sex outside of
marriage has brought us trouble, STD’s; children of divorce suffer in a number
of ways and are more likely to divorce themselves.
is morally wrong. Sex outside of
marriage has brought us trouble, STD’s; children of divorce suffer in a number
of ways and are more likely to divorce themselves.
“Life expectancies for divorced men and women
are significantly lower than for married people (who have the longest life
expectancies).”
are significantly lower than for married people (who have the longest life
expectancies).”
The health consequences of divorce are so severe
that a Yale researcher concluded that “being divorced and a nonsmoker is
slightly less dangerous than smoking a pack a day and staying married.” ( Harold J.
Morowitz, “Hiding in the Hammond Report,” Hospital Practice (August
1975), p. 39.)
that a Yale researcher concluded that “being divorced and a nonsmoker is
slightly less dangerous than smoking a pack a day and staying married.” ( Harold J.
Morowitz, “Hiding in the Hammond Report,” Hospital Practice (August
1975), p. 39.)
“After a diagnosis of cancer happily
married people are more likely to recover indicating that the emotional trauma
of divorce has a long-term impact on the physical health of the body. (James S.
Goodwin, William C. Hunt, Charles R. Key and Jonathan M. Sarmet, “The
Effect of Marital Status on Stage, Treatment, and Survival of Cancer
Patients,” Journal of the American Medical Association 258 (1987):
3125-3130.)
married people are more likely to recover indicating that the emotional trauma
of divorce has a long-term impact on the physical health of the body. (James S.
Goodwin, William C. Hunt, Charles R. Key and Jonathan M. Sarmet, “The
Effect of Marital Status on Stage, Treatment, and Survival of Cancer
Patients,” Journal of the American Medical Association 258 (1987):
3125-3130.)
VIII. Thou Shalt Not Steal
The single largest psychological factor found in
approximately 1/3 of shoplifters studied is “depression”. Sixty-seven studies all point to unhappiness and emotional problems related to shoplifting. Sadly, recent studies show, Majority think
it’s okay to steal from work. Yet, no one would think stealing
makes for a better society.
approximately 1/3 of shoplifters studied is “depression”. Sixty-seven studies all point to unhappiness and emotional problems related to shoplifting. Sadly, recent studies show, Majority think
it’s okay to steal from work. Yet, no one would think stealing
makes for a better society.
IX. Thou Shalt Not Covet Your Neighbor’s Goods
X. Thou Shalt Not Covet Your Neighbor’s Wife
Jealousy
over God’s favor led Cain to take Abel’s life.
Saul was jealous of God’s favor for David and the fact that people made
a big deal over David’s victory over Goliath. Instead of building up Israel, King Saul wasted time pursuing David to kill
him. Instead, Saul met with disaster; committed suicide and his sons were
killed by the enemy.
over God’s favor led Cain to take Abel’s life.
Saul was jealous of God’s favor for David and the fact that people made
a big deal over David’s victory over Goliath. Instead of building up Israel, King Saul wasted time pursuing David to kill
him. Instead, Saul met with disaster; committed suicide and his sons were
killed by the enemy.
Then
David coveted Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah and committed adultery with her. He
arranges for Uriah to face certain death in battle and ultimately face many
disasters as a result of this sin.
David coveted Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah and committed adultery with her. He
arranges for Uriah to face certain death in battle and ultimately face many
disasters as a result of this sin.
Coveting is not just ancient history. There is no shortage of ways to covet what others
have and make yourself unhappy. Several new studies reveal
that Facebook makes many people feel bad about themselves, leading to anger and
hate against other people. Why? Because of envy and jealousy—coveting what they
perceive others have and feeling unsatisfied with their own life.
have and make yourself unhappy.
that Facebook makes many people feel bad about themselves, leading to anger and
hate against other people. Why? Because of envy and jealousy—coveting what they
perceive others have and feeling unsatisfied with their own life.
Is Facebook Making Us Sad? reports
that people overestimate the happiness of others and make themselves sad by
comparing their lives with others. Although the temptation to want what others have is not a sin, it is a sin to indulge in the feelings. The motivation to resist this sin lies in our desire to be happy. After all, feeling sorry for ourselves while sulking in jealousy or envy is not fun.
that people overestimate the happiness of others and make themselves sad by
comparing their lives with others. Although the temptation to want what others have is not a sin, it is a sin to indulge in the feelings. The motivation to resist this sin lies in our desire to be happy. After all, feeling sorry for ourselves while sulking in jealousy or envy is not fun.
With all the evidence that the Ten Commandments leads to greater happiness, we should let this be known to the people trying to take them down in the public square. The pressure should be on them to prove that the Ten Commandments cause people harm. It is clear that we not only have God on our side, but science too.
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Two new books for spring: Big
Hearted: Inspiring Stories From Everyday Families is a collection of stories on
love and life. Dear
God, I Don’t Get It is
children’s fiction that presents faith through a fun and exciting story.
Hearted: Inspiring Stories From Everyday Families is a collection of stories on
love and life. Dear
God, I Don’t Get It is
children’s fiction that presents faith through a fun and exciting story.
Follow Patti at Twitter or
like her Facebook pages at Dear God Books, Big Hearted Families, A GPS Guide to Heaven and Earth
like her Facebook pages at Dear God Books, Big Hearted Families, A GPS Guide to Heaven and Earth
