What are you thoughts on the removal of the 10 Commandments statue at the State Capitol in Oklahoma City?

I guess since I live in Oklahoma City, that makes me fully qualified to say I'm glad that statue is coming down. It didn't belong there.

LCDR (Join to see) - But the politicians in the capitol behave like devils and break most of the Commandments, perhaps a devil statue to mock the politicians is better.

SGT Jeremiah B. - But it was put up for political reasons to gain points, so religion is used to do the devils work.

Honestly, I'd be less offended by the Baphomet statue than by the Ten Commandments, and here's why: there's no reason to take Baphomet-worship seriously or expect that anybody might legislate based upon their feelings for it. No one takes it seriously. The whole point of it was, "If you get your religious icon, we get ours. Ours is going to be as irritating and offensive to you as it possibly can be, just so you see how ridiculous it is to have a religious icon on government property." I say good for them. The Ten Commandments (and any other religious sign or affiliation) has no place anywhere in or near my government.

"I am the Lord, thy God." - Nope. Fairy tales aren't real, and I don't have a "God."
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me." - I prefer no gods at all, including YHWH
"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image." - Laughable. Jealous, much?
"Thou shalt not take the name of thy Lord God in vain." - False. I'll say what I want.
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." - I'll do what I want on Sunday, bruh.
"Honor thy father and mother." - What if they're assholes? Seems stupid. Nope.
"Thou shalt not kill." - I guess we're all in the wrong line of work.
"Thou shalt not commit adultery." - Finally, one I agree with.
"Thou shalt not steal." - I like this one, too. We're on a roll, here.
"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house/wife/possessions." - Stupid. Everybody needs goals in life, and there's nothing wrong with wanting a nicer house or possessions, or even coveting your neighbor's hot wife, so long as you're not trying to kill him to take his shit or actually trying to sleep with his wife. Covet all you want.

So, of the 10 commandments, there are 3 I reasonably agree with and one of those is counter to my career, leaving me with 2 I can legitimately get behind.

Yeah, I'll take the Baphomet statue over those.

SGT Jeremiah B.
Well, maybe as political pawn, some could say that, but there's evidence to support the fact that God meant something different during that time than it does now.. :-)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_national_motto
I'm sure a poll would prove that there are more people "offended" by these things today (as evidenced by the OP) than there were just 59 years ago!

CMSgt Mark Schubert, I would contend that one of the greatest destructive events to Christianity was the implementation of "civil religion." I would also content that God gets pretty pissed off at being used as a political pawn to prop up ideological positions or nation states.

Also, from a sociological standpoint, being anything but protestant Christian was pretty awful until fairly recently. Hell, there was a not insignificant chunk of people who refused to vote for Romney because he was Mormon. We are definitely shifting away from a period where everyone claimed to be Christian whether or not that actually meant anything real to them, but I'm okay with that.

SGT Jeremiah B. - when the US was formed...they used coins...and in 1787 The US Bank of America was formed and they began producing paper money...but it was from the bank and payable by the bank.
In 1863 with the enactment of the National Banking Act during the civil war, the dollar became sole currency...however dollars were measured in Gold and Silver currency ...which in 1957 lead to changing the dollar from Silver or gold currency to the paper dollar the way it is now...The motto IN GOD WE TRUST was placed on United States coins largely because of the increased religious sentiment existing during the Civil War. Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase received many appeals from devout persons throughout the country, urging that the United States recognize the Deity on United States coins. From Treasury Department records, it appears that the first such appeal came in a letter dated November 13, 1861
t was found that the Act of Congress dated January 18, 1837, prescribed the mottoes and devices that should be placed upon the coins of the United States. This meant that the mint could make no changes without the enactment of additional legislation by the Congress. In December 1863, the Director of the Mint submitted designs for new one-cent coin, two-cent coin, and three-cent coin to Secretary Chase for approval. He proposed that upon the designs either OUR COUNTRY; OUR GOD or GOD, OUR TRUST should appear as a motto on the coins
A law passed by the 84th Congress (P.L. 84-140) and approved by the President on July 30, 1956, the President approved a Joint Resolution of the 84th Congress, declaring IN GOD WE TRUST the national motto of the United States. IN GOD WE TRUST was first used on paper money in 1957, when it appeared on the one-dollar silver certificate. The first paper currency bearing the motto entered circulation on October 1, 1957.
just because it didn't show up on paper money till 1957, it's been on coins since the 1800's.

Putting In God we Trust onto Paper money was not because of this Red Scare..The phrase appears to have originated in "The Star-Spangled Banner", written during the War of 1812. The fourth stanza includes the phrase, "And this be our motto: 'In God is our Trust.'" According to Ted Alexander, Chief Historian at Antietam National Battlefield, the contracted "In God We Trust" was first used by the 125th Pennsylvania Infantry as a battle cry on September 17, 1862, during the Battle of Antietam of the American Civil War.[8][9].up till this time paper money was measured in the weight of Silver and Gold and the money kept changing....since the "in God we Trust" was already standard on silver and gold coins and since at this time the use of silver and gold coins were too heavy...too costly and too everything else...it was decided that paper money would be the best use and therefore they changed paper money and now it had nothing to do with the weight of gold and silver....and in God we trust was put on the paper money....to replace the gold and silver coins.
A law passed by the 84th Congress (P.L. 84-140) and approved by the President on July 30, 1956, the President approved a Joint Resolution of the 84th Congress, declaring IN GOD WE TRUST the national motto of the United States. IN GOD WE TRUST was first used on paper money in 1957, when it appeared on the one-dollar silver certificate. The first paper currency bearing the motto entered circulation on October 1, 1957. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) was converting to the dry intaglio printing process. During this conversion, it gradually included IN GOD WE TRUST in the back design of all classes and denominations of currency.

Sgt Kelli Mays - you pointed out that is was decide by Mr. Chase in 1863 and finally approved in 1957, what caused the lapse in time and the decision to coincide with the Big Red scare. Both of you are correct.

I seen that after the fact! Lol

The statue was put up in 2012 by a senator using religion and its detractors to win votes, in essence he use it for selfish reasons knowing that he was violating both US and State law. It needs to be removed.

CPT Pedro Meza - I see nothing oppressive about the 10 Commandments nor do I see anything oppressive about donating money and sponsoring its construction.

COL Jean (John) F. B. - The oppression is when you place it on public land and you do not permit other religions to do the same. Which is what the Satanist Church tried, me I prefer a nude Venus.

CPT Pedro Meza - Well. at least we agree on the nude Venus thing. :-)

COL Jean (John) F. B. - Agree to Nude Venus. :)

I suspect it would get a bit crowded. There are dozens of religions in the US today, from many different types of native American religions to Sikhism and Taoism...

All for one! One for all!

Is there enough ground for all this? You would be able to walk across the grounds across the top of all the pillars and never get your feet wet on a rainy day.

While I really don't have an opinion on this exact issue, I think you bring up a great point MAJ Bryan Zeski and while i know this post is old, I thought I would share them.

We, the community of RallyPoint have seen our fair share of these debates. From Islamic religious centers opening to cities not placing the traditional religious symbols of Christmas on their public grounds; this debate of keeping, or getting rid of, faith in the public's eye will continue. I find it interesting that some of those that cry out when a Christian religious symbol is to be removed are some of the first to yell when the idea of introducing another religious symbol from another faith. For me, my faith is exactly that, MY faith. I do not push my ideas of who God is onto anyone and I do not like others pushing their thoughts onto me. Religion has and will continue to be one of the biggest dividers between humans.

Really, Sgt Kelli Mays? No response? You specifically made a post to call out anybody who disagreed with you as being awful people, and can't be bothered to back up your statements or debate the merits? Shameful.

Sgt Kelli Mays - The 10 Commandment was put up by a PETTY and SELFISH politician to buy votes; what takes place on public lands/government lands must abide by the Laws. Apply Give onto Caesar to what is Caesar's.

LtCol Matthew Sutton - If its on public/government lands it falls under the US Constitution. The reality the 10 Commandment Monument was put up by a politician buying votes.

Never, Buckner.

This is not ok ....it truly is the disassembling of our country's structure and history one statue, book, picture, or item at a time. 
Its just another example of the slow demoralization of the country.....the left attacks small things one at a time and we just sit back thinking it’s nothing...after all it's just a statue......after all it's just a book.....after all its just a picture.....and then all of sudden poof all of our heritage is gone....and it's too late to fight because the precedent has already been set.  
They are changing the social norm without us even fighting back. They take it little by little and we either don't notice, don’t care, are afraid of offending someone, or begin to think they are right.....WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!!  It's just a matter of time before they tell you can't have "insert offensive item here" inside your own house because it may offend the plumber if you have to call them.  

I concur it is not really okay MSgt Ronald Stacy that people feel it necessary to tear down monuments that the majority don't feel offended at. Thankfully there are many groups litigating against the dismantling of statues and other artifacts which serve to remind us of our individual and or collective history. Many times the effort to erase history is stopped. One of the blessings of living in this country is that when one community wants to take something down there are usually other communities ready and willing to accept whatever was removed or build something similar.

Salute returned SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4"

LTC Bink Romanick, The statue was put up in 2012 by a senator using religion and its detractors to win votes, in essence he use it for selfish reasons knowing that he was violating both US and State law. It needs to be removed.

It just makes me sick that we continue to spiral downwards. My faith remains strong!

Yours is much stronger than mine LTC (Join to see). I'm trying to figure out how to explain this all to my kids. They're old enough, they see the news and they ask why these things are happening. I don't want them to get negative like I have but it's tough to explain it otherwise.

I believe you are correct, it's a matter of principle... government endorsing one religious perspective instead of remaining neutral with regard to religion.

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca, I argue for removal, the 10 Commandments do not belong on the grounds. But got to admit, most politicians have sold their souls in order to keep their power; so that is funny.