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Faith and Belief | Home

Debates & controversies

3-Minute Wonder:
The Ten Commandments

Make No Graven Images

Monday 21 February at 7.55pm

In the Ten Commandments of Moses, the Second Commandment says: 'Make no graven images, and don't bow down to them.' Is it still relevant today?

It's a huge understatement to say that Ewan is a Marilyn Manson fan. His bedroom walls are covered by posters of the heavy metal god. He bangs his head against the bus shelter listening to Manson on headphones. He and his Goth mates are regularly chucked out of the shopping centre by security.

Can Ewan give up idolising Manson for a week? 'I'm going to try. No music, no clothes, no makeup, no internet – nothing. It's going to be hell, I just know it.'

But he does it. He shaves off his beard and wears boring clothes – some people don't even recognise him. Others tell him he looks stupid. He finds things to do to fill the long hours apart from his idol. At the end of the ordeal, he does what he's longed to do all week – burns the geekish clothes he's had to wear.

'I'm the biggest Marilyn Manson fan in Welwyn Garden City... possibly in Hertfordshire... maybe even in England,' says Ewan, with pride. 'You could say he's my personal Jesus.'

You shall not commit adultery

Tuesday 22 February at 7.55pm

It's arguably the most famous of the Ten Commandments of Moses: Don't commit adultery'. But does it have any meaning for present generations?

Emily was 30. And husband Ian had the perfect surprise to spring for her birthday. Tickets to New York! 'What d'you think about that?' he beamed.

One transatlantic flight and one taxi ride later, they were in a downtown pub. As the drinks flowed, Ian got talking to a guy at the bar, and Emily got chatting to George, the smooth-talking barman. 'Hey Emily, I'm going outside for a smoke. Why don't you meet me out there in five?'

That was how it started. Emily gave George her e-mail address, and once she was back home, the two of them started flirting on the internet. It wasn't long before Emily told Ian she had to go back to New York 'to see her sister'. George the barman said he'd arrange for her to be picked up at the airport.

The yellow taxi dropped Emily off in an alley, by a pile of boxes. On them was a note from Ian: 'Goodbye, Emily. Your loving husband, Ian.' It was Ian, not George, who had been e-mailing her all along.

Inside the boxes were all her possessions.