MP Ann Widdecombe explored the history of the Ten Commandments in Moses and the Law. She investigated the extraordinary influence they've had on our society while setting out her own religious conviction, arguing that modern society could do with observing the Commandments a little more closely.
As I stood on top of Mount Sinai, I thought;"This is what Moses saw when he received the Ten Commandments."
In many ways time has stood still and the scene could be straight out of the Bible. Man hasn't changed much either.
The Ten Commandments were given as a guide to how we should live centuries ago. They're quite blatantly needed today.
The Ten Commandments are as relevant now as they ever were. They are a model for how society should function. There's no escaping they are powerful guidelines to follow and would make our society better if they were.
Some commandments are just obvious. For example, Thou shalt not kill. Apart from times of war, there are some other circumstances. I do not believe in abortion, but the only circumstance I would allow it in law would be if the mother was going to die. You've got a choice between two lives and can't escape it if one is going to go.
Another is Thou shalt not commit adultery. Look at the sexual licence of today. Are we a happier society? We're more broken. There are record numbers of children growing up in broken homes, because people don't believe in the sanctity of marriage. This law speaks for itself really, as does Thou shalt not steal. Everyone knows to steal is wrong.
Honour thy father and thy mother.
People hand the care of their parents to the State at the first opportunity. They pop them in a home. There isn't the same family connection there used to be.
We've lost the idea that care is the responsibility of the family. Granny gets to be a nuisance and gets parked on the State. Once you would have had a huge family under one roof. If we don't look after our elderly, who will look after us?
Bear false witness against thy neighbour. The media need to take this one on, as well as producers of memoirs, who make quite a thing of slandering somebody. Now nobody believes that they have to account to anything except the publisher and their advance.
If people were more aware they had to account to God for the truths of what they say, they'd be more careful. Women crying false allegations of rape, people claiming child abuse where there was none. You get all manner of allegations, almost like a sport. In fact, they're very, very serious lies.
Thou shalt not covet.
This is a big one still. All I can say is look at bankers' bonuses. If you actually look at the hunger of society today, I would say, this commandment is more relevant than ever.
Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
I think we've lost a lot by having lost this commandment. Even if you are not religious, there was much to be said for a day apart. Having that day when everything closed down, was a real break, which I think is a major loss.
Thou shalt not bow down thyself before them nor worship them.
We don't have photos of Christ. So you have representations of them which are reminders. Don't worship the image, worship Christ. Once you start ascribing to an image Divine powers, then I think it's a problem. The Cross is a huge symbol of salvation, sacrifice and suffering. But it doesn't mean that an individual piece of wood has any more power than a flag and a bit of cloth.
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. These days people are always saying "Oh, my God,". But it' wrong. I don't think that ther's any shame in saying, we shouldn't treat the Name of God quite as casually as we do. There is a real significance. It's not just a convenient swear word.
