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Mel Brooks had fun with the 15  . . . (Drops one tablet) 10 commandments in his film, History of the World, Part 1. Sometimes it takes a bit of comedy to draw attention to something important. Other times it takes a little controversial re-imagining. 10 years ago, the United Church of Christ published a controversial re-imagining of the 10 commandments – called “God is still speaking through the 10 C’s”

Here are just a few -- updated slightly because -- it's 10 years later.  They will likely illicit a response in you.

OUR CULTURE THINKS you shall not make for yourself an idol except for Beyonce; Starbucks; X Box 360; the American flag; The Bible, and Wall Street.

MAYBE GOD says you shall not worship the idol of individualism that leads to the American dream of “success” only for some of God’s children. Or your granite display of the 10 commandments.

OUR CULTURE BELIEVES you shall not covet your Neighbor’s property unless your neighbor’s crib is bigger than yours or has more “toys” that bling-bling. Note: “neighbor” includes other countries and planets.

PERHAPS GOD SAYS you shall not covet another culture’s land or tax benefits obtained on the backs of the poor or global trade advantages . . . water . . . air . . . women . . . or immigrants . . . as personal property.

OUR CULTURE MAINTAINS you shall not kill unless you are one of the states with the death penalty, look different, talk different, think different or you’re trying to off  the ones you classify as terrorists.  (Note: Collateral damage, maimings, casualties, and the like are unavoidable, regrettable, justifiable, and patriotic).

PROBABLY GOD SAYS you shall not kill, period. Not by lethal injection, not by surgical air strikes, or by endangering the lives of millions of Americans by trying to demonize having health insurance or health-inspected food or denying access to life saving and life changing meds.

Just a few.  Is everything I just said part of the 10 commandments?  No.  Can a look at them open up discussions that go there?  Oh. Yes.