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The first commandment underlies the rest: there is an absolute morality, a good and evil, and a moral imperative to follow the good: in Biblical terms, there is a God, and God commands to obey these rules (In the two version of the 10 commandments, God is creator of all and that is the surce of Divine authority, and God is the one who gave freedom to those receiving the commands, and these commandments are their minimal obligation.
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The second commandment: no other moral code than the one presented here is acceptable: don't set up political and national systems which turn ito religions: in Biblical terms, there is only one God, you should have no other gods.
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The third commandment: don't set up your own priorities and false values as though they are divine, and don't use religion in ways which counter the intent of these commandments. in Biblical terms, don;t take the name of God in vain.
- The fourth commandment: maintain awareness of the order of priorities in life, have time to reflect on why the universe exists and why you exist; allow everyone some time off from worldly pursuits so that all can reflect; divide your time periods into 7-day cycles (a Biblical innovation) with one day off for workers, bosses, everyone: in Biblical terms, keep the Sabbath.
Commandments 1-4 involve Humanity's relationship with itself, societal obligations etc. The fifth commandment involves family, and the rest involve the individual obligation to other individuals.
- The fifth commandment: creating and maintaning a good relationship with your parents is a key to a life worth living; have respect for an authority which truly cares about you: in Biblical terms: honor thy father and mother ['in order to lengthen your days'].
The rest of the commandments, 6-10, involve the individual's obligation to other individuals, starting with the most severe to the lesser severe, from actions through words, to thought (and possibly intent to commit a criminal act).
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The totally non-reversible and completely final act of murder;
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Acts of personal (sexual) violation (especially adultery);
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Acts of financial crime;
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Words: perjury, false witness;
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Intents and thoughts: desiring what belongs to others (this often also underlies the forbidden actions above: murder, theft, adultery); these thoughts are both improper and self-harmful.
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