The Ten Commandments: The Significance of God's Laws in Everyday Life - Hardcover

Schlessinger, Laura C.; Vogel, Rabbi Stewart

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0060191384 ISBN 13: 9780060191382

Publisher: HarperCollins, 1998

Synopsis

Available in Spanish for the first time, this is a modern application of God’s laws, incorporating lively discussion on the Bible and Judeo-Christian values derived from it — from the conscience of talk radio, bestselling author Dr. Laura.

The Ten Commandments are the first direct communication between a people and their God. Designed to elevate our lives above mere frantic, animal existence to the sublime levels humanity is capable of experiencing, Dr. Laura believes they are the blueprint of God’s expectations of us and his plan for a meaningful, just, loving, and holy life. Each commandment asserts a principle, and each principle is a moral focus point for real-life issues relating to God, family, sex, work, charity, property, speech, and thought.

Filled with passion, emotion, and profound insights, The Ten Commandments will enlighten, inspire, and educate a whole new audience on the meaning each commandment has in our daily lives today.

About this title

About the Authors

One of the most popular hosts in radio history—with millions of listeners weekly—Dr. Laura Schlessinger has been offering no-nonsense advice infused with a strong sense of personal responsibility for more than 40 years. Her internationally syndicated radio program is now on SiriusXM Triumph Channel 111, and is streamed on the Internet and podcast.

She's a best-selling author of eighteen books, which range from the provocative (New York Times chart topper The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands) to the poignant (children's book Why Do You Love Me?).  She's on Instagram and Facebook (with over 1.7 million followers), and her Call of the Day podcast has exceeded one hundred million downloads. She has raised millions for veterans and their families with her boutique, DrLauraDesigns.com, which benefits the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation.

Dr. Laura holds a Ph.D. in physiology from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, and received her post-doctoral certification in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling from the University of Southern California. She was in private practice for 12 years. She has been inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame, received an award from the Office of the Secretary of Defense for her Exceptional Public Service, and was the first woman ever to win the National Association of Broadcasters' prestigious Marconi Award for Network/Syndicated Personality.

Rabbi Stewart Vogel is the spiritual leader of Temple Aliyah in Woodland Hills, California. For twenty years he has been involved in interfaith work and was honored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews. Rabbi Vogel is the past president of the Rabbinical Assembly-Western Region and is widely recognized as a dynamic speaker, teacher, and synagogue leader. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and four children.

From the Back Cover

Everybody knows the Ten Commandments, right? Let's see. There's something about stealing, lying, murdering...ah...but that's only three...what are the rest? More people claim to live by the Ten Commandments than seem to know what they are, let alone what they mean. And in this modern, jet-propelled, nuclear, genetic-engineered world, how important are they?

Each day we make innumerable decisions about things that don't really seem earth-shattering in importance. So what if we break a promise? So what if we are married but find passion in another bed? So what if we are too focused on work, TV, or clubs to spend time with family? In The Ten Commandments, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, America's "Mommy" and the conscience of talk radio, reminds is that it is in everyday decisions that we give meaning to our lives or diminish it; and she shows us why adhering to the higher ideals and consistent morality found in the Commandments can create a life of greater purpose, integrity, value, and lasting joy.

The Ten Commandment's are the first direct communication between a people and God. Designed to elevate our lives above mere frantic, animal existence to the sublime levels humanity is capable of experiencing, they are the blueprint of God's expectations of us and His plan for a meaningful, just, loving, and holy life. Each of the Ten Commandments asserts a principle, and each principle is a moral focal point for real-life issues relating to God, family, sex, work, charity, property, speech, and thought. These principles, and the Commandments they are based upon, are as relevant today as they were in Biblical times.

Written in collaboration with Rabbi Steward Vogel, The Ten Commandments is a modern application of God's laws, incorporating lively discussion on the Bible and the Judeo-Christian values derived from it. Filled with passion, emotion, and provocative, profound insight. The Ten Commandments will move, enlighten, inspire, educate, and entertain you. You won't be able to look at even mundane moments in your life the same way again.

1. I am the Lord, your God, who has taken you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery
   Acceptance of God as the ultimate author of morality and leaning of life.

2. You shall not recognize the gods of others in My presence
   Beware of idolatry. Attaining money, power, stimulation, professional success, and accumulating possessions, while legitimate pursuits, are not the ultimate purpose of life.

3. You shall not take the Name of the Lord, your God, in vain
   How we acknowledge or deny God and godliness through our words and deeds.

4. Remember the Sabbath day to sanctify it
   Recognize the value of time by refocusing on the most important elements of life; family, obligations to others, prayer, kindness, justice, and decency.

5. Honor your Father and your Mother
   The obligation to parents reinforces the concepts of treating others responsibly in spite of sentiment or situation.

6. You shall not murder
   Each human being is the essence of uniqueness, yet equally created in God's image. Not only can a life by physically taken, but demoralization and humiliation can kill our souls.

7. You shall not commit adultery
   Sexual relations are made special and hole through a consonantal marriage. The honoring of commitments provides the family stability necessary for individual growth and health, community peace, and societal welfare.

8. You shall not steal
   Respecting the property and reputation of others provides mutual safety, peace, and prosperity.

9. You shall not bear false witness against your fellow
   While we should keep far from falsehood, knowing when information could or should be shared can make the differences between destroying and helping others.

10. You shall not covet
    Desire for the possessions of others destroys relationships and leads us to violate the other Commandments.

Reviews

It's hard to argue with God, so there's no point in trying to contradict radio psychologist Dr. Laura Schlessinger as she emphasizes the gravity and import of the 10 Commandments in everyday life. As an Orthodox Jew, Schlessinger (along with Rabbi Stewart Vogel, who is barely noticeable as a presence in the text) is against moral relativism, rationalizations, and modern notions of sucesss. Using each commandment as a jumping-off place rather than a topic for discussion, she rails against modern mores in general and especially those that annoy her--single and/or working mothers, homosexuals having or adopting babies (older kids are okay), and ego gratification, be it in the form of jobs, possessions, or relationships. Although this book is clearly directed toward Christians as well as Jews, Jesus' name appears infrequently; readers familiar with both religions might wonder about the inherent tensions between a religion of laws and one of grace. The worst offense Schlessinger is guilty of here, however, is rhetorical not doctrinal: her text is tedious, her tone often hectoring. Despite her claim that the book will enlighten and elevate, many readers will feel they are stuck in a lecture that never ends. For a book that is more insightful and revealing about God's relationship with his children, see Naomi Levy's To Begin Again, reviewed above. Ilene Cooper

Edition details

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0060191384
• ISBN 13: 9780060191382
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 352