Life and creation are virtues created by God. We shall
not kill or destroy without good reason.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
Chastity, or the correct use of sex is the virtue, and
this commandment sets forth one of the vital elements of
chastity. Fornication, masturbation, contraception,
prostitution are also disallowed.
In our perfection, sex will have no more emotional pull upon us than will breathing. In this life we have a tendency to seek out emotional stimulation rather than fulfillment by virtue. Sin is what damages our virtues, tending them toward self seeking.
51 Every entity has individual and communal natures. We might participate in: a family, a nation, or a virtue such as patience, justice, moderation. The good or evil we do affects the community we share in.
To take a common biblical example, if a citizen of Israel either upheld or broke the Law of Moses, then his: children, family, tribe, nation (all he participated in), would be affected for good or evil.
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Property rights and responsibilities are introduced
here in its most basic requirement. The Catechism of the
Catholic Church, starting with paragraph 2052, more fully
examines the Ten Commandments and their complete
obligations.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
The obligation to truth is introduced here.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
Purity of heart is the underlying principle.
Pornography and illicit day dreams are disallowed. Not only shall we not take another’s spouse or property, but
we
shall
not
even
entertain
such
thoughts.
Commandments nine and ten occur together in the bible.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.
Detachment from the accidents of this life is the
lesson here.52 These accidents are not really accidents, but arranged by God as challenges to be overcome; let us
not flee from challenges but conquer them.
52 When God creates a person, that person is given strengths and weaknesses. Each person must take on a burden of sin, assigned by God.
Each person is expected to make spiritual advancement to overcome these weaknesses, and proceed to divine union, thus making a better quality of love to be shared within the body of Christ.
Even before the onset of sin, no one was created to the level of divine perfection, moral work had to be made in advancing their legitimate actions to perfect actions. Adam, Eve and family would have needed to perfect their virtues of faith and patience for instance, while living in a large extended family, perhaps with adequate but limited resources.
Spiritual advancement is the purpose for our lives, even in a sinless world, Adam and Eve would have encountered situations that required them to rise above their current level. See section on “How spiritual advancement would have proceeded in the absence of original sin.”
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These ten rules are not a complete list of course. In example, prohibitions on intoxication are not listed here, but later. Obligations to the larger community, other religious requirements, religious dietary requirements, personal moral requirements, loan and trade requirements are all recorded in the follow on books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy.
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The Didache is about a dozen pages of instruction written by the apostles. It is a summary of the moral teachings of Jesus, and some of the practical matters they decided upon, such as how the faithful should elect their bishop. The entire text may be found in the appendix, here are two passages.
“My child, flee from every evil thing, and from every likeness of it. Be not prone to anger, for anger leads to murder.
Be neither jealous, nor quarrelsome, nor of hot temper, for out of all these murders are engendered. My child, be not a lustful one; for lust leads to fornication. Be neither a filthy talker, nor of lofty eye, for out of all these adulteries are engendered. My child be not an observer of omens, since it leads to idolatry. Be neither an enchanter, nor an astrologer, nor a purifier, nor be willing to look at these things, for out of all these idolatry is engendered. My child be not a liar, since a lie leads to theft. Be neither money loving, nor vainglorious, for out of all these thefts are engendered. My child be not a murmurer, since it leads the way to blasphemy. Be neither self-willed nor evil-minded, for out of all these blasphemies are engendered.”
“…if one receives who has need, he is guiltless; but he who receives, without having need shall pay the penalty [after death] he shall be examined concerning the things which he has done, and he shall not escape from there until he pays back the 43
last penny…Let your alms sweat in your hands, until you know to whom you should give.”
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Virtues in practice: deliberate cultivation of moral virtues makes for greater success in moral and spiritual advancement.
Benjamin Franklin was a person who made moral goals, and wrote them out. He had a checklist in a notebook to measure each day how he lived up to his virtues. Franklin’s list tends toward idealism, which might be a midpoint between
secularism and religion.
“The golden mean” is a theme of this list, which avoids harmful extremes; many acts are harmful when done to excess or deficiency. Here is Benjamin Franklin’s list of moral virtues: 1. Temperance: eat not to dullness. Drink not to elevation.
2. Silence: speak only what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.
3. Order: let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.
4. Resolution: resolve to perform what you ought.
Perform without fail what you resolve.
5. Frugality: make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e. waste nothing.
6. Industry: lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. Sincerity: use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. Justice: wrong none by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. Moderation: avoid extremes. Forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
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10. Cleanliness: tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation.
11. Tranquility: be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12. Chastity: rarely use venery [sexual activity], but for health or offspring; never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or
reputation.
13. Humility: imitate Jesus and Socrates.
14. Trustworthiness: tell the truth and keep promises.
People can depend on you.
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The Boy Scout’s oath is not easily improved upon. The Boy Scouts exist primarily to build good moral character; camping skills are secondary. The eleven points of their oath are all moral ideals. Boy Scouts would be an example of a secular moral community, not entirely unlike a religious order.
“On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and
my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. A scout is:”
Loyal: show that you care about your family, friends, scout leaders, school and country.
Helpful: volunteer to help others without expecting a reward.
Friendly: be a friend to everyone, even people who are very different from you.
Courteous: be polite to everyone and always use good manners.
Kind: treat others as you want to be treated. Never harm or kill any living thing without good reason.
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Obedient: follow the rules of your family, school and pack.
Obey the laws of your community and country.
Cheerful: look for the bright side of life. Cheerfully do tasks that come your way. Try to help others be happy.
Thrifty: work to pay your own way. Try not to be wasteful; use time, food, supplies and natural resources wisely.
Brave: face difficult situations even when you feel afraid.
Do what you think is right despite what others might be
doing or saying.
Clean: keep your body and mind fit. Help keep your home and community clean.
Reverent: be reverent toward God. Be faithful in your religious duties; respect the beliefs of others.