Cover Thou Shalt Not Take the Name of the Lord Thy God in Vain

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Formato:  Kindle , ePub
series "Voci"
"I comandamenti"
pp. 168, Brossura, 978-88-15-15067-7
publication year 2011

CARLO GALLI, PIERO STEFANI

Thou Shalt Not Take the Name of the Lord Thy God in Vain

In Catholic religious teaching this Commandment means that one should not use the name of God except in a respectful manner and always avoid blasphemy. But in its most authentic wording, this biblical directive forbids the use of the Lord's name in order to defend any form of injustice: swearing to falsehoods, justifying oppression, engaging in so-called "just" wars. In a not too distant past modern states defined their warfare as just by establishing their legitimacy through religious symbols; even today, in the global age, the connection between God and violence remains a constant concern. The name of God continues to be pronounced in many ambiguity-laden ways, whereas its sanctification - as invoked in the Lord's Prayer - should be a haven for liberty and manifest itself in the construction of peaceful human relationships.

Carlo Galli teaches History of Political Doctrines at the University of Bologna.

Piero Stefani, a scholar of the Bible and Hebraism, teaches at the Theological Faculty in Milan.

See also

copertina Thou Shalt Love Thy Neighbour
copertina Thou Shalt Not Make unto Thee Any Idol Nor Graven Image
copertina Thou Shalt Not Kill
copertina I am the Lord Thy God