The monument to the Ten Commandments that recently prompted the Supreme Court to examine the separation of church and state, began as a movie promotion for the film The Ten Commandments (reg. required). In fact, many of the monuments around the U.S. were promotions for the Cecil B. DeMille film.

Back in 1946, E.J. Ruegemer was a juvenile court judge in Minnesota. He used to tell a story about a delinquent boy who came into his court and didn't know what the Ten Commandments were.

Judge Ruegemer had an idea: print up copies for courtrooms and classrooms.

His project, taken up by an organization called the Fraternal Order of Eagles, eventually got the attention of Cecil B. DeMille, the legendary director whose epic The Ten Commandments hit theaters in 1956.

The two men found Catholic, Jewish and Protestant scholars willing to come up with a version of the Commandments that incorporated all three traditions. (In different texts, the Commandments have different wordings, even different numberings.)

About 4,000 granite slabs were eventually placed by the Fraternal Order of Eagles. They include the one in Austin that the Supreme Court is considering - and one in Fair Park in Dallas.

Its wonderful to discover that three different religions came together in the spirit of fellowship, humility, and reverence to pitch a movie for Cecil B. DeMille and Charlton Heston.

abracadabra

Seattle, WA

April 2004

MAR 16, 2005 07:34 PM

Cecil B. Demented was an awesome movie..oops , wrong thread but certainly more entertaining

FunkySkunk

Gainesville, FL

July 2004

MAR 16, 2005 07:35 PM

Hmm when i think of Charlton Heston i think of the second amendment not commandment...
yeah i know that was corny, i just wanted to be the first person to comment for once.

FunkySkunk

Gainesville, FL

July 2004

MAR 16, 2005 07:36 PM

*sigh* beaten again.

skeptik

New Orleans, LA

February 2004

MAR 16, 2005 08:10 PM

Sooo---
When the religious right makes the argument that they are just trying to reclaim American public life from the influence of Hollywood ...

classic, just classic

Noxeos

Fullerton, CA

February 2004

MAR 16, 2005 10:10 PM

About 4,000 granite slabs were eventually placed by the Fraternal Order of Eagles. They include the one in Austin that the Supreme Court is considering - and one in Fair Park in Dallas.

Well to be fair, we should erect 4,000 stone statues of Charles Darwin to hold the 10 commandments.

On a side note, it's interesting how fast this issue was is brought before the supreme court in a nation divided in a war of science vs. religion. Just another battle to show the faith zealots have a firm grasp of power in government.

wastextc

Denver, CO

November 2002

MAR 17, 2005 01:32 AM

FunkySkunk said:
*sigh* beaten again.

Worry not, you'll get it. (=

theseeman

Asheville, NC

December 2002

MAR 17, 2005 08:48 AM

Noxeos said:

About 4,000 granite slabs were eventually placed by the Fraternal Order of Eagles. They include the one in Austin that the Supreme Court is considering - and one in Fair Park in Dallas.

It is a false war. There is no contradiction. Those who would have us fight it do so enlarge thier power and holdings. Darwin and the Bib;e are completely compatible. The Evolution debate is a red herring. To distract us from what?

EdmundOG

I'm lost

July 2004

MAR 17, 2005 09:25 AM

theseeman said:

Noxeos said:

About 4,000 granite slabs were eventually placed by the Fraternal Order of Eagles. They include the one in Austin that the Supreme Court is considering - and one in Fair Park in Dallas.

Ummm.... Iraq? No, no, the secret alliance between The Pope, The Dalai Lama, and Steve Guttenberg! FREEMASONS! FREEMASONS AND MUSHROOMS UNDERGROUND! Can't you hear them, Andres?

Squire

I'm lost

November 2003

MAR 17, 2005 10:18 AM

In La Crosse, Wisconsin the Eagles Club purchased the land around a ten commandments monument in a park. Now there's this Vatican-like spot in the middle of a public park with an iron fence around it. However, it doesn't look like it was erected in '56 for the film. Looks like it was erected in 1965 pursuant to the Eagles' overall plan to place these things everywhere.

The city's sale of the land/monument to the Eagles was just deemed constitutional.

handsome_rob

Burlington, IA

May 2004

MAR 21, 2005 01:15 AM

well, FUCK. if i'da known that all along, i would have been all for keeping the commandments in government buildings. i mean, after all, it's charlton, plus i know how much movie promos and government buildings go together.

uh... wait...

BOARDS:

TOPICS:

Portland, OR

November 2002

MAR 15, 2005 07:43 PM

abracadabra

Seattle, WA

April 2004

MAR 16, 2005 07:34 PM

Gainesville, FL

July 2004

MAR 16, 2005 07:35 PM

Gainesville, FL

July 2004

MAR 16, 2005 07:36 PM

New Orleans, LA

February 2004

MAR 16, 2005 08:10 PM

Fullerton, CA

February 2004

MAR 16, 2005 10:10 PM

Denver, CO

November 2002

MAR 17, 2005 01:32 AM

Asheville, NC

December 2002

MAR 17, 2005 08:48 AM

I'm lost

July 2004

MAR 17, 2005 09:25 AM

Squire

I'm lost

November 2003

MAR 17, 2005 10:18 AM

Burlington, IA

May 2004

MAR 21, 2005 01:15 AM