America Versus the Ten Commandments: Exploring One Nation's Commitment to Biblical Morality

by Michael K. Abel, Brent J. Schmidt

Ongoing debates about gay marriage, abortion, religious freedom, and many other issues remind us that a culture war is now being waged over what it means to be moral in America, calling into question biblical ideals that have shaped American society for hundreds of years.
Some claim that the moral traditions of the past are oppressive and outdated while others believe they are the only hope to save a morally declining nation. It is in this context that the question motivating this book To what extent do Americans keep the Ten Commandments, sometimes called the Decalogue? How prevalent in America are adultery, dishonesty, theft, murder, coveting, and other behaviors prohibited in Judeo-Christian tradition? How much do Americans really focus on God, honor their parents, and keep the Sabbath Day holy?
This book explores the historical context and meaning of each commandment in order to compare ancient understandings of right and wrong to those of modern America and then examines its compliance. Analysis of adherence to each of the Ten Commandments, using data collected from tens of thousands of Americans, paints an engaging picture of their commitment to the morals of the Decalogue.
In contrast to most books exploring moral issues, this one does not tell readers what to think about the evidence. Rather, it encourages them to carefully consider the information and come to their own conclusions about the moral virtue or depravity of US society. Readers may use the evidence found in this book to satisfy curiosity, settle bets, shape public policy, create sermons, stimulate conversation, or, even better, to understand human nature. They will come away equipped with knowledge that will encourage self-reflection and increased understanding of twenty-first century American morality.

172 pages, Paperback

Published June 17, 2018

About the author

I love to think. Unfortunately, we are constantly inundated with ideas, opinions, and supposed “facts” that undermine our thinking by being inaccurate, biased, and even deceptive. I hope to combat this problem by encouraging readers to think more deeply about important issues. I earned a PhD in sociology from the University of Washington where I focused on questions related to religion, morality, and social theory. I have published research on a variety of topics including religious retention and faith. My wife Patty and I are the parents of six children.

Reviews

[Tyler R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Given the topic and the potential to mix in bias, The authors accomplish what few rarely do by forcing the reader to arrive at their own conclusion. The most impressive part of the book was providing what data was available and making it smoothly connect to the given commandment. The authors did a great job in addressing any limitations on finding what they could to help show where Americans are at. I appreciated the in-depth background into each commandment on what they meant in the context of the society they were given and what they mean for society now. In all, this book provided me with an opportunity that very few do today and that is genuine intellectual discovery. Whatever conclusions were made, I made them myself. In this polarizing and toxic political world we see ourselves in today this book was a breath of fresh air.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me a lot to think about. The authors presented the information in a clear and accessible way. The Decalogue is important, and it’s a valuable exercise to consider its significance and how it fits into my own moral code. Self-reflection is a good exercise for anyone to undertake, and this book provides plenty of food for thought.