The Ten Commandments should not be posted in government buildings in the United States. The Ten Commandments are a set of Jewish laws which according to their religious history were handed down from God to the prophet Moses. I believe these messages harm our country, its image of religious freedom, and violate the First Amendment rights of American citizens. The three main reasons why I believe they should not be allowed are that it promotes a state-sanctioned religion, it promotes religious intolerance, and it creates an uncomfortable environment for people of other faiths. State Approved Religion The first reason I am against these posts is that it creates a state approved religion. A state-sanctioned religion is one in which a government that, while not enacting religious law, nevertheless bases most of its laws on secular opinions. If the United States government were allowed to post the Ten Commandments in all of its institutions, what would stop it from enforcing these religious laws that have been posted? Surely there are many commandments that are already law, “thou shalt not steal, though thou shalt not commit murder.” These are laws that everyone should live by, but what about “Thou shalt have no other gods before me?” This is the second commandment and as such is clearly a statement against other religious views. If this material were allowed to be published by government officials and if it affected our young people in schools in a way other than that intended by the definition, America would have created a state-sanctioned religion that is in direct conflict with religious freedom. A state-sanctioned religion is a direct violation of every American citizen's First Amendment religion. The First Amendment states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or restrict freedom of speech or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances” (Bill of Rights). The United States government owes it to its people to uphold the constitutional laws that founded this country. If the United States government allows the government building to display the Ten Commandments, it will lose its neutrality on religion because it will have to choose one version of the Ten Commandments to display, violating the rights of Americans. Promoting a state-sanctioned religion goes against everything this country was founded on.