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Scots' Church
[edit]Francis Macnab & the Ten Commandments
[edit]
In the 16 September 2008, Dr Macnab of St Michael's Uniting Church launched what he called a "new faith" with a $120,000 advertising campaign including posters reading, "The Ten Commandments, one of the most negative documents ever written."[1][2]
The Session of Scots' Church published a reply defending the Ten Commandments from "[t]he most incredible publicity war... being waged against the historic Christian faith."[3] They installed a poster outlining the influence of the Ten Commandments on their Russell Street frontage facing towards St. Michael's. The text reads:
The Ten Commandments: the most positive and influential document ever written
More than 3000 years of history that engender and promote...
- respect for the Divine Creator, which saves us from the arrogance of our humanity as we enjoy and make use of his creation
- respect for the Divine character, which saves us from misplaced trust in the frivolous and transient gods of our age
- respect for the name of God, which teaches us humility and service
- respect for the spiritual nurture of our soul, because we are more than an accident of nature
- respect for family and especially parents
- respect for life, seeking to nurture and value all people, including the weak, the marginalised and the displaced
- respect for our spouse, for the sanctity of marriage and for the value of commitment
- respect for property and the rights of other people, taking nothing to ourselves that is not ours
- respect for the truth, including the value of rational, scientific enquiry as well as the gospel truth about God and his Son Jesus Christ
- respect for personal integrity and the purity of our hearts’ desires[3]
In an address on 5 October Dr Macnab defended his comments saying, "While I have no intention of denigrating the Ten Commandments as a sacred symbol of the Jewish Torah and the Old Covenant, I say they are negative."[4] He gave 8 reasons why he believes the Ten Commandments to be negative, and outlined his alternative 10 Commandments, which he described as "positive, plausible and powerful".[4]
References
[edit]- ^ Barney Zwartz (2008-09-16). "New faith throws out the Ten Commandments". The Age. Fairfax. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
- ^ Hall, Cheryl (2008-10-05). "Controversial clergyman advertises his new faith on billboards". Stateline Victoria. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
- ^ a b "The Ten Commandments". Scots' Church website. The Session of Scots' Church. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
- ^ a b Francis Macnab (2008-10-05). "The New Faith and 10 New Commandments". St Michael's Uniting Church. Retrieved October 25, 2008.