The Golden Rule (which existed thousands of years before Christianity and is used by all Religions and civilised societies) is the only guide rule necessary.
Half the 10 Commandments are about a vain, insecure, jealous, angry, despotic yet invisible God’s need to be worshipped!
The second half of the ten Commandments are about rules for bronze age middle eastern tribes. Who are still hating each other 2000+ years later! So the Bibles morals obviously don’t work!
5. Honour your Parents (remembering disobedient Children get stoned, I’m not impressed with such violence and biblical morals).
6. Don’t Kill (Unless it’s for God or the State (justified or Holy War and Capital Punishment)). Incidently if America is a Christian country, then why is it still following the Jewish Eye for an eye principle instead of following Jesus Christs rule of turning the other cheek???
7. Don’t committ adultery (another stoning offence FOR THE WOMAN).
8. Don’t Steal (Tell that to Televangelist Priests who get the poor to send money to spread ‘God’s word, impoverishing the poor even more).
9. Don’t Lie (Tell that to Priests, Politicians etc.).
10. Dont Covet neighbours house, wife, manservant, maidservant, cattle, nor anything else of HIS (Christian America is the Greediest Nation on Earth).

If God is supposed to be all knowing then surely his rules would be all encompassing for all time.
Nothing Unique in those Ten Commandments that hasn’t already been said by other Religions and civilised Countries throughout all History.
Incidently the ten Commandments arn’t the only commands from God. Study your Bible properly and be prepared to be shocked! Slavery condoned, Woman hating etc.
First century rules are not adequate for 21st century people.
Incidently why are there so many different sects and denominations, if the Bibles message is so clear? Each new interpretation of the Holey Bible springs forth yet another new money making venture. Also, If the love of money is the root of all evil, then why do the churches never have enough? And with all that money, why don’t they pay taxes?
Why should I be taxed on something I don’t believe in, when schools and hospitals really need the money!
Whilst most modern Christians (hopefully!) wouldn’t condone most of what the wicked Bible verses say. What worries me and most rational people is that Whilst they (the wicked verses) are still left in KJV, they can be pulled forth at any time and used indiscriminately, by any nutter, church or regime (such as the Roman Catholic, Jew Hating, Adolf Hitler did). I am reminded of numerous Catholic Inquisitions, Holy Wars, Witch Hunts or todays right wing Bible belt Pious Christians!!!
Need a laugh? then watch the late Geroge CARLIN on the 10 Commandments on you Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkRYaMiP4K8

Thou shalt not kill: If this were the case, then there would be no death penalty allowed under law. Additionally the congress would not be able to declare war.

Thou shalt not steal: Eminent domain allows the government to take a citizen’s property without consent for public or civic purposes

Thou shall not bear false witness: This is only true in a court of law or in the case of slander. In all other cases, american citizens can lie as much as I want

Those aren’t “my” translations, it’s straight off of Wikipedia. I specifically don’t want to referee between different interpretations across different translations, etc etc. I think doing searching for fine nuance in English is silly. If you are going to do that, do it in Hebrew. Thanks for the kind words about the rest of it.

Brendan, I know he was asking for all but I’m saying no conservative will ever give any but those three in that kind of situation because the others show this up as not appropriate. This whole thing works because the “Ten Commandments” are iconic and thought of as a thing, not 10 statements of varying legality.

I’ve lost count of the number of people who state the US is a “Christian Democracy” – which is hilarious, because one cannot have a genuine, open democracy and a religious state at the same time.

And IMHO, Colbert wasn’t targeting just “relevant to the law” commandments – he wanted all ten. Because it’s ALL TEN that the guy wanted displayed. Many of which, as you quite rightly point out, fly in the face of your constitution.

Of the American “topical night shows”, Colbert is one I do watch.. granted some of the politicking is a bit beyond me (I don’t live their) I find his rapier wit to be a refreshing change.

Watch the “The Ten Commandments” documentary on the History channel. It’s actually very enlightening on how people do not take into context the historical times of the documents against the document’s words itself.

Everything else is pretty much on the ball though… layman’s terms wise anyways.