Should historic government buildings be required to remove religious displays that are part of the building's history?

Our Courthouse is a very old stone building. A few years ago, it was in the media because someone complained that the Ten Commandments were displayed in bronze on the side of the building. It seemed strange to me because I thought most religions honor the Ten Commandments. Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't Jewish and Muslim religions follow the Old Testament and then break off after that with their own beliefs?

Anyway, regardless of if that is correct or not, I found it very disturbing that someone would want to change the "history" of a historic landmark building by wanting the Ten Commandments removed.

To tell the truth, I'm not aware of the outcome of this event. I'm not sure if it was removed or if it remains; however, I wanted to share my thoughts on religious displays that are actually part of history. I feel our history shouldn't be erased regardless of how laws change or are interpreted.

History withstanding or not. Anything that does not encompass all ways of life rather anything that specifies a religion needs to be taken down. I know that seperation of church of state is vague in what it intails but the fact of the matter is that if I, a nonreligious person, walks into a government building I do not want to see anything that has to do with religion. My beliefs, I use that term very lightly because I don't believe in beliefs, are not that of the ten commandments. History has proven itself to be wrong countless times and history is not a reason to leave something be. If a historic building had a sign that was engraved in the wall saying "whites only" should it stand or be removed. History has proven nothing except that it is constantly incorrect and being improved upon.

I respect that the first three Commandments are about God and the Sabath day specifically. However, are there any others (listed below) you have an issue with besides maybe the adultry and the neighbor's wife since those seem to not be of much importance in our society anymore?

- Honor thy Father and thy Mother

- Thou shalt not kill.

- Thou shalt not commit adultery.

- Thou shalt not steal.

- Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

- Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife.

- Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's goods.

The argument about "Whites Only" is a good one; however, is there anything truly wrong with civilizations first attempts at law being displayed on a Courthouse?

By the way, I'm a fence-sitter between God and atheism. I'll admit that most times I slightly lean towards God on the issue.

yes there is something wrong with civilizations first attempts because they are just that attempts and when they do not acknowledge the ideals of that country they need to go. (ie freedom of religion)

I find this kind of intolerance quite incomprehensible. I would classify myself an agnostic btw and I would be horrified to see historical buildings defaced or destroyed because some group of people found them offensive on religious grounds. Remember the Buddhist statues that were destroyed by the Taliban – did we not all gasp in horror at the wilful destruction of them?

Brunie: don't forget we're talking about a bronze plaque here, not tearing down the building.

Personally, while it may be silly to spend a lot of time and/or money on removing this bit of history, I find it refreshing to see this side of the issue being tackled, particularly in light of the number of state governments that are pushing to have the ten commandments posted in every public school and government building, or "In God we Trust" plastered everywhere.

I'm an atheist and I don't support the posting of the 10 Commandments on or in federal institutions and such. I'll admit, though, this situation is a bit of a curve ball with the historical twist thrown in.

Originally I was going to say not to mess with history and let the bronze list stay. But then it occured to me... taking into consideration that our laws were in effect before the placement of the bronze list, they would have been unconstitutional in the first place, not leaving them with any real merit to stay.

I would agree with Quark, though, that I'm not sure there's really much point in spending the time and money to have it removed. I find it more of an issue when they try to place such federal endorsements of religion in places still in operation, rather than leaving them on rarely viewed fossils.

And just to address Brunie... it's just a bronze plaque (I assume plaque), not a one-of-a-kind work of art. We have plenty of replications of the 10 Commandments in bronze, silver, gold, paper and whatever else they've taken the time to write them on. I wouldn't see its removal (note: it would be relocated, not destroyed) as a desecration of history. Maybe that's just me.