The Ten Commandments: Laws of the Heart

by Joan D. Chittister

Are the Ten Commandments just a set of rules or are they a way of life? How does each one call us to reflect on out life and values? What does it mean to love God and our neighbor in a world where violence greed, and fear threaten our lives, our values, our hearts? Joan Chittister answers these and other questions. Each chapter focuses on what one of the commandments means for us today. The final two shed light on the two Great Commandments, "Love God with all your heart, and your neighbor as yourself.

Genres: Religion

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 29, 2006

About the author

Joan Daugherty Chittister, O.S.B., is an American Benedictine nun, theologian, author, and speaker. She has served as Benedictine prioress and Benedictine federation president, president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, and co-chair of the Global Peace Initiative of Women.

Reviews

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am torn by this book. Some sections do a wonderful job in applying the commandments to our lives, but some other sections feel unfinished or weak in comparison with the others. The best two sections are the last that present the two greatest commandments as critical additions to the decalogue. I would suggest this book for anyone trying to find more meaning in the Ten Commandments in their life, but maybe not so much for someone trying to "learn" about the commandments for the first time.

[Trippe Hawthorne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth the read

Thank you Sister Joan. This is a good walk through these foundational understandings of what it is to follow Jesus.

[Jimmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author can be radical and extremists at times.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Ten Commandments are so much more than laws of what not to do. They are words for how to live in community and love.

[Kevin de Ataíde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sr. Joan shows how all of the Commandments are relevant to the lives of people today, with respect to their neighbours. The Ten Commandments are not grounds for convicting people, they are means of transformation, for shaping human lives, 'an adventure in human growth.' In a multi-cultural society, they are to be written on the heart and not worn as a badge. Does the author believe the Decalogue were divinely inspired? I can't tell; the book talks about Israelite society evolving the Decalogue from 'ten words'.

I cannot agree with everything the author says, in some places she seems to be deliberately provocative: for example, when she says that a God of rules and reason (quoting Pascal), or a 'male' God is a false god. [p.22] As all men are growing towards God, as Israel did, we have much to learn from those who 'call God by another name'.

The entire Decalogue is all about men, as well as God, now. Therefore, the second commandment becomes the Law of Respect: judging people in God's name is wrong, the Crusades are immoral and doing just about anything in God's name is breaking this commandment.

An interesting book, certainly challenging but hardly revelatory. I wonder if Papa Benedict XVI has written anything about the Commandments. He probably has.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 10 Commandments, looks at the commandments from a different angle. It doesn say what you shouldn't do, but what one could do to address the reason for the commandment.
1. I am the Lord thy God, thou shall not have other Gods besides me. What is your orientation towards life? Is it toward God, or other things.
2. Thou shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in Vain. Respect God and his world and his creatures.
3. Thou shall keep holy the Lord's Day: the Law of Remembrance
4. Honor thy father and mother. The law of caring for others.
5. Thou shall not kill: the law of life. Promote life, physical, emotional, others.
6. Thou shall not commit adultery. The law of commitment to people, etc.
7. Thou shall not steal: The law of sharing what you have, including your gifts & talents.
8. Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor: the law of speech, integrity , one's word, speaking out.
9. Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's wife: The law of self-control
10. Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's goods. Thou shall not crave things, materialistic, as goals, more and more pleasure.
The first law of love: love God.
The second law of love: love thy neighbor
Good book.

[Bonnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were several instances where Sr. Joan gives personal opinion within her examples and I disagreed with her on the premise of the examples. Also, when an author decides to make a study 'contemporary' they can miss the mark and provide weak commentary. There is no reference list provided for the statements and quotes used.

The read is a good one for those wanting to add to their studies but not one I would recommend for someone just getting started on a study of the Ten Commandments.

[Wilhelmina Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy the insightful books of Sister Joan D. Chittister, a Benedictine nun. This book is a very good overview of the Ten Commandments - their historical background as well as their significance for today - stressing that they are laws of the heart, designed for transformation and the creation of community. Read in connection with bible study on the Book of Exodus.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the August book group on "The Ten Commandments". It's a clear articulation of what the Commandments meant in their own time, and what they can mean to Christians today.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview with contemporary application.