The Catholic Church allows the use of any of them, because they are all just quoting Scripture.

We use the one we do because we feel know that God doesn't care if we make graven images, as long as we don't worship them (Ex. 25:18-19). That is why we combined them into the first command "thou shalt not have any other gods before me", because that's what you are doing when you make an idol.

 There are actually 14 imperitive commands in the "10 Commandments" section. One must shorten them one way or the other to have the normal 10.

Actually, I think the command is: "You shall not make for yourself an image, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth" (Exodus 20:4)

And if I might push in, that sounds to me like "don't make graven images, let alone worship them".

Would you care to tell me how you not worship your icons and crosses, because it's beyond me. You might say that you do not worship the objects themselves, but what they represent, but that's moot defense, since all worshippers of something say the same thing. I don't think anyone is stupid enough to worship a statue of Baal, for instance, and not what it represents.

OK, let's take the exact verses:

Exactly what you said, Exodus 20:4 and 20:5.

Paraphrased:

20:4 Do not make graven images

20:5 Do not bow down to those already made

To me this is the statement. If I was God and had to give such a commandment, I would have given a commandment along the same lines: do not make graven images yourselves, and, if somebody else makes them, do not worship them. that covers all possibilities.

So you are practically saying that ll religion practitioners besides those of your own religion worship nothing else than the actual object?

Pardon for asking, but isn't that a bit chauvinistic on the matter ? Aren't you being just a tiny bit over your shoulder with pride by considering that you hold the absolute truth, when you haven't been able to produce much evidence for it? Pride is a sin, you know... ironically...

Two things...

1. This "which 10" compares the bible against publications. I found that a bit odd as one is the source and the other two, not. The other comparison, Exodus 20 vs. 34.....well in Exodus 34:1 it was written, The LORD said to Moses, "Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. I don't see him saying he will write words LIKE the first ones....so the remainder of ch. 34 are NOT the commandments that are revered by the Hebrews and Jews.

2. Those commandments....to a CHRISTIAN are no longer what are important. If you ask a Christian how many commandments, the proper answer is two; the two that Jesus left are the only two that are important. This is why Jesus' mission was to fulfill the law, not repeat it. Romans 6 explains it in full and especially verse 14 illustrates the point... For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. So what are the two? Love God with everything you are and love your neighbor as yourself.

So I've gotta ask, what exactly were they proving? 

So... God states that he will write the EXACT SAME words on the second tablets... yet he doesn't... Total mystery here.

OK, so I want to get to Heaven as fast as possible. I love my neighbour as much as I love myself. Therefore I wish for him to get to heaven ASAP. The fastest way is to kill him. Make it the method of death that he chooses, too. Because nothing can be better than being in Heaven, as Christians say. A small sacrifice to make a soul eternally happy.

See the error with your thought?

I'm almost insulted at how blithely the 10 Commandments discussion has moved away from my still unanswered questions.

Are they that difficult?

There are new theists here who did not read the old threads!  Defend your religion for them!

We've got two threads now that are asking the same questions (sapient NO MERGING PLEASE!! - that just screws up the threads).  

As I stated from the other thread that hamby started up, it's all about the "doubting Thomas" complex.  Some need to see these things to believe and it's not necessary.  I don't need a cross, a picture, or a granite thing with words on them to believe.  Personally, I say take them.  There should be separation of church and state and even Jesus preached as much.  Not even "Under God" is needed from the pledge because I don't need two words to express faith in Jesus.

It's because they are the wrong questions to start with.  If I asked you to tell me why are the traffic laws in Europe are affecting your driving habbits, you won't be able to apply it if you are not directly affected by those laws. It is the same with Christians and the 10 commandments...

Now you know how I feel when I hear some of the responses you guys give to ANSWERS....

But I won't act that way....you have my post on the other thread.

There is actually a very specific reason I didn't use that argument and that's because of New Testament belief.  Jesus never said that murderers or sinners would not get into heaven.  Even the roman solider because of his belief in who Jesus was was considered wiser and much more of a believer than many other Jews.  If a person is doing the will of God, such as pharaoh or Judas or Hitler, is he damned for doing it?  In that same light however, would you kill a person, displaying a lack of respect for life, if you aren't willing to do that to yourself first?  Murder however is only one example; more so includes theft, saying negative things, and so on...