Waxing Poetically: Addressing Culture with a Twist of Poetry

Jesus with Computer Lady by Flickr user Comandante Agi

Yes, believe it or not, according to a report filed by ABC News’ Emily Wither just this morning from London, a British evangelical media watch dog by the name of the Evangelical Alliance has listed ten blogging tactics that qualify as sins in citing new commandments based the traditional set. These include taking one day off for the Sabbath, not coveting your neighbor’s content, (for those praying to make the top ten blogs list) and not using one’s anonymity to lie, slander or commit adultery in one’s mind.

The report makes a brief mention of how these commandments come at a time when many angry words have been exchanged through the new medium and often harsh and biting commentary found on many a Christian blog and blogs in general.

Here is the list in its entirety:

The Blogging Ten Commandments, according to the Evangelical Alliance:

1. You shall not put your blog before your integrity.

2. You shall not make an idol of your blog.

3. You shall not misuse your screen name by using your anonymity to sin.

4. Remember the Sabbath day by taking one day off a week from your blog.

5. Honour your fellow-bloggers above yourselves and do not give undue significance to their mistakes.

6. You shall not murder someone else’s honour, reputation or feelings.

7. You shall not use the web to commit or permit adultery in your mind.

8. You shall not steal another person’s content.

9. You shall not give false testimony against your fellow-blogger.

10. You shall not covet your neighbour’s blog ranking. Be content with your own content.

As a blogger and a practicing Catholic I personally hold no objections to any of the above rules, especially the one about maintaining personal integrity. As far as my Sabbath goes, a day off is never disputed in my book, (whether that book be the Bible or not, religious or not). As for the others, condemning slander, jealously and “blog worship”, these seem to have little to do with God and more to do with general morality. I doubt that many atheists and agnostics, or people of any non Judeo-Christian faith will dispute these “commandments” in their good will - and if any do, they can civilly do so in their responses to this blog.

Until next time… wax graciously.

Click here to read the ABC News report.

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