Ellis, about the 10 commandments: Read Matthew 22:34-40, where Jesus sums up the 10 Commandments (Deuteronomy 5:6-23) by quoting Deut. 6:5--the basic creed, if they have one, of Judaism--a religion based on deeds, not creeds.
Take note: In the Greek New Testament Jesus omits the word 'strength' and adds 'mind'. He speaks of the 'OLE KARDIA, 'OLE PSYCHE, and as if for emphasis he uses another way of saying 'mind'--'OLE DIANOIA. That is to say, he spoke of the whole heart--the seat of the spirit (pneuma); working with the whole person--body, mind and spirit.
Coberst, it seem that Jesus would have been very comfortable in the Age of Enlightenment. He encouraged people to use their brains and to think for themselves. Of course there are some dogmatic and narrow Christians, but it is this kind of action-based teaching, found it the words of Jesus and Paul--open to all kinds of wisdom, even that found is the secular community--which keeps me loyal to a broad kind of Christianity with its very valid outlook on life.
