The Ten Commandments: Updated, Condensed, and Improved

An award-winning author offers a fresh look at the code of conduct set forth in the Old Testament.

The Ten Commandments are in dire need of an update. After all, how many of us truly understand what it means to covet something? Or what constitutes making a graven image? But how do we revise the Bible? Isn’t it blasphemous to suggest that the Word of God needs improvement?

Author J. Michael Orenduff, who taught philosophy and religion for forty years, is not proposing that we change God’s words, but our understanding of them. The world has changed a great deal since the rules were handed down to Moses on Mount Sinai. And since we are no longer nomads roaming the desert, the time has come for an interpretation that provides meaning and guidance in today’s complex society. For example, what exactly does honoring one’s mother and father mean in a single-parent household--or one with two mothers? How should we interpret the command ＂Thou shalt not kill＂ when it comes to wielding a weapon in self-defense or on the frontlines of a just war? In an era when truth has become as variable as the individual broadcasting it on social media, shouldn’t the rule about bearing false witness be broadened to hold more people accountable?

In a warm, witty voice, Orenduff grapples with the moral code outlined in the Old Testament, examining differing theological traditions to offer an understanding of God’s commandments that is accessible and meaningful for the modern reader.

J. Michael Orenduff grew up in a house so close to the Rio Grande that he could Frisbee a tortilla into Mexico from his backyard. While studying for an MA at the University of New Mexico, he worked during the summer as a volunteer teacher at one of the nearby pueblos. After receiving a PhD from Tulane University, he became a professor. He went on to serve as president of New Mexico State University.

Orenduff took early retirement from higher education to write his award-winning Pot Thief murder mysteries, which combine archaeology and philosophy with humor and mystery. Among the author’s many accolades are the Lefty Award for best humorous mystery, the Epic Award for best mystery or suspense ebook, and the New Mexico Book Award for best mystery or suspense fiction. His books have been described by the Baltimore Sun as ＂funny at a very high intellectual level＂ and ＂deliciously delightful,＂ and by the El Paso Times as ＂the perfect fusion of murder, mayhem and margaritas.＂