Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of 
Via EbonMuse's site, I found a link to the Society for the Practical Establishment and Perpetuation of the Ten Commandments, a boldly theocratic organization that calls for voiding the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and the establishment of a society governed by Biblical law. The site is run by Robert T. Lee, who says:
Only the Creator of the heavens and the earth to whom all mankind are responsible can properly govern them; and He has graciously given them His most wise, noble, righteous and perfect moral Laws by which all people are responsible to perfectly conform in thought word and deed - in every detail of their lives. His righteous Laws are the only ones which have ever and will ever exist that can definitely work for the total good of every society. Any people who reject His most perfect and holy Laws, that is, the TEN COMMANDMENTS, do so to both their corporeal destruction and eternal damnation.
And they're just getting warmed up:
It is conformity to the established laws of evil and the lack of moral laws, moral penalties and rewards that's the cause of all that's awry in any society. Therefore the performance of true righteousness is the one and only answer to both preventing and ridding a society of every single thing that's amiss therein. If America will ever cease to wallow in its constitutional depravity, its government and people will have to come to the point where they are willing to accept their constitution as being the thoroughly depraved document that it is, officially and perpetually annul it along with its Bill of Rights, and officially embrace the moral laws of God as the foundation and supreme law of the land and legislate against all that's contrary to true morality. America must come to understand that its constitution is not really the Bible. It is a document that manifests America's self-righteousness, foolishness, and blindness.But the stench of America's depravity is getting worse. In no way could this be happening if the nation is being truthfully governed by true moral principles. The principles upon which America was founded and is being governed are those that are perfectly antithetical to true morality. As long as it continues to be governed by such, it will continue to be governed by nothing more than the established laws of evil which deceptively appear as righteousness.
Do government officials and those who hold public trust truly know what they take an oath of office to do when they take the oath to uphold and defend the manmade constitution of the United States? And do blind patriots know what it truly means to faithfully abide by the spirit of such a manmade constitution? To uphold and defend the constitution and its Bill of Rights is to defend principles that are the governing principles of the kingdom of Satan. Any law that is antithetical to the TEN COMMANDMENTS is always satanic.
And if it needs to be more explicit what they want to see done, they spell it out quite bluntly:
Instead of a people seeking to govern themselves, the most noble and civic thing they can do in establishing their nation or society, or in laying down laws by which the structure of their governments and their inhabitants must conform is to wholeheartedly embrace the moral laws of God as their constitutions, without ever seeking to amend such morality; and all proposed bills, laws, statutes, ordinances, judgments and customs be based on the moral laws of God while vigorously enforcing such morality.
Mr. Orwell, call your office.
Comments
Oh sweet, if I'm not mistaken, the 10 Commandments make no mention of homosexuality, bestiality, fornication, pot smoking, or listening to Celine Deon.
Posted by: Royale | June 6, 2007 9:34 AM
If the constitution and the bill of rights are the work of Satan, I may have to reconsider my loyalties. If only I weren't a damn atheist!
Posted by: Don | June 6, 2007 10:05 AM
Sounds good to me. First order of business under the new regime; jail for idolaters. Starting with anyone who tries to put up a ten commandments monument.
Posted by: MartinM | June 6, 2007 10:07 AM
I wonder who gets to do the enforcing.
Posted by: Ginger Yellow | June 6, 2007 10:08 AM
He who is without sin, I'd imagine.
Posted by: MartinM | June 6, 2007 10:09 AM
Scarry stuff. It almost looks as if they are advocating a revolution. I wonder what is Homeland Security doing to thwart this sedition? Maybe someone could notify Bill Demsbski - he has Homeland Security's phone number in his rollodex... and per his own admission, is not afraid to use it.
Posted by: J-Dog | June 6, 2007 10:10 AM
Sounds like the ten commandments are all one needs. Doesn't that make all government superfluous? Isn't God the Almighty perfectly capable of enforcing his own perfect laws?
Posted by: Dr X | June 6, 2007 10:19 AM
J-Dog, I was just thinking the same thing. This is open sedition, plain and simple.
Posted by: RAM | June 6, 2007 10:24 AM
There are quite a few interesting things on the "Things You Should Know" page - all indicating that the author is a wackjob with a lot more on his agenda than the ten commandments. Funny, though, I didn't see any outright statement about stoning people to death for violating the commandments. Maybe I missed it because I had to stop reading after the fourth page.
Posted by: Alison | June 6, 2007 10:31 AM
Concierge -- I'd like a reservation for one in the nearest lake of fire, please!
Honestly, given the choice (bogus though it may be) between spending Eternity with 'righteous' folks like these or spending Eternity in ye olde lake of fire -- yeah, I'd choose the heat every time. Honestly, they actually think that folks would want to be around their self-righteous, pompous, judgemental selves for the rest of existence?
They'll scrap the Constitution over ALL of our dead bodies, yes?
Posted by: G Barnett | June 6, 2007 10:35 AM
Good grief, Ed. Robert T. Lee has been an infestation on alt.atheism for over a decade. Engaging with him now is simply pointless. I've had more than enough of his twisted rantings to want to review the changes to his website.
Posted by: Elf M. Sternberg | June 6, 2007 10:51 AM
Somebody should introduce Robert T. Lee to the guy at Society of Christians for the Restoration of Old Testament Morals. It's a site that describes what life would be like if we really followed the Old Testament. Pretty funny stuff and very subtle. It took me a few minutes beofre I realized it was a parody.
Posted by: Brian | June 6, 2007 11:07 AM
At least there's no commandment against smoking Cuban cigars.
Posted by: John McKay | June 6, 2007 12:01 PM
What happened to the Constitution being founded on Christian principles? All the Founders were good Christians last week, but now they've gone over to Satan? We sheeple are easily confused. Do I need to send money?
Posted by: kehrsam | June 6, 2007 12:22 PM
I just fell out of my chair laughing.
Posted by: Brandon | June 6, 2007 1:03 PM
Yeah, seriously, this guy's website is the funniest thing. My favorite parts are the clearly mocking comments posted in his guestbook that favorably equate him to Hitler and the KKK. He posts these comments as a badge of honor, apparently without realizing their irony.
Posted by: Ric | June 6, 2007 1:14 PM
"Scarry stuff. It almost looks as if they are advocating a revolution."
That is a good point.
So putting on the hat I wore in con law class, I suppose the Constitution of the United States could be replaced by the 10 Commandments if we passed an amendment which said, "The Constitution is hereby replaced with the 10 commandments."
Barring that, the constitution could only be replaced by a revolution. So, if the Left Behinders are hoping, if not planning, for Jesus to returns and sets up a government on earth, in effect replacing the government of the United States, would that not make them enemies of the US constition?
Damn. We never had that question as a con law final.
Posted by: Royale | June 6, 2007 3:05 PM
But why do they stop at just 10 Commandments? There are so many more interesting ones on just the next page. Do they support slavery and stoning people to death too?
Posted by: Phobos | June 6, 2007 3:09 PM
To answer my own question...
doesn't the Bush Administration consider Al Qaeda an enemy of the United States, because (aside from the whole 9/11 thing) Al Qaeda seeks to replace the government of the United States with a Muslim caliphate?
Thus, if that makes them an enemy, then anyone who seeks to replace the US constitution with say, the Bible or a Biblical theocracy, would in fact be enemies of the US.
Posted by: Royale | June 6, 2007 3:11 PM
There's no way he could get any other biblical laws beyond the 10 Commandments to be instituted. The lobby groups for Red Lobster and the garment industry are more powerful than the Almighty Himself!
Posted by: sinned34 | June 6, 2007 3:45 PM
and the non-kosher cattle industry.
Posted by: Royale | June 6, 2007 4:08 PM
You should read the page on atheists. Lee is a class one lunatic and manages to believe that atheists only claim to be atheists because they hate god, that people are atheists because they are possessed by demons and that atheists don't understand that god exists. All at the same time
Posted by: G. Shelley | June 6, 2007 4:11 PM
Royale:
I think the difference here may be in the question of the means used to attain that end. Given that the U.S. constitution defends free speech and the free exchange of ideas, I would think that it's not illegal for someone to advocate the replacement of the constitution if the way they propose to get there is through constitutionally valid means, such as those that brought about its various ammendments. I've read parts of Robert Lee's website (although just by way of a quick perusal, not a careful study) and, although its apalling, I don't recall seeing anything in it calling for violence to overthrow the U.S. government or constitutional system. Perhaps its there and I've just missed it, but if I'm correct in assuming that he hasn't crossed that line, whereas Al Qaeda clearly has, isn't that the difference that prevents the U.S. government from designating them as the kind of enemy that they can take action against? I don't think you have a sufficient parallel between the two to suggest that the government should go after Lee.
Posted by: Trinary_Code | June 6, 2007 4:24 PM
As for violence, I think you're partly right.
Al Qaeda wants to violently overthrow the US gov't.
The Left Behinders want Jesus to do it.
OK, I concede that might be an unfair mischaracterization as they want Jesus to come back, destroy Satan's armies, and in the process, either all the governments of the world would be destroyed or all but the US gov't.
In the Left Behind movie, the US gov't is the lone fighter against the evil armies of Europe/Asia. So, under that theory, the US gov't won't be destroyed by Armagedon, thus replacing it will either require a constitutional amendment or a violent overthrow by Jesus.
Posted by: Royale | June 6, 2007 5:23 PM
Or maybe (LOL) Jesus will run for elected office and bring about a constitutional ammendment.
Posted by: Trinary_Code | June 6, 2007 5:45 PM
Check out the Wikipedia articles on "Dominionism" and "Christian Reconstructionism." These people are serious. Some of them want all non-Christians killed, along with all uppity women and disobedient children and everybody else except you and me, and I'm not sure about you....
Posted by: Paul Burnett | June 6, 2007 10:14 PM
I will say one nice thing about Lee, at least he realises that the 10 commandments as law are incompatible with the Constiution. Pity he's on the wrong side of the the fence, oh and a nut job.
MartinM: I have to agree about the idolatry thing, I mean why don't they just write the 10 commandments on a golden calf and have done with it?
Posted by: James | June 7, 2007 1:25 AM
These Christian wimps really bother me. If you want to play the game of Biblical literalism, you can't just pick ten commandments, you've got to go with all 613. Who do these people think they are?
Posted by: Bill Poser | June 7, 2007 1:57 AM
The other funny thing is his legal notice. He tries to revoke all your rights, including fair use rights, just because you viewed his page. As if that would stand up in court. Ed, you should try that trick. in your legal notice, you should state that anyone viewing your blog agrees in perpetuity to start disbelieving ID. :)
Posted by: Ric | June 7, 2007 10:46 AM
The other funny thing is his legal notice. He tries to revoke all your rights, including fair use rights, just because you viewed his page. As if that would stand up in court. Ed, you should try that trick. in your legal notice, you should state that anyone viewing your blog agrees in perpetuity to start disbelieving ID. :)
Posted by: Ric | June 7, 2007 10:47 AM
"By accessing this site, you agree to waive all rights to "fair us" of any material on this site except by written permission by Robert T. Lee, and you agree that if use is made by you without permission, you agree to be made legally liable by Robert T. Lee or his relations in a court of law. You agree that all present use of material from this site which is being used without written permission from Robert T. Lee shall immediately cease or fall in line with this agreement, and all none compliance to this agreement shall make you liable.
This agreement will be governed by Georgia law without effect to any principles of conflicts of laws. If any provision of this agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect."
So Georgia state laws, while not holy, are significant to Robert T. Lee. I see.
Just for his arrogance, I should post his material on my site and claim fair use.
Who says there are no Taliban in the US and A?
Posted by: Dhalgren | June 7, 2007 11:18 AM
This cultish freak of nature and national shame, Robt T Lee should gather his mouth breathing flock and promptly occupy the vacancies in Jonestown where they can live out their lives without the freedoms the Constitution and Bill of Rights provides them now.
How is it that foreigners (imaginary) dreams of destroying the United States are at GITMO and the US natives who not only plot and manipulate their legislators loudly demanding the same goals are receiving federal funding and a free pass to continue spewing their bile?
Posted by: Begonia Buzzkill | June 7, 2007 12:55 PM
Please-
Isn't there a comet out there without it's village idiot? I understand they tore down the house where all the voyagers were waiting for the comet to take them away. Anyone want to contribute to a building fund?
I almost lost a good friend the other day when I suggested that he actually read the Bible (particularly Exodus and Leviticus) before criticizing the Muslims and the Koran. Extremism is not the personal preserve of any particular religion. Why do people get so upset when I tell them that the Bible should be X-rated?
Sigh...
Posted by: rwgate | June 7, 2007 2:03 PM
Ahhh! I love the stench of constitutional depravity in the morning!
Posted by: twincats | June 7, 2007 2:29 PM
The Ten Commandments? Which ones? The Bible contains three versions, one of which is radically different from the other two.
Posted by: Doctor Whom | June 7, 2007 4:20 PM
"Oh sweet, if I'm not mistaken, the 10 Commandments make no mention of homosexuality... or listening to Celine Deon. Posted by: Royale | June 6, 2007 09:34 AM"
Well, to be fair, there is some kind of prohibition against coveting your neighbor's ass. I'm sure Celine must be mentioned somewhere - if only the damn Book and every single one of its translations were not the infallible word of God!
Posted by: Barnacle Bill | June 7, 2007 4:31 PM
I love how he wants all U.S. laws replaced by the "Ten Commandments" and then invokes those very same laws as protection against others "stealing" the stuff on his site. Irony meter--you have been pegged.
Oh, and Doctor Whom, the only one labeled, "The Ten Commandments," in the King James Version, anyway, is the one that is radically different. It ends with, "Thou shalt not seethe a kid in its mother's milk."
Posted by: Shawn Smith | June 8, 2007 4:26 PM