Imagine this scenario: You are living in ancient times, following the laws of Moses and the Ten Commandments. One day, Moses comes down from Mount Sinai with a new revelation from God. He says that God has given him a new commandment to add to the existing ones. The commandment is: “Respect other people’s privacy.”
How would you react to this news? Would you be surprised, confused, curious, or skeptical? Would you accept it as a divine mandate or question its validity? Would you wonder how to apply it in your daily life or ignore it altogether?
In this blog post, I want to explore this hypothetical situation and what it might mean for us today. Privacy is a concept that we often take for granted in our modern society, but it was not always so. In fact, privacy is a relatively recent invention that emerged with the rise of individualism, democracy, and human rights. Privacy is the ability to control what information about ourselves we share with others and how we use that information. Privacy is also the respect for the boundaries and preferences of others regarding their personal information and activities.
Privacy is important for many reasons. It protects us from unwanted interference, intrusion, or harm by others. It allows us to express ourselves freely and authentically without fear of judgment or retaliation. It enables us to form intimate and trusting relationships with those we choose to share our secrets with. It fosters creativity and innovation by giving us space to experiment and explore new ideas. It also supports our dignity and autonomy by recognizing our individuality and agency.
However, privacy is not absolute or universal. It is a social construct that varies across cultures, contexts, and times. What is considered private in one society may be public in another. What is acceptable to disclose in one situation may be inappropriate in another. What is expected to be respected in one era may be challenged in another. Privacy is also not always beneficial or desirable. It can sometimes be used as a cover for wrongdoing, deception, or isolation. It can sometimes hinder communication, cooperation, or accountability. It can sometimes conflict with other values or interests such as security, justice, or transparency.
Therefore, privacy is a complex and dynamic phenomenon that requires constant negotiation and balance. It is not something that can be easily defined or prescribed by a single commandment. It is something that depends on the circumstances and the perspectives of the parties involved.
It is something that needs to be discussed and agreed upon by mutual consent and respect.
This is why I think Moses’ hypothetical new commandment would be a fascinating and challenging addition to the Ten Commandments. It would introduce a new dimension of morality and spirituality that would require us to rethink our relationships with God, ourselves, and others. It would invite us to reflect on what privacy means to us and why it matters. It would challenge us to respect other people’s privacy as we would want them to respect ours.