The Oldest Known Commandments Clearly State, Thou Shall Not Commit Adultery

The oldest known commandments clearly state, “Thou shall not commit adultery”. (Exodus 20:14) In this day and age, this statement has changed in the eyes of the world to fit those who do not want to follow it. There are tv shows, movies, books, and even music which expresses adultery is common now. Cheating on one's spouse is not something to be proud of. Already, in twenty one states committing adultery is illegal. Depending on the state, the penalty could be a high fine and/or jail time. Adultery can lead to serious problems such as family issues, including a devastating divorce and trust issues. Also, it is going against the covenants made when the legal marital documents were signed. As a prevention of these downfalls and issues with adultery,

“Children’s’ state of cognitive and emotional development during this sensitive period may inhibit or perpetuate the exercise of unilateral loyalties, parentification, and feelings of blame, betrayal, and abandonment” (Negash and Morgan). Parents do not realize the major impact their actions have on their kids. Parental infidelity affects them emotionally for example, “Younger children who are more likely to be informed of the infidelity may feel neglected and fear that their parents no longer love them.”(Negash and Morgan) Family is essential, they are what the world of people revolves around. “The tenets of SFT suggest that families function by the way they are organized and that problem behaviors and interactions within families are created and resolved systemically.” (Negash and Morgan) Choices made within a family impact future decisions, thoughts, and actions. “Boundaries are invisible barriers that regulate interpersonal contact. Stressors in the family, such as infidelity, can disrupt the family structure and produce dysfunctional boundaries; which can evoke deleterious individual relationship outcomes and lead to further disruption or fractures in the family (Winek 2010).” (Negash and Morgan) Unfortunately, divorce is a common fracture in a family. Researchers have stated infidelity is one of the most frequently cited causes of marital conflict and subsequent

Trust is similar to being honorable. In order to gain someone’s trust it takes several actions but it only takes one act to lose the trust gained.When an unhonorable act is performed the trust which was formed is now gone. With adultery being illegal, it becomes a felon. A felon is an offense, as murder or burglary, of graver character than those called misdemeanors, especially those commonly punished in the U.S.by imprisonment for more than a year. (Felony) A felony in the U.S. is placed on a person's permanent record which could affect future job opportunities. This is due to the fact in which businesses aren’t going to be able to trust someone who is dishonorable and doesn’t have high standards. How do they know the job will be done and promises will be kept? Businesses aren’t the only ones. Neighbors and friends will also have difficult time knowing whether or not an adulterer can be trusted. Trust is an important factor in any type of relationship. This is why when a couple decides to marry they must sign a legal document promising themselves to each other and no one