I've often thought that having 11 commandments would have been better. Thou Shalt Not Hate. But then I realize the other ten are often ignored so they're meaningless. Aren't they?

There are more than just ten biblical commandments, just like there are more laws in the United States than what's written in the constitution and/or the Bill of Rights. The label "Ten Commandments" specifically refers to those 10 and their origin story.

Many people misunderstand this concept.
~

Guidelines for living?

for some it is very personal

and they take it to heart.

Just like Buddhas Eightfold path

some make it meaningful.....

...for me 

only the one that has given life

has the authority to take it.

...one thing that cracks me up

is when the Catholic church removed the commandment of not worshipping idols.

No one is a pro killing.
People, myself included, recognize a difference between murder (purposely taking a human life) and killing (in self defense, defense of ones family or in the case of soldiers in war or in doing ones duty to protect other people)

Jesus summed up the commandments and the law by giving us two commandments.
1. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
2. Love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.
Upon these two rest all the law and prophets.

seems like it but not everyone ignores them

Thank you for your reply m2c. I think you're wrong. I think some folks do enjoy killing whether it is animals on a Big Game Hunt or ducks or deer or human beings. The thrill of the kill. Some people enjoying killing "the enemy" and probably boast about the number of folks they killed. In the old west didn't gunslingers but notches on their guns to keep track of and boast about the number of people they killed? I don't know what percentage of those who kill enjoy it but I'm sure there are some who do. People get off on different things m2c. Some get off on saving lives..others on taking them. Go figger! :(

Thank you for your reply pearl and Happy Friday! :)

In the original Hebrew the word used is "ratsach", which means "to murder, slay". You may not see any distinction, but others do. Dead is indeed dead, but there is a distinct difference between killing someone who would kill another/others if you did not act and just going out and killing someone simply because you wanted to, i.e. murdering them. In the first scenario, not killing them would still result in death, but that of an innocent person or people. In the second, the one with ill intent would die. Would you willingly stand by and watch someone murder your child simply because you feel that killing is wrong?

God gave many commandments, not just those ten. Jesus later stated that there were two commandments that were the greatest, and both commanded love.

Mark 12:30-31King James Version (KJV)

30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.