how many laws does a code need?
Most primitive societies keep it down to three.
Ama Sua, Ama Llulla, Ama Qhella for the Incan
(do not steal, do not lie, do not be lazy)
The apache code: ride hard, shoot straight, speak the truth
says nearly the same thing.
The incans had a very strong, top-down administration and
a stationary culture, the apache had a static hunter-gatherer
with very small independant groups. The Hebrews were a
larger nation of wanderers without the admin layers, so they
needed ten.
The ten commandments are a good basis for a productive
civilization of varied people. The average coven-sized
conclave does not have to accept any riff-raff into their
midst so the witches' laws tend to be much shorter lists.
"No gods before me/no idols" means we don't waste time
and money argueing about sculpture, "take a day off each
week" means we don't kill ourselves with overwork, clear
admonitions to not waste time thinking about unattainable
women, the right to private property... all this is a good
basis for a good life.
The New Testament tries to reduce it to the Golden Rule, but
it's often implemented iwith dangerous niavetee. Turning the
other cheek assumes that Evil does not exist.
My least favorite religion never ever stops making more codes,
and there are several web-sites devoted to the latest fatwahs.
If you are a tribe of one you can get by with one rule:
Some people (bad ones) live by "gimme mine!"
Others (worse ones) by "Do unto others."
Libertarians by "Live and let live."
My own is "Play Nice."
