Noahide Laws

God made his second attempt to provide guidance to Man on how to be good. After the flood, he gave the world the Seven Laws of Noah. These are not explicitly in the Bible but rather derived from the Talmud, Judaism's collection of rabbinic wisdom over the centuries and ultimately compiled between the 3rd and 8th Centuries A.D.

Not to worship idols.
Not to curse God.
Not to commit murder.
Not to commit adultery or sexual immorality.
Not to steal.
Not to eat flesh torn from a living animal.
To establish courts of justice.

Interestingly, the U.S. Congress recognized the Seven Laws of Noah in 1991: "Whereas Congress recognizes the historical tradition of ethical values and principles which are the basis of civilized society and upon which our great Nation was founded; Whereas these ethical values and principles have been the bedrock of society from the dawn of civilization, when they were known as the Seven Noahide Laws."

The Noahide Laws were given to mankind, all of mankind. In theory, we all must obey these laws regardless of religion or other differences. This is unlike the Ten Commandments which were given only to the Israelites at Mount Sinai. The Ten Commandments was the third attempt to guide mankind into goodness.

Christians might say that Jesus was God's 4th attempt. Muslims might say Muhammad was the 5th. Mormons might look to Joseph Smith as the 6th.