Bill Maher hits the nail on the head. Why not The Beatitudes?

[heidler1]

Why do Christians keep wanting to post the Ten Commandments everywhere? When The Beatitudes are right from Christs own mouth and tend to be a revised view of the Ten Commandments.

IMO this is because the The Beatitudes dwell on why it is better to give than receive. Republican and many Church goers don't like that much. Turning the other cheek is seldom practiced by anyone. and so on

Read The Beatitudes: http://www.biblepath.com/beatitudes.html

[Wickerman]

1. Kill Joy

excellent post, actually. D:

And wonderful question.

[BillZBubb]

2. Because "good" Christians believe in Old Testament Jesus.

That New Testament guy is too touchy feely and liberal sounding.

[RobertSeattle]

4. And/or the "Paulian" Jesus

Many Christians spends much more time with Paul's writings rather than Jesus's actual words. I've always wondered that if Paul was going to be so important to Christianity, why didn't Jesus ever allude to him at some point?

[heidler1]

6. Paul tended to put his own spin on the teachings of Jesus.

It occurs to me that the Internet will eventually bring about the demise of Christianity because there is a pretty high level of Internet literacy with the historical facts being continually put out there for all to see. Thus no version will hold up.

The Muslims have more time because their religious knowledge is more confined to what they are told by their religious leaders. However in both cases it is obvious that there are a constant supply of liars to put forth their own way of looking at it so they can bilk those who believe them out of their power and or money and power. If there is such a thing as SIN, that should top the list.

[SharonAnn]

3. I prefer the Cardinal Works of Mercy or the Golden Rule.

Both are from Christ and are reported in the Gospels.

The seven practices of charity toward our neighbor, based on Christ’s prophecy of the Last Judgment, that will determine each person’s final destiny:

Feed the hungry
Give drink to the thirsty
Clothe the naked
Shelter the homeless
Visit the sick
Visit those in prison
Bury the dead

Mt 25:34 “Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ’Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ’Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?’ And the king will answer them, ’Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to me.’”

The corporal works of mercy are oriented toward the body. The spiritual works of mercy are oriented toward the soul.

http://www.secondexodus.com/html/catholicdefinitions/corporalworksofmercy.htm

[FloridaPat]

5. i've noticed that the people who tell you how dedicated to Jesus

they are - these are the least "Christian" people OI have to deal with.

[shrike]

7. Why post anything?

I love the Beatitudes (one of the reasons I'm still a Christian), but why should they be posted? In the home, maybe, but in a public place?

The biggest objection I had to our old friend Roy Moore was that he took it upon himself to install the Ten Commandments. If the community decided, via a vote or their representatives, to install such a monument and spend their tax money on it, that's one thing. But for him to take it upon himself -- uh-uh.

Anyway, I think we spend too much time worrying about surface things -- monuments, lists -- and not enough time teaching kids, and ourselves, how to LIVE by the beatitudes.

No offense to heidler1; I agree with your assessment of the Bs. But I'm at a point where I want action, not symbols, words and talk.

[heidler1]

9. I agree, but I was going along with what Bill Maher said which wasn't

really suggesting posting the Beatitudes, IMO it was an attempt to show their word choice of the Ten Commandments over the Beatitudes because the Ten are less anti rich and give better religious protection to those who are rich. With thou shall not steal and Thou shall not covet. These lend themselves in regard to looters to "SHOOT TO KILL." which Bill Maher used as an example. Being tough on criminals is absent in the Beatitudes.

IMO it is much like the Cathedrals with their flying buttresses and all that that I observed in Europe which the Kings of the time invested a great deal of money in to sell the idea that the poor will get their reward in Heaven while the Kings get theirs here on Earth. With the added protection of the Ten Commandments.

The Old Testament even goes further with calling Abraham God's favorite even though he hoodwinked the Pharaohs out of riches by passing his wife off as his sister. This never changes they just give it a new spin when needed.

[shrike]

10. Ah, I see

I didn't see the Maher show, so I didn't understand your reference, obviously.

In a way, it'd be against the spirit of the Beatitudes to post it, don't you think?

[heidler1]

11. yes

[jcldragon]

8. At the risk of somebody NOT guessing what novel I just finished...

Let me say that Christianity got off on the wrong track, when Peter betrayed Jesus, by preventing Mary Magdalene from becoming the head of the Church...