“For some reason the most vocal Christians among us never mention the Beatitudes. But often, with tears in their eyes, they demand that the Ten Commandments be posted in public buildings. And of course that’s Moses, not Jesus. I haven’t heard one of them demand that the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, be posted anywhere......I am enchanted by the Sermon on the Mount. Being merciful, it seems to me, is the only good idea we have received so far. Perhaps we will get another idea that good by and by—and then we will have two good ideas.”
Kurt Vonnegut
Funny. I don't think I would have an objection to the Beatitudes being posted in a government building. I'm not sure I would object so much to the 10 Commandments, except they don't really add anything to the room. Too stern, too austere.
I like what Vonnegut said about the beatitudes. Its a nice piece of writing. I remember when I was a boy and heard them on the movie King of Kings. Jeffery Hunter as Jesus. I went to mom. Told her about the beautiful words I'd heard. She pulled out the bible and showed them to me.
I had never really asked to see the 10 Commandments.
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