# Why do christians display commandments, not beatitudes? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 28, 2005, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-display-commandments-not-beatitudes/310227 "2005-06-28T17:23:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-display-commandments-not-beatitudes/310227/1 "2005-06-28T17:23:31Z")
Seriously. Can somebody explain this to me? Why do so-called Christians make such a big ruckus out of displaying the Ten Commandments rather than the Beatitudes? I guess I’m mistaken, but I thought the Beatitudes were supposed to be a big deal. Confusedly yours, js\_hoping not all speak well of me\_africanus ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-display-commandments-not-beatitudes/310227/2 "2005-06-28T18:15:08Z")
A sizeable and vocal subset of Christians — heavily overlapping the set of Christians most likely to make a ruckus about displaying Christian iconography &etc in official government settings — is oriented more towards judgmental absolutism than towards forgiveness sharing and refraining from judging one’s neighbor. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-display-commandments-not-beatitudes/310227/3 "2005-06-28T18:23:17Z")
I’m a former Christian, and I have three guesses:[ul][li]The ten commandments are rules; the beatitudes are more like suggestions.[/li][li]In general, more weight is given to the Old Testament than the New Testament.[/li][\*]Almost all of the beatitudes are open to to interpretation (different definitions of "poor in spirit, “meek,” etc.), while for the most part the commandments are black and white. Folks may quibble over what it means to “honor thy father and mother,” but the other 9 are pretty straightforward.[/ul]Or maybe some combination of all three. But really, who knows why Christians do what they do? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-display-commandments-not-beatitudes/310227/4 "2005-06-28T18:31:44Z")
I’m Christian (well, I’m LDS, which is Christian but not evangelical), and I have often wondered the same thing. So I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-display-commandments-not-beatitudes/310227/5 "2005-06-28T19:01:09Z")
A very good question. The best answer I can think of is that human beings must just naturally have a thing for Top Ten Lists. ---
**Author:** ![Psycho\_Pirate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Psycho\_Pirate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Psycho_Pirate)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-display-commandments-not-beatitudes/310227/6 "2005-06-28T19:20:41Z")
> [@js\_africanus](#): > > Seriously. Can somebody explain this to me? Why do so-called Christians make such a big ruckus out of displaying the Ten Commandments rather than the Beatitudes? I guess I’m mistaken, but I thought the Beatitudes were supposed to be a big deal. > > Confusedly yours, > > js\_hoping not all speak well of me\_africanus Many Christians (and non-Christians for that matter) believe that the Ten Commandments form some basis for our modern laws (specifically, the last six), and are generally good guidelines to live by. Thus, their display within proximity to legislative and judicial buildings makes sense. The Beatitudes don’t really give any advice, they just give hope to those groups that they describe (the poor, the meek). Most Christian homes that I have visited do not have the Ten Commandments displayed. They more likely have affirming verses or poetry (the classic example being "Footprints) or artwork depicting shepherds, individuals bowed in prayer, or Christ. I might add that, in my experience, it isn’t the Christians who are making a big ruckus, it is the perpetually offended atheists who are making the ruckus. I am sure that this group, as extremely vocal as they are extremely the minority, would also screech at the display of the Beatitudes, or any other religious wording or iconography. ---
**Author:** ![Khan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3ab097/32.png) [@Khan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khan)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-display-commandments-not-beatitudes/310227/7 "2005-06-28T19:29:06Z")
> [@Psycho Pirate](#): > > I might add that, in my experience, it isn’t the Christians who are making a big ruckus, it is the perpetually offended atheists who are making the ruckus. I am sure that this group, as extremely vocal as they are extremely the minority, would also screech at the display of the Beatitudes, or any other religious wording or iconography. That’s a two-way street there, buddy. Whenever someone decides that it might be a good idea to take down a tablet of the ten commandments lest it seem that the courts favor a particular set of spiritual beliefs, we invariably get a throng of screeching protestors lamenting how religion (read: Christianity) is under attack in this country. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-display-commandments-not-beatitudes/310227/8 "2005-06-28T19:29:51Z")
Many years ago, there was a wave of 10C monuments installed around the country. Was it from a sudden increase in religion? No, it was Cecil B. Demille promoting his new movie. Demille never made a movie about the Beatitudes, so, no monuments. Today, people see these monuments to a movie, and they make some mistaken assumptions about religion & government. It really says a lot about the influence one person can have. ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-display-commandments-not-beatitudes/310227/9 "2005-06-28T22:46:04Z")
Er… Former Presbyterian speaking. I’ve never heard of the Beatitudes until I opened this thread. 😕 Suspect ignorance’s a lot of that too, if other people’s knowledge mirrors mine. ---
**Author:** ![Liz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/liz/32/17737_2.png) [@Liz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liz)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-display-commandments-not-beatitudes/310227/10 "2005-06-28T22:51:00Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > Many years ago, there was a wave of 10C monuments installed around the country. Was it from a sudden increase in religion? No, it was Cecil B. Demille promoting his new movie. Demille never made a movie about the Beatitudes, so, no monuments. Today, people see these monuments to a movie, and they make some mistaken assumptions about religion & government. > > It really says a lot about the influence one person can have. …whoosh? Or truth? Because if that’s true, I’m going to **crack up**. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-display-commandments-not-beatitudes/310227/11 "2005-06-28T23:32:21Z")
> [@chatelaine](#): > > …whoosh? Or truth? Because if that’s true, I’m going to **crack up**. [You are in for a surprise](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6308785&postcount=55) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-display-commandments-not-beatitudes/310227/12 "2005-06-28T23:37:21Z")
So, what we need is a big-budget Hollywood epic about _ **The Beatitudes** _. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-display-commandments-not-beatitudes/310227/13 "2005-06-29T00:19:50Z")
Charlton Heston didn’t star in a high-profile movie about the beatitudes. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-display-commandments-not-beatitudes/310227/14 "2005-06-29T00:34:28Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > Charlton Heston didn’t star in a high-profile movie about the beatitudes. 🆒 Hmm… > [@New Testament Charlton Heston](#): > > You’ll get my rifle when you pry it from my COLD DEAD HANDS! And even though you want my rifle; I love you. And if you’re trying to make my rifle because I intend to use it in an un-peaceful manner, then bless you. And if you’re meek, and unable to take the rifle from my hands, bless you too. And I won’t care if you take my rifle when I’m dead, because Christ’s sacrifice has given me eternal life. Also, if your poor, and my rifle would help you out–then bless you. Hell if that’s the case go ahead and take it. I could stand to cut back on the wealth some–camels and needles and all that. > > You know, all this talk about rifles and death is kinda scary. Hey you guys, let’s go get cookies and ice cream and talk about ways to provide health care for the homeless! Won’t that be swell? Nope, just can’t picture it. ---
**Author:** ![Ashes\_Ashes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/db5fbb/32.png) [@Ashes\_Ashes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashes_Ashes)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-display-commandments-not-beatitudes/310227/15 "2005-06-29T00:55:24Z")
> [@Psycho Pirate](#): > > I might add that, in my experience, it isn’t the Christians who are making a big ruckus, it is the perpetually offended atheists who are making the ruckus. I am sure that this group, as extremely vocal as they are extremely the minority, would also screech at the display of the Beatitudes, or any other religious wording or iconography. It would be rather difficult for them to be perpetually offended if there were not something perpetually antagonizing them. If there weren’t a set of the 10Cs in the lobby of the courthouse, where it shouldn’t be because of that pesky seperation of church and state thing, atheists wouldn’t be complaining. ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-display-commandments-not-beatitudes/310227/16 "2005-06-29T01:15:39Z")
> [@Ashes](#): > > If there weren’t a set of the 10Cs in the lobby of the courthouse, where it shouldn’t be because of that pesky seperation of church and state thing, atheists wouldn’t be complaining. What about a ten commandments monument in front of a state capitol? That’s constitutional. Would atheists not complain then? ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-display-commandments-not-beatitudes/310227/17 "2005-06-29T01:45:07Z")
> [@Metacom](#): > > What about a ten commandments monument in front of a state capitol? That’s constitutional. Would atheists not complain then? This Christian most definitely would. (BTW, I’m not sure how you’ve come to the conclusion that it’s constitutional. Especially today.) ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-display-commandments-not-beatitudes/310227/18 "2005-06-29T01:56:01Z")
> [@lizardling](#): > > Er… Former Presbyterian speaking. I’ve never heard of the Beatitudes until I opened this thread. 😕 Suspect ignorance’s a lot of that too, if other people’s knowledge mirrors mine. You might not have known how they’re called, but I’d bet that, as a former christian of any brand, they were familiar to you… ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-display-commandments-not-beatitudes/310227/19 "2005-06-29T02:23:59Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > (BTW, I’m not sure how you’ve come to the conclusion that it’s constitutional. Especially today.) Well, I follow current events so I know that the Supreme Court recently ruled it constitutional. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-display-commandments-not-beatitudes/310227/20 "2005-06-29T03:11:42Z")
> [@Psycho Pirate](#): > > it isn’t the Christians who are making a big ruckus, it is the perpetually offended atheists who are making the ruckus. > [@Metacom](#): > > What about a ten commandments monument in front of a state capitol? That’s constitutional. Would atheists not complain then? > [@Ashes](#): > > If there weren’t a set of the 10Cs in the lobby of the courthouse, where it shouldn’t be because of that pesky seperation of church and state thing, atheists wouldn’t be complaining. It’s not “the atheists” who have a problem, it’s anyone who believes that church and state should be completely separate. Some of us are Christian, some are atheist, some agnostic, some Buddhist, etc. On the other hand, some atheists and agnostics don’t give a shit about this issue. Once more for the folks in the back: it’s about church vs. state, not Christianity vs. atheism. > [@Metacom](#): > > What about a ten commandments monument in front of a state capitol? That’s constitutional. Speaking only for myself, I don’t care about the fact that it’s Constitutional; I care about the fact that it _shouldn’t_ be Constitutional. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-display-commandments-not-beatitudes/310227.md?page=2)