Monday, March 07, 2005
Beatitudes Versus The Big Ten
SmartChristian links to Richard Mouw's piece about lobbying for public display of the Beatitudes instead of the Ten Commandments. I seem to recall meeting Dick Mouw at a function or two, but I do not recall him being quite this naive.
First of all, I do not think that on a theological level Jesus intended the Beatitudes to be in opposition to the Ten Commandments, but I'll leave that discussion to others more learned in the matter than I.
The answer to Mouw's question is straightforward, and purely political. Judaism and Christianity both embrace the Ten Commandments wholly. They are echoed in Islam and some other most ancient law codes known. They are the basis for virtually all know codifications of law, certainly in the western world. Save for the utter atheist that objects to the "no God before Me" things, they are almost universally acknowledged and accepted.
The Beatitudes, though marvelous, are purely Christian and would to some extent constitute a state establishment of religion. They lack the universality of the Big Ten. Sorry Dr. Mouw, I understand what you're driving at, but not practical.
First of all, I do not think that on a theological level Jesus intended the Beatitudes to be in opposition to the Ten Commandments, but I'll leave that discussion to others more learned in the matter than I.
The answer to Mouw's question is straightforward, and purely political. Judaism and Christianity both embrace the Ten Commandments wholly. They are echoed in Islam and some other most ancient law codes known. They are the basis for virtually all know codifications of law, certainly in the western world. Save for the utter atheist that objects to the "no God before Me" things, they are almost universally acknowledged and accepted.
The Beatitudes, though marvelous, are purely Christian and would to some extent constitute a state establishment of religion. They lack the universality of the Big Ten. Sorry Dr. Mouw, I understand what you're driving at, but not practical.
