Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

Showing Original Post only (View all)

Uncle Joe

(60,265 posts)
Sun Jun 23, 2024, 05:56 AM Jun 2024

Commandments by their very definition aren't morals, they're law. The Beatitudes are a prime example of morals [View all]



Matthew 5:3–12

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

(snip)

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/uk/beliefs/holy-bible/discover-the-power-of-the-bible/matthew-5



You can't teach morals with law, for law at its' best is neutral, based upon the foundation of the national contract, and law can be highly immoral as well.



Missouri's Dred Scott Case, 1846-1857

In its 1857 decision that stunned the nation, the United States Supreme Court upheld slavery in United States territories, denied the legality of black citizenship in America, and declared the Missouri Compromise to be unconstitutional. All of this was the result of an April 1846 action when Dred Scott innocently made his mark with an "X," signing his petition in a pro forma freedom suit, initiated under Missouri law, to sue for freedom in the St. Louis Circuit Court. Desiring freedom, his case instead became the lightning rod for sectional bitterness and hostility that was only resolved by war.

Dred Scott
Credit: Missouri Historical Society

(snip)

Taney's "Opinion of the Court" stated that Negroes were not citizens of the United States and had no right to bring suit in a federal court. In addition, Dred Scott had not become a free man as a result of his residence at Fort Snelling because the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional; Congress had no authority to prohibit slavery in the federal territories. Furthermore, Dred Scott did not become free based on his residence at Fort Armstrong (Rock Island), because his status, upon return to Missouri, depended upon Missouri law as determined in Scott v. Emerson. Because Dred Scott was not free under either the provisions of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 or the 1820 Missouri Compromise, he was still a slave, not a citizen with the right to bring suit in the federal court system. According to Taney's opinion, African Americans were "beings of an inferior order. so far inferior, that they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect." (Kaufman 221). Taney returned the case to the circuit court with instructions to dismiss it for want of jurisdiction.

Roger B. Taney
Credit: Missouri Historical Society

(snip)

https://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/africanamerican/scott/scott.asp#:~:text=Missouri's%20Dred%20Scott%20Case%2C%201846,Missouri%20Compromise%20to%20be%20unconstitutional.



You can only teach or have morals with courage, patience, understanding, education, empathy, life experience, vision and by example.

People that don't have those things are more likely to be fearful, resentful, spiteful and envious of those that do.

That's how we got the words "bleeding heart liberal."



What Is a ‘Bleeding Heart’?

The phrase bleeding heart is used to describe one who shows excessive sympathy for another's misfortune and is historically thrown as an insult toward more liberal politicians. Before this use, the term appears in literature describing sincere emotional outpouring, even taking on a literal association with the heart of Jesus Christ. Conservative journalist Westbrook Pegler is largely responsible for bleeding heart being used disparagingly, with his criticisms of FDR.

The term bleeding heart shows up in political writing as a derogatory term for someone who expresses excessive sympathy for another’s unfortunate situation. Perhaps not as common as it used to be, the phrase is historically lobbed more frequently at those whose politics are of the liberal persuasion.

(snip)

In later centuries, bleeding heart developed a literal association in religious writing and iconography, specifically used for the image of the heart of Jesus Christ. It likewise followed in religious oratory and writings that made reference to Jesus’s lamentations on behalf of the poor, the sick, or the struggling.

(snip)

https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/bleeding-heart-phrase-origin-meaning



This is not to say that moral people are perfect by any stretch, but they're more likely to be conscious of their imperfections, and in striving to overcome them.

Whereas frauds will be too centered in their own emotional self-indulgences.
22 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
KNR and thank you for this very interesting post. niyad Jun 2024 #1
Perfect post, great timing... MiHale Jun 2024 #2
Be kind, be honest. Drink some coffee. twodogsbarking Jun 2024 #3
Oh, but that was the hippie dippie Jesus guy they want to exorcise from their bibles Warpy Jun 2024 #4
Or as the musical Camelot put it: malthaussen Jun 2024 #8
Ha! Thanks Warpy Jun 2024 #15
Jesus added commandments Beck23 Jun 2024 #5
Right-wing Christians NEVER so much as mention the Beatitudes. mwb970 Jun 2024 #6
So? The "Christian" Right are authoritarians... malthaussen Jun 2024 #7
Mostly the beatitudes instruct slaves Voltaire2 Jun 2024 #9
Greed is Good. That's one right? 617Blue Jun 2024 #10
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's ass Major Nikon Jun 2024 #11
Whether one agrees with the lessons or not, a command is an absolute, order or law, Uncle Joe Jun 2024 #18
I never really wanted to covet my neighbor's ass Major Nikon Jun 2024 #21
Let's look at the whole verse FreeState Jun 2024 #20
kick. and recomend AllaN01Bear Jun 2024 #12
There are multiple versions of the commandments in paulrevere2018 Jun 2024 #13
So many so called Christians are selective in both Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes liberal N proud Jun 2024 #14
The Beatitudes are the bane of TV christians of the US Traurigkeit Jun 2024 #16
What kind of woke crap is this? Where is the fear, the hate, the retribution? Midnight Writer Jun 2024 #17
christians are supposed to be good people just did not turn out that way dembotoz Jun 2024 #19
I don't look to the Bible for either laws or morals..... brooklynite Jun 2024 #22
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Commandments by their ver...