Why do conservative Christians emphasize the Ten Commandments … insisting they be posted in schools and public buildings … instead of emphasizing and posting the central message of Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount … the Beatitudes?
That’s something I’ve been curious about for years.
Before the pandemic, at a Braver Angels meeting, I had the opportunity to ask a conservative speaker this question. A highly respected young woman among Braver Angels conservatives, she emphasized the Ten Commandments in her presentation.
Afterwards, during the social hour, I approached her.
“Can you help me understand why conservatives place so much emphasis on The Ten Commandments instead of the Beatitudes?”
She gave me a puzzled look.
I added, “If we are Christian, why not emphasize The Beatitudes? They came from Jesus?”
She seemed surprised and puzzled by my question. She must not have ever been asked that question. She didn’t have an answer.
Sensemaking
I continued to try to make sense of it. It seemed to me that discerning whether or not you are following “God’s Rules” is fairly easy. They are clear cut. You either are following them or you are not. Not much thinking involved.
On the contrary, The Beatitudes are not so clear. In fact, if you Google “The Beatitudes,” you will find many sites trying to explain their meaning. Figuring out whether or not you are living in alignment with Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is not so easy. The Beatitudes don’t fit so readily into red/blue … right/wrong political categories.
The Beatitudes take discernment … a process taking time and deep contemplation. Discerning how the Divine is working in one’s life … in our collective life is not so easy. We must ponder whether something is good or bad or if it might indeed transcend the limitations of dualistic (right/wrong … red/blue … conservative/liberal) thinking and categories.
The Beatitudes don’t fit easily into “I’M RIGHT and YOU’RE WRONG” political rhetoric. They contain a level of complexity that requires pondering.
I held to that analysis as the movement to post the 10 Commandments grew stronger.
The Unfolding
The YouTube title caught my eye … “What’s Behind the Trad Wife Movement.”
It featured a Red, Wine, and Blue interview. Red, Wine, and Blue is a diverse community of Ohio women standing up to extremism. This community is spreading into neighboring states and perhaps across the country.
The interview was with Tia Levings, the author of a NY Times best-selling memoir … which I haven’t read as yet … titled The Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy.
Tia relayed her harrowing story of escape. She knew she wouldn’t survive if she stayed. She wasn’t sure she would survive her escape. Despite this terrifying dilemma, she knew she had to get out. She admits to how fortunate she was to be able to go on and thrive.
Now she is on a mission.
I believe knowledge is power. And I can tell you what the Christian Patriarchy doesn’t want you to know. ~Tia Levings
It’s Worse Than I Thought
As the interview progressed beyond her personal story, Tia was asked to address the issue of “toxic empathy” and why it’s used in the culture wars to keep people in line. Tia’s stunning revelation gave a frightening worldview.
She spoke of Christian Patriarchy, which incidentally practices “wife spanking,” and it’s awareness that women tend to exhibit more empathy than men. To them, empathy needs to be shut down. They shut it down by giving it a different meaning.
The suffering of others may be punishment for their sin. Sad if a person is drowing, but best not to interfere.
And then she answered the curiosity I’ve held for years.
“Ironically empathy is Jesus’ message BUT they can’t risk that. For them, Jesus is too liberal to be the model. They believe they need to stick to the Old Testament.” ~Tia Levings
Consequences
As I follow the news
- I watched a clip of a young Ukrainian woman, a Humanitarian Activist, speaking to the European Parliament on International Women’s Day about her youngest case … a four-year-old girl who was raped repeatedly by Russian soldiers. She spoke of her distress at not being able to really help this little girl … and how the people of Ukraine will never recover from this war. She told the stories and asked the parliamentarians to imagine the hell they are living through.
I tried to imagine how someone who sees empathy as toxic … as something progressives exploit in the name of Christian compassion … would view the repeated rape of a four-year-old. What kind of sin would a four-year-old be guilty of?
- I watched Representative John Larson of Connecticut passionately implore the members of the Ways and Means Committee to resist Elon Musk’s efforts to privatize Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid … to stand up to the lies and tyranny of the Executive Branch … to quit lying to their constituents.
Hearing that through the lens of toxic empathy, I understood why, when I shared my concerns with the only one of my two senators with staff who answer the phone … concerns for my daughter if these benefits are cut, they lied to me with impunity.
Yes, my friends, it is worse than I thought.
Christian Patriarchy now sits in the highest offices in the United States Government. And even those “good people” Representative Larson referred to on the Ways and Means Committee who disagree … are afraid to stand up and speak out for the benefit and well-being of their constituents.
Hi Linda, I’ve been looking forward to reading this blog. I understand why the Fundy groups want to revert to the Old Testament. It’s just full of rules for life that one must follow. It’s very well lived by the Jewish fundamentalist as well. I’ve watched a series in TV about a woman who “escaped” that religious cult. Same issues: total control of women who have no rights and whose lives are ruled by patriarchal men. If you get her book, I’d like to read it too. Although, I might get her book on audio since I have more time to listen than I have to read these days. I’ll let you know if I get the audio book.
We women have struggled so hard to get our rights and now they are all being knocked down by a narcissistic, misogynistic, mentally deranged, evil man.