The late Kurt Vonnegut, a renowned satirical American writer, pointed out a discrepancy in how some Christians emphasize certain biblical commandments. He observed that vocal Christians often call for the Ten Commandments to be displayed publicly but rarely mention the beatitudes from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. These beatitudes, according to him, are overlooked despite their significant spiritual message.

Vonnegut's quote suggests that there is a focus on external symbols of faith, like the Ten Commandments, rather than the core teachings of Jesus found in the beatitudes. He implies that true Christian values might be more closely aligned with the teachings of Jesus that emphasize humility, mercy, and righteousness, which are less publicly showcased but central to Christian doctrine.