This Sunday I’m going to speak on Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” at the Ethical Society.  Although I’m a Humanist and not a Christian, I want to examine this famous text because it’s often cited as a powerful ethical statement, even by those who don’t necessarily believe in the Bible as the word of God.  I’m reading the whole Book of Matthew and relevant sermons by Christian ministers both conservative and liberal, and I thought I’d ask readers of this blog as well–what does the Sermon on the Mount mean to you?  Many of its statements seem impossible to live up to, particularly for average Americans.  Some of them seem downright communistic (gasp!) or pacifistic (double gasp!). Are you influenced in your life decisions by Jesus’ sermon? Do you struggle with understanding or trying to follow his words? Do you think this sermon has good ethical lessons to offer non-Christians…