Hate Within Christianity

[connermt]

It's no secret that hate is a strong emotion that everyone (everyone) has to deal with. However, in many religions that profess 'love' (christianity in particular), it seems that hate is easy to not only survive within it, but thrive within.
Why is it that christianity makes it so easy for one to experience, breed and even encourage hate?
Is it because there's nothing tactile about it - it's all 'belief'?
Is it because it's open to anyone?
Is it because everyone can make it what they want it to be - making any verse say, basically, anything?
Is it because there are SO many sects of it that it has lost its way?
Is it because it encourages hate?
Or is there another reason?

DISCLAIMER: Most every religion deals with hate. As this is a christian forum, it's being discussed as such.

[Elijah John]

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I just want to be fair in defending fundamentalism from this association.

Would it be fair (and accurate) to say that KKK and WBC (and others) represent the fanatical fringe of Christianity -- an example of how the religion can be perverted to serve the agenda of groups that are part of Christendom?

It would be fair except I do not think that ANY mainstream sect of Christianity would consider either one of those groups part of Christendom, they would be disowned and like the Pope recently did with the Mafia, excommunicated. ('cept of course neither the KKK nor the WBC were ever part of the RCC).

[connermt]

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Even the average Fundamentalist is not taught to hate...

Perhaps not by word, but many are by deed, if their actions are to be believed.

It should be mentioned that the KKK is a Christian organization -- as is Westboro Baptist.

These may not be "average" fundamentalists, but they are examples of Christianity and fundamentalism.

They may be examples, but they are not representative nor are they good examples, even of fundamentalism, which as you know I do not embrace. (Fundamentalism, that is.) I just want to be fair in defending fundamentalism from this association.

With respect, who gets to decide 'good examples'?
When a belief system has nothing to support it that can't be twisted to fit one's own need, said belief system needs to be ready to accept all monstrosities that may be birthed from it.

[Elijah John]

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Even the average Fundamentalist is not taught to hate...

Perhaps not by word, but many are by deed, if their actions are to be believed.

It should be mentioned that the KKK is a Christian organization -- as is Westboro Baptist.

These may not be "average" fundamentalists, but they are examples of Christianity and fundamentalism.

They may be examples, but they are not representative nor are they good examples, even of fundamentalism, which as you know I do not embrace. (Fundamentalism, that is.) I just want to be fair in defending fundamentalism from this association.

With respect, who gets to decide 'good examples'?
When a belief system has nothing to support it that can't be twisted to fit one's own need, said belief system needs to be ready to accept all monstrosities that may be birthed from it.

Are you actually considering them GOOD Christians because "who is to say otherwise?" Would you call suicide-murderers who commit terrorism in the name of Allah, "good " Muslims" too? Or atheist Stalin a good example of Atheism?

Are you SERIOUSLY suggesting that Christianity is reponsible for the TWISTED interpretations by the Westboro Baptist Church and the Ku Klux Klan rather then the hateful derangement of those perverters of Jesus message themselves?!

Especially when both have been DENOUNCED and disowned by most Christians?

Seems to me you are taking "guilt by association" to the extreme, as their is NO association with Christianity, except in the minds of those sickos themselves.

Where in any of Jesus teachings do you get justification for lynchings and disgusting hate-filled protests at American soldiers funerals. (WBC: "Soldier's death are God's judgement for America's tolerance of homosexuality", and worse)

[connermt]

[Replying to post 13 by Elijah John]

Are you actually considering them GOOD Christians because "who is to say otherwise?"

I'm asking who gets to decide which christian is good and which isn't. I know many christians that wouldn't get the title 'good' anything Though their fellow believer would disagree. So who decides who's good and who's not?

Would you call suicide-murderers who commit terrorism in the name of Allah, "good " Muslims" too?

If I were a radical muslim, I would say YES. I'm not, so I would say NO. So again, who gets to decide?

Or atheist Stalin a good example of Atheism?

Depends on who is asked.

Are you SERIOUSLY suggesting that Christianity is reponsible for the TWISTED interpretations by the Westboro Baptist Church and the Ku Klux Klan rather then the hateful derangement of those perverters of Jesus message themselves?!

Absolutely, in a way. Christianity is so supple that anyone can take it and make anything they want out of it. Ultimate responsibility, IMO, rolls up to the christian god.

Especially when both have been DENOUNCED and disowned by most Christians?

That matters not one bit unless all one's concerned about is how one is defined and by whom.
If Bob says "I'm a christian" and goes out and murder 23 babies, while that may not seem like a christian thing to do, we have got to remember that, if Bob cited biblical verses, and that god itself killed millions of people, it's not that far from what's possible.
While it's nice for people to think 'oh my god is so loving and so wonderful and so great' with puppies running around, bunnies hoping all over the places and doves flying overhead, the fact is that, according to the bible, god - the god that heads christianity - has done terrible terrible things.

Where in any of Jesus teachings do you get justification for lynchings and disgusting hate-filled protests at American soldiers funerals. (WBC: "Soldier's death are God's judgement for America's tolerance of homosexuality", and worse)

As I said many, many, many, many times, the bible is full of stuff one can take and make it agreeable for one's actions. Perhaps, true christians should denounce ALL of the bible except jesus' words?

[Goat]

I would add that (as RWJ pointed out) that Jesus taught love. And I think that as a good Jew, he learned that from his tradition, as well as Spiritual instinct.

And the apostle John echos Jesus when he states that they who love are "of God" and they who hate are NOT "of God".

Hating one's neighbor is forbidden.

So, the only sect of Christianity I know of that TEACHES hate are family cults like the Westboro Baptist Church of Kansas. They are an anomaly and did not seem to get Jesus' "memo" to love instead of hate.

Even the average Fundamentalist is not taught to hate, and disapproval of what they consider immoral, and the embrace of traditional values instead should not be confused with "hatred".

Yet, this is confusing. Did not Jesus, according to Luke say
"26 If any man come to Me and hate not his father and mother, and wife and children, and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple."??



How is that love?

[Elijah John]

I would add that (as RWJ pointed out) that Jesus taught love. And I think that as a good Jew, he learned that from his tradition, as well as Spiritual instinct.

And the apostle John echos Jesus when he states that they who love are "of God" and they who hate are NOT "of God".

Hating one's neighbor is forbidden.

So, the only sect of Christianity I know of that TEACHES hate are family cults like the Westboro Baptist Church of Kansas. They are an anomaly and did not seem to get Jesus' "memo" to love instead of hate.

Even the average Fundamentalist is not taught to hate, and disapproval of what they consider immoral, and the embrace of traditional values instead should not be confused with "hatred".

Yet, this is confusing. Did not Jesus, according to Luke say
"26 If any man come to Me and hate not his father and mother, and wife and children, and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple."??



How is that love?

It is confusing, it is quite possible for Jesus to have contradicted himself. It is also possible that he used hyperbole, and didn't exactly mean "hate", not sure of the meaning of the original Greek, Aramaic or Hebrew.

It is also possible some redacting, revisonist scribe put their own agenda or words on Jesus lips.

But the main thrust of Jesus message seems to be one of love, of God and neighbor, and he characterized these two great Commandments as the "law and the prophets".

[justforme]

[Replying to post 1 by connermt]

anyone who resents, hates or judges and thinks they are a christian is being deceived.
studying does not a Christian make.

[connermt]

[Replying to post 17 by justforme]

So you say, but others with biblical references would disagree.

Seems just about anyone can be a christian these days....

[jcb]

[Replying to post 1 by connermt]

I'm really curious about if you are a participant of mainstream Christianity connermt. i know I'm not

[ttruscott]

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Even the average Fundamentalist is not taught to hate...

Perhaps not by word, but many are by deed, if their actions are to be believed.

It should be mentioned that the KKK is a Christian organization -- as is Westboro Baptist.

These may not be "average" fundamentalists, but they are examples of Christianity and fundamentalism.

Does this post not rest upon a rejection of such a thing as a false Christian or false church, a fact plainly taught in Scripture where such things are defined?

Accepting the false as part of the true is false logic, no?

Peace, Ted