I wonder why someone would imply that God, that nebulous unknown enigma of a being, hates any one? Unless it was to further there own agenda of course. The best example is of course that Phelps fellow who freely claims "God hates fags".

First of all, I think it's presumptuous to ascribe an emotion like hate to any version of a Christian God.

Second, I am familiar with most bible verse that condemns this thing or that behavior, but I don't recall God ever telling a prophet, "I hate salsa", or "I hate tofu" or anything for that matter.

Now, hopefully we can discuss this nicely, and the big S won't shut us down!
What I would like to hear, is WHY some one would ascribe an emotion like hate to a Christian God, and give some examples of it. And really, explore whether there is room for "hate" in any version of Christianity. I personally think hate is NOT something that should be done or expressed in the name of ANY God or Goddess, but that of course is a personal opinion. I honestly think that true spirituality should lead a person from hate and towards a more universal sense of love. What I remember of the teachings of Jesus as a matter of fact seem to revolve around the idea of loving others, of all types and varieties, as you would love yourself or as you would wish to be loved.

One point I will make before someone jumps in, Jesus did display anger and maybe even hate at times, but I think that was why "He" came here in human form, to feel and be what he created, to better understand his own kingdom as it were. Again, just a personal opinion. (Pretty deep for someone that's not a religious kinda guy, huh?)

I think your whole argument is a little biased to start since you are claiming that God is a Christian God. In any case God destroyed Sodom and Gomoro I think that was pretty angry, He wiped out most of the living in te flood including animals which had nothing to do with Human "Sins". I think the angel Gabriel would stand a war crimes tribunal by todays laws. God caused Abraham to blind his own son, he destroyed the first born Son of every Egyptian, Among other things. As far as Jesus he never claimed to be Gods son he said we are all gods children, its the Apostels that made him God and they stole his ideas and twisted it into an evil Church one which was resonsible for the dark ages and many millions of lifes. And I think you misunderstood the OP's original thought and that the Church and organized religion is a leach on society.

God didn't destroy anything. that was early mans ( and uneducated men) way of making sense of disasters. We have grown up. Just like children do we don't believe when it's raining the angels are crying or when there is thunder God is bowling.

I dont think anyone hates anyone, they just dislike them.

God doesn't hate homosexuals. Fred Phelps, Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell hate homosexuals. But if you filter your hatred through religion people are less likely to attack you for it.

Exactly.

I agree that god hates no one. All the stories about how god flooded the world and the horrific things people did to one another in the name of god was all because of humanity: social pressures and flawed thinking. Take Hilter for example. He was able to turn his whole society against the world and teach children from a very young age to hate jews. Or KKK member raising children into their beliefs. Or Catholic parents raising their children as Catholics. Everything that happened was due to humanity, NOT god. The bible was written by humans, and humans are flawed creatures, capable of violence and prejudice, as well as good. Who even knows if any of these stories are actually true? ^_^ Besides, christianity is not the only religion to believe in a superior being that created us.

Is there really one answer? Will we ever know, even after death??

I agree to a point--I think if you filter your hate through a religion, people won't attack you, they'll attack the RELIGION.

People have been abusing religion for centuries. People are the problem, not religion.

That was great...:-)

I must have been too vague (I do that a lot I think). I am not claiming "God" is a Christian, I was referring to any Christian version of God.

These things imply wrath, not hate. Also, we again are applying HUMAN emotions or states of mind to "God" which I still maintain is very presumptuous. Can you honestly say you know what "God" was thinking when he did these things? And remember, these things were claimed by prophets and the writers of the early texts that became the bible to be acts of God. Who knows what really went on? Who knows what "God" was thinking when he flooded the earth?

The implication here is that the world was free of evil and millions would have lived better lives without the Abrahamic God around. I think that's a bit of a stretch. There is NO way to know what the world would look like if there was NEVER a God like the one we are concentrating on here. As far as the church being evil and organized religion being a leach on society, I think thats a true statement in many cases. I also think without some form of early religion, humanity would never have become what it is today, both good and bad. I think SOME form of unifying religion is the root cause of society developing beyond simple city-states, feudal empires, and tribalism.

Cradle:


I think that's a truism. Substitute homosexuals for any one of MANY things, and you are spot on! Well said.

Isnt wrath an extreme anger??? Anger comes from hate. Yes for early society organized religion was needed but now its a self fufillin monstrosety.

I couldn't agree more. Was it Jospeh Campbell who spoke of the importance of rituals? Religion is a wonderful thing, but people use and abuse it to further their own agendas.

As to the initial post...in my humble opinion, God and hate are mutually exclusive terms.

I thought you made yourself quite clear.


These men make me ill.

Hmm. I guess they are related, but again, ascribing human emotions to any "God" is folly in my opinion.

As much as I hate brussel sprouts, I've never gotten angry at them.

As much as I love my spouse, I've gotten SUPER angry at her.

I'd literally die for my kids, any one of them, but I have also punched a wall because of them (man that hurt!) and that was extreme anger. Who knows, if I was working with the mind of "God", maybe they would have gotten a good smiting!

I made bold the early society statement. Here is why: Early man needed it, and it served it's purpose, right? Who's to say we don't need it now? Who's to say we can't use a little religion to make humanity STOP and think beyond the end of their noses? I think if anything, some folks could use religion NOW more than ever before in the history of humanity.

We think nothing of the thousands that die everyday due to the folly of man and his hunger for power.
We think nothing of moving on to our 2nd, 3rd, or 4th spouse.
We think nothing of watching simulated murder, torture, death and destruction as entertainment.
We think nothing of aborting a fetus that if delivered by C-section MIGHT actually survive outside the womb.

If a little religion could curb that behavior and ease that pain...well, cya at Church Oxy!

If as it is stated in the NT, "Only God is good", then I imagine a / the true God hates no one

As far as the Christian God goes, it's because the bible is open to interpretation, and there are various sections which could be intepreted as being hateful or vengeful. Which, really, says more about the interpreters than God.

To say God hates his own creation, is saying it's possible to hate your own child. It's not feasible in my mind.
The text are taken too literally, and apparently seen in the light that justifies our own conception of the divine, Our God.

Oh, it's feasible all right, unfortunately. And for some people are more than happy doing it

People who act all pious and full of hate and judgment usually forget that it was jesus who said "love thy neighbour as thyself", "judge not lest ye be judged" and "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her."



One down two to go. Phelps's cult will live on though.

Amen to that, brother.

One should always ask for the Holy Spirit's guidance in the privacy of one's bedroom or altar, one's sanctuary, when it comes to reading the Bible. The Bible can be quite a treacherous map..., especially since it's archaic and filled with obscured writings by shady characters (to begin with). The Holy Spirit in the mix is a must, no doubt.

Just a thought.

Feasible to those who have some major issues (even mental). I'm talking about parents, in general.

I wonder...why would God, having created humans as imperfect beings, punish them for being imperfect? Some say, of course, that humans were perfect until the occurence of the original sin...but how can a perfect being make a mistake?

No One is perfect, even possibly God (No offense God, I'm Catholic) but did he knowingly create humans imperfect? Or was it an IMPERFECT mistake.

"If he can only preform good and evil, then he is a clockwork orange, meaning that he has the the appearance of an organism lovely with color and juice but is infact only a clockwork toy to be wound up by God or the Devil or The Almighty State. It is inhuman to be totally Good as it is to be totally evil. The important thing is is moral choice. Evil has to exist along with good, in order that moral choice may operate. Life is sustained by the grinding opposition of moral entities. This is what the TV news is all about. Unfortuneately, there is so much original sin in us all that we find unattractive.

-Anthony Burgess, A Clcokwork orange Resucked

Ah, I apologize, as I was a bit unclear. I meant, if humans had indeed been created perfect, they would not have been vulnerable to making mistakes.

Well if god made us in his image then it would make sence that he or she has emotions. I love my daughter too but if she dsiobeyed me I wouldnt drown her in the bathtub or throw gasoline on her and set her on fire to teach my other kids a lesson. I think you are confusing goodness and spirituality with organized "crime" religion.Look at this world Muslim killing different muslim, Hindus killing Muslims, look at history Crusades, Inquisition, Caste system, Floods destruction that sound peaceful to you? Religion gave early man purpose because and united now it gives, Motivation for division and hate. Listen all the things you mentioned got us this far:

Spouces: Why be unhappy for rest of your life, if it doesnt work it doesnt work.
Entertainment: Listen this is how we were created if we didnt have the instincts we would not enjoy the M.T.D.D.
Abortion: Some people do not want to risk their health for a baby that is not yet alive. An opertation is an operation, and child carrying is very hard on the womens health especially if they have geinochological problems.

Sorry, I was gone all weekend.
Still my points stand I think. My little mini-list is sound. I won't debate them point by point, they are topics all their own. But the big picture is still valid if you ask me.