Return to my Issues and Opinions pages
Go to my home page
© Copyright 2001, Jim Loy
Basically and superficially, religion would seem to have little to do with hate. Nearly every religion seems to preach love, peace, and tolerance. But of course, we know differently. People often hate people of other religions. And those who are hated hate right back. And some people who preach even preach hatred, often developing their hateful messages from those same holy books that preach love, peace, and tolerance.
Hate is a cancer. It destroys people, churches, and nations. If you hate, your hate may destroy someone else. But it will also destroy you, and those people that you love. Hate shrivels up your heart (not physically), and makes you less and less of a human being. I recommend examining your heart, as the various religions tell you to do. If hate resides there, you may want to consider what harm it is doing to you and those you love. Really.
While Christianity spreads more than its share of hate, Islam (sometimes called Mohammedanism, but they don't worship Mohammed) sometimes seems to be in the hate business. Some Islamic leaders throughout the world are preaching hate and death toward "infidels." They may even have valid reasons for this, just as a man may hate another man for some crime. But the hate in these men's hearts is the ugly cancer that I mentioned. Is Islam a religion of hate? Or is it a religion of love? Mostly love, I would guess. But quite a bit of hate. Moslems will tell you that it is unfair to blame Islam for what some of its followers and nations do. Worldwide Islam needs to speak out against hate and violence. Please, speak up, and speak out.
Recently, Islamic terrorists killed several thousand people in the World Trade Center. Incidentally, the intentional targeting of civilians is internationally agreed to be a war crime (or even worse in a time of peace), a crime against the human race. It is a crime against all religions, including Islam. When this crime was committed, I hated the monsters who did it. I wanted revenge. I wanted to go to their homes and kill them and their families. Ugly, isn't it? I have calmed down considerably. These people need to be brought to justice. But, I no longer want revenge, well maybe a little. Hate and revenge would make me like them, wouldn't it? It would destroy me, as it is destroying them. Muslims, is it your religious duty to kill Christians? No? A lot of Muslims would say, "Yes." Don't blame the media. Blame your brothers.
A man shot and killed an Indian Sikh (who apparently looked Islamic), in retaliation for the attack on the United States. That act shows a mind-boggling stupidity. It would be stupid to kill one Moslem for the crime of another Moslem, or kill one Christian for the crime of another Christian. And killing someone of an entirely different religion (especially a Sikh) compounds and emphasizes the stupidity.
Religious hate is not the only kind of hate around. But, since all religions pretend to preach love, not hate, religious hate is particularly disgusting. Religious people, please examine your hearts. Maybe it is now time to be truly religious.
Here are the lyrics to Imagine, by John Lennon:
Imagine
Imagine there's no heaven. It's easy if you try. No hell below us, Above us only sky. Imagine all the people living for today...
You may say I'm a dreamer. But I'm not the only one. I hope some day you'll join us, And the world will live as one.
Imagine there's no countries. It isn't hard to do. Nothing to kill or die for, No religion too. Imagine all the people living life in peace...
Imagine no possessions. I wonder if you can. No need for greed or hunger, A brotherhood of man. Imagine all the people, Sharing all the world...
© Bag Productions Inc.
At first, that seems a little strange, doesn't it, blaming heaven and religion (and the existence of countries) for the troubles in the world. And I don't want to give up my possessions (my car, and my books, and my computer). But there is plenty of truth in that song, whether we want to admit it or not. Each religion pretends to be a solution to world problems. But, so far, they are not. They are part of the problem.
Tom Lehrer said (more or less): "I know there are people in this world who do not love their fellow human beings. And I HATE people like that."