# Religions that preach hate are evil **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 27, 2008, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religions-that-preach-hate-are-evil/478879 "2008-12-27T21:31:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![solkoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@solkoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solkoe)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religions-that-preach-hate-are-evil/478879/1 "2008-12-27T21:31:04Z")
Can this be said to be true? This question is based on the documentary “Obsession, Radical Islam’s War Against the West.” This is admittedly a right wing film yet the basic premise that radical Islam preaches hate rings true through the movie. Being a Catholic, I can honestly say that, while the Church finds things such as the practice of homosexuality sinful, it does not preach hate or wish death upon those who practice it. We do not have death squads or suicide bombers. Perhaps, if the tables of life were sufficiently turned, we would have to resort to such means. That being said, is there any truth in the original post. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religions-that-preach-hate-are-evil/478879/2 "2008-12-27T21:49:25Z")
> [@solkoe](#): > > We do not have death squads As long as you brush the whole IRA thing under the table, just to give one example of many. This isn’t supposed to be a snarky remark, but it’s supposed to point out that when “we” do bad stuff, it’ conveniently brushed under the carpet (they’re not part of the mainstream us, they’re not religious, but political etc.). When “they” do bad things, all those subtle nuances are thrown out of the window and replaced by “all of then are teh evil”. Extreme radical Muslims are just as evil as extreme radical Christians. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religions-that-preach-hate-are-evil/478879/3 "2008-12-27T22:00:12Z")
> [@solkoe](#): > > Being a Catholic, I can honestly say that, while the Church finds things such as the practice of homosexuality sinful, it does not preach hate or wish death upon those who practice it. Of course it does. Everyone with half a brain knows that the “hate the sin, love the sinner” line is purely an attempt to pretend to be something other than bigots. A failed attempt. > [@solkoe](#): > > We do not have death squads or suicide bombers. So only Protestants have death squads ? And then there’s aerial bombing, invasions, and all the rest. Suicide bombers are for people who can’t mount the bomb on a missile; it’s a matter of relative weakness, not morality. And such things as the Catholic campaign against condoms, complete with lies claiming they spread AIDS have no doubt killed far more people than every terrorist who ever lived. But that’s OK, since those deaths are dedicated to the One True God, worshipped the One True Way. Right ? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religions-that-preach-hate-are-evil/478879/4 "2008-12-27T22:03:00Z")
> [@solkoe](#): > > **Religions that preach hate are evil** All except [**the** religion,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subgenius) which is good-and-evil-at-the-same-time, and preaches righteous hatred against the Normals. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religions-that-preach-hate-are-evil/478879/5 "2008-12-27T22:08:36Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Of course it does. Everyone with half a brain knows that the “hate the sin, love the sinner” line is purely an attempt to pretend to be something other than bigots. A failed attempt. I’m not even religious, and I find that insulting. No, **DT** , even some of us with whole brains don’t know that to be true. ---
**Author:** ![solkoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@solkoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solkoe)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religions-that-preach-hate-are-evil/478879/6 "2008-12-27T22:12:58Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Of course it does. Everyone with half a brain knows that the “hate the sin, love the sinner” line is purely an attempt to pretend to be something other than bigots. A failed attempt. > > So only Protestants have death squads ? And then there’s aerial bombing, invasions, and all the rest. Suicide bombers are for people who can’t mount the bomb on a missile; it’s a matter of relative weakness, not morality. > > And such things as the Catholic campaign against condoms, complete with lies claiming they spread AIDS have no doubt killed far more people than every terrorist who ever lived. But that’s OK, since those deaths are dedicated to the One True God, worshipped the One True Way. Right ? Wow!! You guys are good. If I had participated in a campaign against condoms or an IRA deathsquad or spread lies about the spread of AIDS then I would have a hard time defending myself. Another thread might deal with the issue of whether a participant in the Church is also a participant in the sins of the Church. I used radical Islam as an example but if you wanted to substitute radical Catholicism or Protestantism or Judaism, I have no objection. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religions-that-preach-hate-are-evil/478879/7 "2008-12-27T22:35:08Z")
> [@solkoe](#): > > If I had participated in a campaign against condoms or an IRA deathsquad or spread lies about the spread of AIDS then I would have a hard time defending myself. Another thread might deal with the issue of whether a participant in the Church is also a participant in the sins of the Church. > I used radical Islam as an example but if you wanted to substitute radical Catholicism or Protestantism or Judaism, I have no objection. That’s not “radical Catholicism”; it’s mainstream. And you seem to be inconsistent; you are apparently trying to claim Catholicism is superior by comparing radical Islam with non-radical Catholics. That’s not a very good comparison. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religions-that-preach-hate-are-evil/478879/8 "2008-12-27T23:08:22Z")
Of course you can always frame the question in such a way that you get the answer you wanted. Indonesia is a Muslim country. THE country with most Muslims. And yet they seem to be a peaceful bunch for the most part. So it is just a big lie that Islam preaches hate. It is a big lie. Some specific groups promote hate and use Islam as an excuse and support but that is an entirely different thing. It is their culture which promotes hate, not Islam. And, of the cultures today who promote violence, American culture is right up there at the top. And I don’t think that should tarnish Christians in general. Each one should be responsible for their own acts and it is not fair to extend guilt by association. ---
**Author:** ![solkoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@solkoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solkoe)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religions-that-preach-hate-are-evil/478879/9 "2008-12-28T02:55:59Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > That’s not “radical Catholicism”; it’s mainstream. > > And you seem to be inconsistent; you are apparently trying to claim Catholicism is superior by comparing radical Islam with non-radical Catholics. That’s not a very good comparison. I’m not a theologian but I believe that the basis of Catholic doctrine is to do good to all. Many might find this insulting but it is the basic root of Jesus’ teaching. If, in that root is the idea that condoms promote promiscuity or promote sex without love then that is a noble idea. The reality may be different but the basis of Catholic philosophy is respect for the individual. These and other teachings of birth control are Church doctrine but are only followed by the “hard core” Catholics. I respect the idea of banning condoms but I also know the reality of the human condition. How can you compare this to mass gatherings of “hard core” Islamics not only chanting death but carrying it out. I can never justify the harms that any religion propagates but preaching hate is different than noble ideas that fly in the face of reality. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religions-that-preach-hate-are-evil/478879/10 "2008-12-28T03:02:20Z")
The OP suffers from the belief that the present is somehow special as compared to all other points in time when looking at whether different religions “preach hate” (a slippery term to say the least). What about the Crusades and the Inquisition? Even further back, what about the smiting that god performed or ordered on all of those non-Jewish tribes with -ites at the end of their names? ---
**Author:** ![solkoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@solkoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solkoe)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religions-that-preach-hate-are-evil/478879/11 "2008-12-28T03:02:59Z")
> [@sailor](#): > > Indonesia is a Muslim country. THE country with most Muslims. And yet they seem to be a peaceful bunch for the most part. So it is just a big lie that Islam preaches hate. It is a big lie. > > Some specific groups promote hate and use Islam as an excuse and support but that is an entirely different thing. It is their culture which promotes hate, not Islam. The Muslim extremists speak directly from the Koran. It is there holy book. My question remains, are religions that promote hate inherently evil. I understand that not all Muslims should be grouped in the same category. > [@sailor](#): > > And, of the cultures today who promote violence, American culture is right up there at the top. And I don’t think that should tarnish Christians in general. > > Each one should be responsible for their own acts and it is not fair to extend guilt by association. American culture may have Christian elements but it is not by any means a Christian culture. I’m really focusing on the use of a God as a means to promote hate and/or violence. ---
**Author:** ![solkoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@solkoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solkoe)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religions-that-preach-hate-are-evil/478879/12 "2008-12-28T03:04:41Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > The OP suffers from the belief that the present is somehow special as compared to all other points in time when looking at whether different religions “preach hate” (a slippery term to say the least). What about the Crusades and the Inquisition? Even further back, what about the smiting that god performed or ordered on all of those non-Jewish tribes with -ites at the end of their names? Not at all. If these elements promoted hatred or violence in the name of religion then they fall into the same category. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religions-that-preach-hate-are-evil/478879/13 "2008-12-28T03:05:44Z")
> [@solkoe](#): > > Being a Catholic, I can honestly say that, while the Church finds things such as the practice of homosexuality sinful, it does not preach hate or wish death upon those who practice it. We do not have death squads or suicide bombers. Perhaps, if the tables of life were sufficiently turned, we would have to resort to such means. Have you even been listening to the [Pope](http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/22/europe/23pope.php) lately? If that isn’t “hate speech,” I don’t know what is. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religions-that-preach-hate-are-evil/478879/14 "2008-12-28T03:10:09Z")
> [@solkoe](#): > > The Muslim extremists speak directly from the Koran. It is there holy book. But you’re perfectly happy giving Christians a pass for doing exactly this. Why is that? ---
**Author:** ![solkoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@solkoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solkoe)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religions-that-preach-hate-are-evil/478879/15 "2008-12-28T03:11:13Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Have you even been listening to the [Pope](http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/22/europe/23pope.php) lately? If that isn’t “hate speech,” I don’t know what is. Good point and one that is hard for me to justify personally but once again there is a difference between saying this and having 100 000 Catholics cheering “death to gays” then strapping explosives to themselves and walking into a gay bar. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religions-that-preach-hate-are-evil/478879/16 "2008-12-28T03:14:23Z")
> [@solkoe](#): > > Good point and one that is hard for me to justify personally but once again there is a difference between saying this and having 100 000 Catholics cheering “death to gays” then strapping explosives to themselves and walking into a gay bar. So, short of that, the Catholic Church bears no responsibility for anti-gay violence? Including suicides? ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religions-that-preach-hate-are-evil/478879/17 "2008-12-28T03:16:24Z")
> [@solkoe](#): > > Not at all. If these elements promoted hatred or violence in the name of religion then they fall into the same category. 😕 So you agree with me that the Catholic church at one time engaged in the same type of terror tactics you now are mad at Islam for engaging in? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religions-that-preach-hate-are-evil/478879/18 "2008-12-28T03:20:11Z")
> [@solkoe](#): > > I’m not a theologian but I believe that the basis of Catholic doctrine is to do good to all. And they define “good” in a way that disregards the welfare of others. > [@solkoe](#): > > If, in that root is the idea that condoms promote promiscuity or promote sex without love then that is a noble idea. The reality may be different but the basis of Catholic philosophy is respect for the individual. It’s not a “noble” idea, it’s a nigh-genocidal one. And the last thing Catholicism ( or Christianity in general ) has ever done is shown respect for the individual. > [@solkoe](#): > > How can you compare this to mass gatherings of “hard core” Islamics not only chanting death but carrying it out. Dead is dead. Just because one prefers plague over bombs doesn’t make the former morally superior. > [@solkoe](#): > > I can never justify the harms that any religion propagates but preaching hate is different than noble ideas that fly in the face of reality. The latter are even more dangerous than hatred. And aren’t really noble, but self indulgent. > [@solkoe](#): > > The Muslim extremists speak directly from the Koran. It is there holy book. And the Bible is also full of hatred. > [@solkoe](#): > > My question remains, are religions that promote hate inherently evil. All religions are inherently evil, as far as I’m concerned. Hate or not. A believer acting out of well meaning delusion can be just as cruel as a believer motivated by hate. > [@solkoe](#): > > American culture may have Christian elements but it is not by any means a Christian culture. America is a VERY Christian country. Having it’s culture full of “Christian elements”, not to mention overwhelmingly run by Christians MAKES it a Christian country. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religions-that-preach-hate-are-evil/478879/19 "2008-12-28T03:28:27Z")
> [@solkoe](#): > > I respect the idea of banning condoms . . . I know I’m taking this out of context, but this is one of the most outrageous statements I’ve seen in a long time . . . even taking into account your allowances for the “human condition.” ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religions-that-preach-hate-are-evil/478879/20 "2008-12-28T03:34:40Z")
Religion itself is the most insidiously evil creation. Mind control is mind control, no matter how you fancy it up. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religions-that-preach-hate-are-evil/478879.md?page=2)