# Would You Hate People For Their Politics or Religious Views? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 16, 2012, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-hate-people-for-their-politics-or-religious-views/628367 "2012-07-16T01:44:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-hate-people-for-their-politics-or-religious-views/628367/21 "2012-07-16T04:41:04Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Of course not; they use euphemisms, sanitized or prettied up terms instead. They don’t say “tortured forever”, they say “Hell”. What about people who think God destroys the souls of unbelievers rather than damn them forever or view Hell as separation from God rather than literal hellfire and brimstone? ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-hate-people-for-their-politics-or-religious-views/628367/22 "2012-07-16T04:47:06Z")
It depends on the view. If they thought God wanted them to picket soldiers funerals to protest “teh gays”, then yeah I’m pretty comfortable hating them. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-hate-people-for-their-politics-or-religious-views/628367/23 "2012-07-16T04:48:39Z")
In any category I’ll hate people who are deserving of it. ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-hate-people-for-their-politics-or-religious-views/628367/24 "2012-07-16T05:01:40Z")
The thing is, most people who “believe” in the more sadistic aspects of mainstream religions seem to believe them only in a vague, abstract kind of way. They don’t actually wish ill-will on anyone. Truthfully, in Australia at least, being “Christian” for the most part means nominally claiming belief in the core tenets as a way of affirming that you’re part of the club. The people who are true believers are looked askance by even common Christians. In other words, most Christians you’ll encounter are Christian in name only–I’m not about to hold it against them if their church holds beliefs that they don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-hate-people-for-their-politics-or-religious-views/628367/25 "2012-07-16T12:20:39Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > What about people who think God destroys the souls of unbelievers rather than damn them forever or view Hell as separation from God rather than literal hellfire and brimstone? I don’t care what people “think”–but what they say or do. If they preach at me I’ll ignore them (if they’re the usual mental patient on light rail)–or, sometimes, answer back. It it’s a matter of politicians spewing hate, I know how to express my displeasure–nowadays, just never voting for any Republican does the job. (The Liberal Republicans of yesteryear are long gone, unfortunately.) My response wouldn’t be hate–what’s the point? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-hate-people-for-their-politics-or-religious-views/628367/26 "2012-07-16T12:30:16Z")
Hate them for hateful beliefs? No. Hate them for hateful statements? Maybe. Hate them for hateful acts? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-hate-people-for-their-politics-or-religious-views/628367/27 "2012-07-16T12:44:13Z")
I’m not sure if the OP was focusing mainly on the difference between political or religious people, but for the overriding term in the poll Q was “hate”. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-hate-people-for-their-politics-or-religious-views/628367/28 "2012-07-16T13:00:11Z")
of course it all depends on the views, of the many people who said no to both, how do you feel about people such as Osama Bin Laden, Hitler, Pol Pot, and so on? I am sure I can hate them based on political or religious views. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-hate-people-for-their-politics-or-religious-views/628367/29 "2012-07-16T13:44:50Z")
In what world were Nazis and Communists _not_ mainstream? And as to the OP, yes, oh, yes. Or to quote New Model Army: > [@](#): > > I believe in justice > I believe in vengeance > I believe in getting the bastard ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-hate-people-for-their-politics-or-religious-views/628367/30 "2012-07-16T13:51:46Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > In what world were Nazis and Communists _not_ mainstream? Present day Earth. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-hate-people-for-their-politics-or-religious-views/628367/31 "2012-07-16T13:54:02Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > Present day Earth. One billion people not mainstream enough for you? Not that the OP specified hating _living_ people. ---
**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:** [July 16, 2012, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-hate-people-for-their-politics-or-religious-views/628367/32 "2012-07-16T13:55:23Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > Present day Earth. The Nazis controlled Germany; the Communists controlled quite a few nations. That’s pretty “mainstream”. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-hate-people-for-their-politics-or-religious-views/628367/33 "2012-07-16T14:03:41Z")
In the US, there are plenty of people who hold political positions that make no sense at all unless predicated on deep-seated contempt for LGBT folks. The lack of respect I feel for such people is at least as deep-seated, and it might make sense to call it “hate.” Similarly, after 9/11, I had a woman call my workplace and say, “We need to turn the Middle East into glass.” That genocidal sentiment was widely echoed for several months. It’d be fair to say I hated those folks for their murderous ways. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-hate-people-for-their-politics-or-religious-views/628367/34 "2012-07-16T15:03:53Z")
Not really hate. Just pity and lack of respect in some cases. I just try to stay away from people like that. ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-hate-people-for-their-politics-or-religious-views/628367/35 "2012-07-17T00:14:46Z")
No, I don’t hate people for their political or religious views. I might give 'em the beagle head tilt at times, but that’s about it. I just don’t see getting my panties in a bunch over something I can’t control or change. I got too much other shit to do in life, ya know? ---
**Author:** ![D-bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@D-bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D-bear)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-hate-people-for-their-politics-or-religious-views/628367/36 "2012-07-17T00:24:16Z")
Three words. Westboro Baptist Church Maybe God wouldn’t want you to spew hate at the funeral of fallen soldiers. Just maybe… ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-hate-people-for-their-politics-or-religious-views/628367/37 "2012-07-17T03:15:10Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > One billion people not mainstream enough for you? Not that the OP specified hating _living_ people. Are you seriously calling fascism or naziism mainstream, and trying to imply that I’m the dumbass? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-hate-people-for-their-politics-or-religious-views/628367/38 "2012-07-17T03:24:26Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > Are you seriously calling fascism or naziism mainstream, and trying to imply that I’m the dumbass? His point seems pretty clear to me. In the mid-twentieth century, there was a tremendous chunk of the world’s population that was Nazi or Communist. At that time, they were mainstream. He feels comfortable hating on those folks who were Nazis and Communist when it was mainstream (just as presumably he’s willing to hate on folks who are Nazis and Communists now, when it’s less in vogue). Do you disagree? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-hate-people-for-their-politics-or-religious-views/628367/39 "2012-07-17T07:33:52Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > Are you seriously calling fascism or naziism mainstream, and trying to imply that I’m the dumbass? > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > His point seems pretty clear to me. In the mid-twentieth century, there was a tremendous chunk of the world’s population that was Nazi or Communist. At that time, they were mainstream. He feels comfortable hating on those folks who were Nazis and Communist when it was mainstream (just as presumably he’s willing to hate on folks who are Nazis and Communists now, when it’s less in vogue). What LHoD said, with the additional note that there are still plenty of mainstream Communists today (less so with the outright Nazis, but plenty of Right-Nationalists in Europe still). I _don’t_ hate all Communists, BTW, just the leaders/totalitarians, I was just taking issue with the idea that they’re _not_ mainstream. I mean, China is still Communist. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-hate-people-for-their-politics-or-religious-views/628367/40 "2012-07-17T14:14:45Z")
I’m an atheist left-winger, my SO is a church-going Christian (I sleep in), and my best friend is a Randian right-wing libertarian (we don’t talk politics). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-hate-people-for-their-politics-or-religious-views/628367.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-hate-people-for-their-politics-or-religious-views/628367.md?page=3)