Question for NON-Christians:?

Question

Is there any NON-Christians on here who "actually" understand the concept of

"LOVE THE SINNER, HATE THE SIN"?

Before you condemn it, you really should understand it...

How does loving someone imply you love 'everything' about them???

Isn't it possible to love someone, without completely adoring every little habit, behavior, etc. that they have?

Why is this so impossible for so many to "understand"

Please enlighten me WHY it is so difficult to understand this concept.

The responses I've received so far don't answer the question. They're for the most part another "stab" at how Christians push their beliefs! lol

Stick the question will you?

Either you do, or
You don't understand!

which is it?

to answer someone's question:

Hell is the eternal punishment for those who refuse to "seek forgiveness" and who insist on dis-respecting God and His teachings...

I don't think he does it with a smile on his face. He wants everyone to be 'Saved'...

but everyone has to be held accountable for his/her actions.

As Simple as that. (That's the plain truth about Good Vs. Evil --- Heaven & hell...)

Jesus still loves you. He loves you so much, that he wants you to repent...

Thank you "Snoopy" for making that remark. I understand completely where you are coming from; and you may very well have a point...

However, if I may point out the obvious: That DOES NOT give people the right to condemn all Christians when they use that expression.

Afterall, not all "Christians" claiming to be so - are really 'CHRISTians'.(Even the Bible itself says not everyone who says 'lord, lord'...) thank you for bringing that up.

Answer 1

I can understand God loves the sinner so much he died for him . But God cannot look on sin so although he has given us a way out of this sin it is our choice wether we follow him or not. If not God has no choice but to turn us away. Although he loves us he cannot look on our sin. I think that that is about right. By the way i am not a Christian

Answer 2

I totally understand this concept. I'm a non-Christian. I'm a Hindu. I can't imagine what is so difficult about it to understand. I didn't realize that people had a hard time understanding it!

We love all people for they all are like our extended family and they share our same feelings and desire to not suffer and to attain happiness. In this, we are all the same. I believe that all are from God ultimately, and all have the divine spark within them. But even without believing in God, I would think that one could understand the value of loving people despite what they do.

Various things make people do things which are wrong or even despicable. But they cause themselves harm as well as others. What we should truly want for these people is that they fulfill their human potential and improve themselves to the point that they no longer cause harm to anyone, and that they deserve happiness. It would be like a mother who never stops loving her child, even when the child does wrong. She hurts for the child because she wants the best for him/her.

I think where you may be running into conflict with the slogan "love the sinner but hate the sin" is when it is used in reference to homosexuals. I think the problem there is that it is taken as an insult to the homosexual to suggest that his sexual orientation is somehow his sin. They did not choose to be that way and they don't see it as harming anyone. Therefore, to call it sin would seem akin to calling a love for peanut butter a sin. It's not something the person chose, they just love peanut butter. And it doesn't seem to harm anyone that they love it and eat it. Ok, maybe that was a silly example! But really, I think that this may be the key to the conflict over the saying.

Answer 3

Yes there ARE (not IS).

I'll bear the understanding issue in mind next time I'm randomly selecting a religious tenet to condem. Hitherto, I've just been abusing religion with no understanding whatsoever, it's what all atheists do because we're all so sinful....

I don't know how loving somebody implies you love everything about them, do tell...is it a cracker? (Notice how one question mark suffices)

Yes it is possible to love someone without adoring every little habit etc. Well spotted. Thanks for pointing that out, I'd have been tripping over that one for months without your help there.

Is it impossible to understand? I seem to be coping. Perhaps I've misunderstood, leading me to believe I have understood, although I do not understand and therefore my understanding has been a complete misunderstanding. I do, however, understand when it is appropriate to use speech/ quotation marks and avoid appearing on the internet as a semi-literate religious zealot.

It is not hard to understand. I neither need, nor desire any explanation, teaching, indoctrination or whinging.

Answer 4

Dearheart, I have no problem with it. I have a problem with Christians telling other people that they're going to hell. What a horrible thought! To condemn a soul to an eternal torment just because they won't believe in your god. Historically it's a lot like the "convert or die" theory the church used not only in the Holy Lands but in the Inquisition. Don't tell me those lovely torturing people weren't Christian. They were. It IS impossible to love the whole person. Only God can do that. Christians should try just living with people rather than judging and condemning. Please. This is what starts religious wars. This is what kills people in the name of God.

Answer 5

Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin is the same thing as Love the Person, Hate their Bad Behavior.

I have a non-recovering alcoholic birth father, I could love him if we met, but I know I will strongly dislike his drinking problem. Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin.

If I had a friend who has a bad attitude problem, I may love my friend, but dislike her bad attitude problem. Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin.

If I had a friend who is grossly obese and still continues to overeat, darning her health to heck.....(sigh)....I will still love her, but hate she is doing that to herself. Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin.

And I am an atheist. I fully understand this concept---I just disagree with the _christian_ concept of "sin". I believe many of the non-christians do too, hon. Give us a little more credit, will ya, love? :-)

Answer 6

Maslow had a great theory which might help explain why it is so diificult to "love the sinner, hate the sin." Maslow created a five level heiarchy of needs. First we need things to ensure our survival. Next we need to feel safe. Third comes social relationships. Forth and fifth level aren't important to this question. When people see sinners around them, they somehow feel threatened. Thus their need of safety isn't being met. It isn't until the need of safety is met that they can concentrate on social relationships involving loving the sinner, hate the sin. So in other words, those who do understand love are having their needs met and those who don't aren't.

Answer 7

I am sorry that people have not answered your question but it may be that it is hard to answer that question. Are there people who I love who do things I do not approve of or like them to do the answer is of course yes and I love them despite those failings and perhaps at times I may even tell them about what they do that I disapprove of...... The problem here and I am sorry to sort of be another one is that really most Christians I have known do not really do that. They for example don't say I love Joe but I just wish he wouldn't do the homosexual thing...they try to convince the person that they are doomed to an eternity of sufferering if they don't change.....I know you are asking the question and I suppose I should open this up as a question but honestly do you feel most or even many christians try to convert people because of a heartfelt love for them or do you feel they do it to sort of earn the merit badge of winning the argument and having people do as they do?

Answer 8

Why should we condemn it? It is true.
In doing a wrong action, doesn't a bad person maketh.

In Buddhism, we are taught to look at a person, whether a friend or a foe, in a new light everytime we meet. In this case, no expectations will not be burdened upon a friend and no grudges will be held unto a foe. We will then accept a person for what s/he is irregardless of race or religion, gender or status. And the world will be a happier place for all...

Answer 9

If you hate the sin then you also hate the person. Every person is unique and their behavior IS who they are. So, "love the sinner but hate the sin" is an absurd idea. But it's good in a way because it breeds tolerance. Question: If god loves the sinner but hates the sin then why does he throw the sinner into hell anyway?

Answer 10

I do feel the need to point out that there is a difference between "not loving every little habit" and "accepting people's faults/downfalls as a part of them". It is entirely possible - and anyone who is married can point this out to you - to accept the shortcomings of others, without trying to change them, because they help to comprise the person that you "love".

Buddhists believe in "Compassion" for all living things, a practice that can be defined as "unconditional love". By "uncoditional", it is meant that I do not place reasons, limits, or conditions on my love for you. The limit is not even there for simply "you" - because if it were focused solely on "you", that would be yet another condition. It is love for "all" - good, evil, perfect, imperfect.

Life is deserving of love, despite any and all shortcomings contained therein.

I hope this helps a little?

Answer 11

What part of Judge not lest you be judged do Christians have a problem with. What part of let those without sin cast the first stone do Christians not get.. I dont get it. Love the sinner and hate the sin is a sin beacause God is the judge. when you make that statement you are playing God and playing judge. Jesus told us to work on our own sin. There are false prophets who tell christians to judge there neighbors who profit and gain power by using the peoples low self esteme tell them there better than a group of people, instead of working on there own sins thats what causes war poverty and everything Jesus stood against. I dont get why christians dont do what Jesus himself told them to do.