If "God is love", why do his followers sometimes incite hatred?

Question

Attached is what would have to be the worst question I've encountered here for inciting hatred.

http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Avkdxfv2PwADDddqQh1P73ng5gt.?qid=20070711064608AAlTFn7&show=7#profile-info-P49InB93aa

Christians so often say that those who incite hatred aren't "real" christians.

But this guy seems pretty sure he is.

How do christians feel about guys like this posting these sorts of questions?

Rev Albert Einstein.........dude, I'm an atheist & proud of it!

Answer 1

I answered that guy's question. He is a total, judgemental a$shole who has the gall to post some half-baked, biased research and call it an "argument".

I do not dislike Christians. Much of my family abide by the Christian faith. But these kinds of "anti-atheist" statements are really infuriating. The strange thing is that much of Christianity promotes love for oneself and his neighbor, and it's guys like that one who give Christians a bad name.

I just wish that guys like him would just clam up and keep their ridiculous notions of being the universally correct to themselves.

Answer 2

There is actually a lot of debate about the true nature of God, even among Christians. The Bible portrays Jesus as a peaceful and nurturing being on earth, and although God is often described in this light, there are times when God is described as angry, vengeful, or causing harm or violence.

The book of Revelation is a perfect example of how Christians could be confused about the nature of God because of the rapture and how he destroys all who are not accepted into the kingdom of God.

My argument remains that God MUST be only love, because if God can do harm to humanity, then he is ultimately temperamental, which makes Him impossible to understand.

A God who represents only love means there is ultimately a real and moral truth to the world.

Answer 3

That's guy is pretty ridiculous, I must say.

I'm not one to say if he is a "real" or "true" Christian. If he claims that he is one, then I guess all we have to go by is his word.

But that doesn't mean that his actions and words will always line up with Christianity. Christians traditionally have incited hatred quite a bit.

How do I feel as a Christian? Well first of all annoyed that he's misrepresenting my faith. Also it really grieves me and makes me feel like I have to work harder to speak up for what I personally believe as a Christian. Also I am sad that people would point to this guy as an example of Christianity and not someone who has done good things in the name of their faith.

Answer 4

Any person can say they are a follower of God. This doesn't mean they truly follow Him. The way a person lives their life shows Jehovah God that they are one of His followers. To in site hatred is NOT something a true Christian will do. It is the meek that will inherit the earth so does that tell you that we would be causing hatred?

Answer 5

"Real" Christians dont hate. If anything they simply really dislike. We are all individuals and as long as there are diffrent races and millions of people in this world we will never get along there will always be racism and people will say they "hate" others. Its something we must get used to. The hard part is remaining an idividual.

Answer 6

All of those claiming to be true Christians are not. Beware.

Just watch their conduct. Is their conduct resembling that of Jesus' and his Father, Jehovah God? Or is it tyranting and loud, obnoxious, judgemental and meant as a sharp-edged sword? Also, do they participate in worldly political matters and vote? Do they commit acts of fornication, adultery, homosexuality, liars, revilers, bestiality, stealing and thievery, gambling (greedy person), blasphemy, revenge, etc.

Watch the conduct of people as you read your Bible. Then you will be able to tell the difference between a true Christian verses that of a false one.

The greatest quality is love and this should show through.

Answer 7

Many call themselves such. But many also go to church Sunday, drink every day of the week, have sinful sex two days, swear at drivers, lust after objects and people, lie to their bosses, where a bikini to the beach, and then return to church the following Sunday looking as devout as ever. They call themselves Christians because they believe and go to church, it by no means tells that they live the life of one according to the Bible. The world is full of "Christians" like that.

Answer 8

The thread is just the ramblings of a person out to bait another over their beliefs.

I don't really have an opinion about the person; but the post itself is of insufficient merit to be worthy of consideration.

Public displays of idiotic rantings are just that -- attempts at spectacle which fall short.

IMHO we should be more concerned with substantive discussion than someone who is so unhappy that they feel obligated to paint a picture so devoid of objectivity or abstracted reality that it becomes badly in need of the proverbial 'grain of salt'.

Answer 9

True love is unconditional...not... "I love you if you worship me", or "If you believe I am all powerful."

Jesus does a better job of teaching this by saying that we should "love our enemies"
But it's much hard to live up to this ideal in our everyday lives. So many turn to the hateful rules of behavior, and commandments to stone our neighbors to death as punishment that are found in the old testament.
Some Christians take the easy route. But it doesn't make it the correct one.

Answer 10

The only thing good about the religion is the principles(ten commandments). Everything else should be thrown out because it teaches contradiction and superiority over others because of differences. That is why they contradict themselves by saying "god is love" then going out and hating people for choosing different from their beliefs. It is ridiculous.