Do other atheist hate the saying "Love the sinner, hate the sin" as much as I do?

Question

Isn't that just an excuse for Christians to say really hateful things without feeling like they're being hateful? Like telling people they're going to burn in hell (something atheists don't believe in) for alleged "sins" like being gay or not believing in God, all the while ignoring their own sins because they prefer to point out other people's sins instead.
If that's love, would you do us a favor and love us a bit less?

Answer 1

It's right up there with "I'll pray for you". Just a self-deceiving way of saying "I hate you". Christians have the most warped idea of "love" I've ever heard. You can't "love" a stranger, for starters.

Answer 2

Yes I dislike sin, all people have sinned from one time or another. Even Christians fall short to the Glory of God sometimes. I am not perfect, I do not ignore my own sins and point out anothers sin. That is wrong-to me. I do love people who don't believe the way I do. My cousin is an atheist, and I still love her, and do not put her down, or constantly try to have her converted. I try to love everyone not as a sinner, but as a person. I may not agree with you, but it doesn't mean I will hate you because loving you would be more of a help then telling you if you have sinned and wave my bible in your face. You guys have me way wrong....

Answer 3

I think the main reason people use this phrase is simply to distinguish between being opposed to that which is considered sinful, and hatred toward the person themselves. Perhaps a more obvious sin like murder can be used to illustrate this. We ought not hate, or even judge, a murderer. But that doesn't mean we can't make certain judgments about the act of murder. We are all sinners...the point is lets talk about and judge the sins themselves, and love and encourage the sinners remembering that we are all essentially in the same boat - we have all sinned!

Answer 4

ha...i like your point. I never really thought about it much. I go to a christian highschool (im an atheist) so i get that filth everyday and i never realy thought it through. I get most insulted, however, when i try to have a religious debate in my Bible class and the christian i am debating ends his argument with "I will pray for you." How much more condescending can you get?! That's the ultimate slap in the face...I'm well learned in the bible and i know that Pride is the sin that god hates the most. Look around, atheists, at all the christians and their attitudes towards others; "Pride cometh before the fall." the fall of christianity is near.

Answer 5

You only hate what you don't agree with.... When a christian comes back at you with something like that you can't argue that, so that is why you hate "love the sinner hate the sin". As far as homosexual or gay telling them they are going to burn in hell for it I have never seen anything like that on here I have seen where they have said that it is bibically wrong and given verses to back it up and non Christians can't stand a christian who has the verses to back up their statements Romans1:26-29 1 Corinthians also has some verses if you want me to point them out to you * * OH BY THE WAY CHRISTIANS ARE VERY AWARE OF THERE OWN SINS AT LEAST I AM!

Answer 6

I am not a Atheist,but I am a Muslim,and I thank we are a couple of rungs higher on the Christian hate list than any other Group.
I get "We love Muslims but Hate Islam" I could really give less of damn what they love or hate.

Ray j: put that one on a tee-shirt and I will buy the first 12!

Answer 7

Hate is word I don't use.
Contrary to urban beliefs, Hate is not the opposite of Love.
Fear is the opposite to Love.

Most of the babble that comes from the mouths of theist is just a drone like the Tinnitus I have and the sirens we hear and all the other noises we have to put up with whilst living in a society.

I take no notice of what they say cos they haven't said anything new since Jesus played full-back for the Arabs or at least in the past 50 years.
The rest of society grows - religion stagnates; I'm just waiting for it to die so we can dispose of the corpse.

Answer 8

I didn't like it when I was an atheist, but it makes sense to me now. It might not even be my experiences as a Christian that did it for me, but my experiences as a teacher and now a parent. I can love someone without loving everything they do. (For example, one of my best friends voted for Bush, but I love her anyway.)
Since I used that exact line about a minute ago, I'll act like you mean me and address this as if you addressed it to me, ok? I have never told anyone that they are going to burn in hell. I don't make that determination, it's not up to me. I can tell you what the Bible says about it, but the Bible itself says that I do not know what is in another's heart (and I really don't) and that there are/will be people who look to the world like they are wheat (a metaphor) but are actually chaff (another metaphor) and that, conversely, there are people who look like chaff but turn out to be wheat when fully grown. (For example, during my atheist days I probably looked like chaff to Christians who knew me then, but SURPRISE! here I am in the wheat pile!) So I wouldn't hazard to guess where a specific person would, will, or did end up. Any Christian who does that is in jeopardy himself, in my understanding.
I am absolutely a sinner, which is why I needed a Savior's grace. I certainly don't ignore my own sins, and the only sins of others I have much to say about are the ones among the brethren, which the Bible says are my concern. If a non-believer has questions about sin, I can send them into the Bible, but I don't go around telling people that they are sinners headed for hell. (Maybe that's wrong of me, but I was an atheist for a long time, and I think it affected me in some ways.)
I am sorry you've had such poor experiences of Christians that you experience us as a whole as hateful. I assure you that I am trying my best to speak in love.

Answer 9

As a Christian I do agree that some Christians use the phrase as a blanket for their judgemental ways but not all of us are like that. I dont find it wrong to say "Love the sinner, Hate the sin", whats wrong with saying that? And for someone to tell you that you'll suffer in hell for your sins you didnt repent for, it's the truth. But why are you and many other atheists bothered by it if you dont believe in Christian beliefs?

Answer 10

Hey, I never do that.
I agree with you. Some people use it as an excuse to be, well, you know.....
I can say this, too, though. I would like it better if some atheists would do us a favor and love us a bit less rather than try to tell us how stupid and misguided we are.

Let's all just agree to disagree...and to lay off the preaching and name-calling.

Answer 11

If it's religious, I can't say I am a fan. I can respect a religion if people don't give me that, "I'll pray for you!" nonsense. If I wanted your prayers, I'd ask.