Why is it in our nature to hate?

Question

Surely we have enough control over ourselves to search for compassion within our own hearts, before we hurt others?

Is it really too difficult to love those who hurt us?

But surely if everyone believes they are better than others, they would have no reason to hate.

When we believe we are equal, we have no reason to hate.

It is when we feel inferior that we begin to hate.

I agree that hate is taught. Yet I find nothing to support it.

No foundation to either the concept nor the argument.

If I was taught to hate, might I rebel against such teachings?

Answer 1

Man that is a hard one.

I think that deep down, hate is born of fear, mostly fear of differences. If you look at a situation in which there is hate, like 9/11, what is it that makes anyone hate? That our buildings got bombed and our people got killed, that's why "we" hate them. (if we do hate.... this is all hypothetical folks...) And why did they take the planes and fly them into the buildings? Because "they" hate us for a variety of political and social and religious reasons which exist for them and are valid in their minds. So there is hate on both sides.

But suppose one person from "our" side and one person from "their" side met and became friends before 9/11, and were able to overcome the differences that they were confronted with? When they meet, they might have some natural fear of each other based on they strangers to each other, but say one is Christian and one is Muslim, and they have some extra "fear" just based on that.

But they talk to each other, get to know each other , and the key word here is that they KNOW each other. When you know someone, you know there is nothing to fear. They don't change each others' ideologies, but each knows the other as a person.. they don't hate each other. But they are still on opposite sides when 9/11 happens. Do they hate each other afterward? Probably not. They know each other, so they know not to fear each other.

I think that fear is a natural survival instinct, being wary of the unknown, and that hate is fear taken to an extreme. It is so very complex, it is more complex than just this, but this is, I think, a part of it.

Blessings,
Lady Morgana )0(

Answer 2

A nice dream. You should make a few modifications for the sake of -- well -- just good sense. I moved from a life of crime, desperation and nasty violence to a bit more peaceful a place. I grow most of my own food (I'm not a weird hippy), I trade extra veggies to hunters for meat. I sell veggies for cash money. I still work a regular job but the stress is gone. I can let the world be the world without my input. I cannot be affected by a natural disaster in Japan any more than to say "too bad for them". My world has shrunk but I can still be in the world through the computer. You will not live comfortably without technology, just change your expectations. You can find the right balance. One last thought --- GET AWAY FROM ANY CITY!!! become a country boy.

Answer 3

I do believe that hate is learned ( and there are studies to support it, just can't remember the sources), but with insight it can be unlearned. Both my parents were somewhat prejudiced, and I found myself with some of those same thoughts - I went through a period of soul-searching in my teens and turned those feelings around. I replaced them with positive ones. So it is possible to change-but you have to be aware of it & WANT to do it.

Hate stems from fear- of the unknown or something different. It also stems from anger, which is also a fear -based emotion. Angry people are insecure and something is making them feel powerless- so they will express themselves through anger & hate.

Each of us have the ability to choose how we are going to react to any given situation.Most people react to hate in a similar way. It is the enlightened people who choose differently.

If you feel an ugly emotion towards something or someone- examine it to discover it's root and chances are- you'll see things in a whole new light. Who knows - your reaction to it may change the other person or people for the better.

Answer 4

It's NOT in my nature to hate. I don't hate a single person, anywhere. Yes, there are some that I like LESS thanothers but I simply don't associate with those and am able to keep the basic Human love and acceptance of them by doing so.

BB,
Raji the Green Witch

Answer 5

It is not always hate which causes people to hurt us. The vast majority of people hurt us because they are, by nature, selfish and seek to have their own way in spite of how it affects us.

The cause of this is still the desire to be god....in a minor way, but still to act on our own behalf rather than theirs even when we care for others and want them to think well of us.

Can we help it? I think you know the answer for yourself when you ask yourself if you have EVER hurt another person even though you didn't ever want to hurt anyone.

Self control is not strong enough to be perfect.

Rom 3:10-20

"There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." 13 "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of vipers is on their lips." 14 "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." 15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 ruin and misery mark their ways, 17 and the way of peace they do not know." 18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
(from New International Version)

Answer 6

I think hate act like a self defence, when someone has hurt you the only way of getting over that hurt is to start hating that person.

But some people they just develop hate for anyone who stands against what they believe.

Answer 7

I like you name and your Rabbit avator, and yes, we do have the wisdom to search for compassion within our own hearts. The ultimate example of loving those who hurt us was made by Jesus Christ. He cried out to his Father, as the nails were being driven in him "Forgive them Father, they know not what they do"

Unfortunately, most people have chosen the easy path, which is wide and straight. To walk the narrow, long and winding road takes much more effort, and a devotion to all that is good, and to the Father and the Son.

Answer 8

The clearing of fearing..............Excellent quest my dear....I salute you! Cheers to Equality of Being! Only through suspending our judgments, and knowing the innocence in our brothers as we know in ourselves can we begin the true journey of Love with no harmful intent toward anyone!
There is much strength in not feeling less than, but equal
So much Love,
So much Peace

A Course In Miracles is an excellent read. Pages and pages about non judgment and how it frees you from hate. I find fear creeping around at times and I reach for my inspiration, The Course of course......

Answer 9

It is not my nature to hate, I love and appreciate most of the things around me. At the same time, I usually will hide in the background because some people really do like to hate.

Answer 10

When hate is used in the right way, it is a good thing.
For instance, the bible tells us to hate what is bad.
By doing so, we will avoid displeasing Jehovah God and reduce the risk of injuring ourselves.
It is an emotion that needs to be checked on for time to time, to make sure that our frustrations don't get the better of us and we do something we will regret later.