Is Hating Always Bad? (page 3)

John Doe

That's a bit like asking if Jews are always dumb.

AllTimeJeff

I have pondered this ever since I left JW's. Really, before then.

There is a certain semantics problem to this question, so for the sake of public discussion, I will be as general as I can, allowing for the fact that this word means different things to different people at different times.

The longer I live, the more I personally believe that ultimately, negative emotions take years off our life. And the opposite is true, positive feelings add years to our life.

This fact reminds me that to the extent possible, we all to one degree or another can control some quality of life aspects based on how we feel, our emotions.

That is why many seek out/need professional mental help, to get meds, because at the end of the day, we all want to feel good. I personally doubt very seriously that hate causes one to feel good.

Yet, hate can be (generally speaking) a positive things if we benefit from its lessons. Like hating cults. (not the people, at least not all of the people) Hating the effects of alcoholism or drug abuse can cause one to seek help, and can help recovering addicts to stay away from the people and paraphenalia that caused you to feel like shit. Yeah, we should hate that.

Farkel, I think though that ultimately for me, this question revolves around the permission we give ourselves to hate another person, and that ultimately, this question isn't about inanimate things. To me, I see in the responses already that we are struggling with that. Bluecanary as usualy was open to all the gray areas, which is why I appreciate her responses so much.

Thus, to directly answer your question: No. Hating is not always bad.

Is it wrong to hate another person? A potential "child of god" who is on their journey and growing? (or regressing as the case might be?) I can tell you one thing, I was a grade A @$$hole for a chunk of my borg existence till I grew up. I was the enemy. I know many here would have hated me, either because of what I did, or what I represented. Now the tables are reversed. Former JW's no longer have a reason to hate me, but my old compatriots do hate me, thanks to what I left. I now "represent" to all Jehovah's Witnesses something that they have been taught to be fearful of, suspicious of, and to hate so as to reject.

It is that "representation", that symbolism some people carry that causes the hate question to be very deep.

I for one, would like to dilleniate this further: I think it very possible to be angry with someone, even for a long time, without hating them. And I readilly concede that by being angry with anyone for a long period of time, that could easily turn into hate. I allow that I can hate what a person symbolizes without nec hating them personally.

...and while I think "hate" isn't always bad, I do think it in the long term unhealthy, and best taken in short doses.

Mickey mouse

dont hate the person....just the act, what they have done.

As an empty platitude this can almost fly, Until you start to use your brain that is. This is a distinction without a difference. Jehovah will still kill the person at Armageddon according to JW doctrine. So much for loving the person and hating "the sin".

minimus

Farkel, why do you ask? Other than trying to get people to discuss your question, what is its point? or better yet, who cares?

SixofNine

I wouldn't get too caught up in this question (though I admit it's one everyone should ponder, if only for their own mental health) because "hate", much like "love" is not a "something" that can be defined. And even as an emotion, it seems to be a secondary thing to other emotions; most often fear.

AGuest

and the greatest of love and peace to you... on the particular definition of "hate" that you're referring to (i.e., dislike intensely or "have hostility toward") and the motive behind the particular form of hate.

For example, I intensely dislike cigarette smoke. I mean, I HATE it. And I used to smoke (in a previous millenium). I intensely dislike peanut butter (which might cause some to have hostility toward me, but I can't help it!). I intensely dislike... no, I HATE... rats (which might also cause some to have intense hostility toward me... but it is an emotion I CANNOT help when it comes to such creatures. I WANT to like them, because I want to like/love ALL living things. But I confess, I have GREAT difficulties with this one. That and ants.

When most prople ask "good vs. bad" questions, dear Farkely-Snark, it usually leads to something about God. Or a lack thereof. To that end, I offer that ALL things come down to MOTIVE: what is the MOTIVE behind ones "hate"? If it is jealousy, or covetousness, or greed, or lack of self-control, etc., then the hatred is indeed "bad."

If, however, what is hated because it SHOULD be hated (i.e., I HATE theft, pedophilia, hypocrisy, etc.), hatred can be good.

Can you hate a person? Depends. Is such person you brother? Then, the answer would be no, for that would make you a child of the Devil. Is such one your enemy? The answer would also be no, for we are to love our enemies, and pray for them. Yet, Satan is a person... and my enemy. Can I hate him? I can. And I do. I do not pray for HIM... enemy of mine though he might be... as that would be a slap in the face of my Lord... and my God.

Bottom line: the typical "legal" answer would apply here - it depends.

I bid you the GREATEST of love and peace, dear Daddy-O!

Your servant, friend, sister, and a slave of Christ,

Shel

parakeet

Without hate, how would we know what love is?

I love my family; therefore, I hate anything that would endanger them. And there is plenty of danger out there. Would anyone here stand by and allow someone or something to harm their loved ones? If I had to, I would kill to protect them if I had to and not feel a bit of remorse for doing so. I know many people differentiate between a human being and what he/she does ("hate the deed, not the man"), but I think that's a distinction without a difference.

Hate is a survival mechanism. It's not a pretty emotion, but it exists for a reason. The problem with hate is that it can cloud judgment and perceive danger where none exists, and morph into bias, prejudice, intolerance, and malice.

Deputy Dog

No!

Open mind

A very nice string of quotes from Sacolton!

Marking for future reference.

Oh yeah. I hate Alfred E. Neuman.

om

garyneal

I've heard it said before that the opposite of love is not hate, but indifference. Kind of makes me wonder that for those among us will eventually move on from being so angry with the WTBTS to an attitude found in the world at large in that we no longer care one about this religion.

But to answer your question, I suppose it isn't given the proper context. Now I have to consider exactly what that context is.

Is Hating Always Bad?

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