When you hate an entire religion, is that like racism?

[Philosoraptor]

Like when Mr. Mel Gibson publicly professes his hatred of Jews while drunk, he will most certainly be called an anti semite.

And when someone hates Islam and Muslims he too could be called an anti semite. And when someone hates Hindus, you could rightfully call him an anti Hindu.

And if you are an Irish Protestant, you may well hate Irish Catholics, and either side could call the other anti something.

I personally can't hate an entire religion, even though I'm an atheist, I don't care for any religion, but I certainly respect them, particularly when they are peaceful and benevolent. I don't hate all Catholics, or Southern Baptists, or Shiites or Sunnis, the only people I hate are those that personally make me hate them.

I have heard quite a few rednecks in my neck of the woods say proudly that they'd like to see the whole damn Muslim world cleansed from our world. I remember hearing that the Nazis said things like that too, way back when.

A Jew can be any race, I know a guy who is a Laotian Jew, and any race can be a Catholic as well. The Nazis referred to the Jewish race when they spoke of the Jews, and they didn't seem to be anti religious as much as they were outright racist. Remember they killed lots of Catholics and other religions as well.

Does Mel Gibson hate the religion of Judaism, or does he hate the Jewish race, or does he even know? Does it even matter? Is there a distinction between hating a religion versus hating a race?
--------------

And by the way, is it inherently wrong to hate a religion? Can't a person say aloud that he hates a religion? Is that a hate crime? As long as no one is getting killed, maybe I shouldn't even care.

[Zynx]

1. It may not be racism, but it is bigotry.

[Occulus]

20. You mean, like christians feel about gays?

Sorry.... people wearing a cross around their neck = people I have to presume might beat me up.

That's a pretty fucking good reason to despise a religion, considering I don't know which ones wearing the cross will beat me up or kill me. Therefore, I must, as a matter of personal physical safety, distrust all of them.

I don't like christians anymore for exactly that reason: I don't know on sight which ones aren't going to tell me I'm going to their hell (and, being as how I'm NOT NOT NOT a christian, I fail to see how that can possibly happen in the first place), which ones will leave me alone, and which ones will beat me up on sight if I'm holding hands with someone I care about while walking down the street.

Thanks to christians, I not only do not feel safe showing any affection at all in public, I am not safe doing do.

This isn't bigotry, it's common sense, and it's a pretty fucking good reason for me to distrust all of them.

[soothsayer]

2. Jews are unique in that their religion is their 'race'. Mebbe

because you are born into it if you have a Jewish mother?

[mzteris]

but you can be

"Jewish"religion and *not* Jewish-born - as well as you could be Jewish-born and *not* practice the Jewish faith.

I wonder where these fall on Mel's scale of hatred?

[soothsayer]

16. True, true. Sounds like Mel was swayed by his own movie.

[Kailassa]

18. I guess Mel must have hated the Jewish main charactor in it. n/t

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. In British law, Sikhs and Jews are both defined as religions and races -nt

[soothsayer]

15. Interesting. Thanks!

[tocqueville]

3. I missed that Gibson's "statement".... any link ? thanks n/t

[megatherium]

14. It's on the NY Times web site. nt

[Rex]

4. I would think that if a person feels really negative about anything

in the animal kingdom or culture or society based solely on hate for a certain race or breed or culture, then that is racism. You don't have to be the same race or species to have an irrational hatred for said race/species.

[Philosoraptor]

5. Oh I get it, a pit bull reference.

good one

[Rex]

6. Hey if I 'profile' a dog based solely on second hand knowledge and

hearsay, well, you get the point. Some people have a hard time with the animal kingdom thingy.

[Philosoraptor]

7. I think you're in the wrong thread.

Unless you'd like to continue this silliness.

[Rex]

8. You're the one that brought up racism.

Deal with it or not I care not.

[Philosoraptor]

10. Maybe you are referring to "Specism"

Yes, I hate species of animals that might kill me, especially if they are Mormons.

[Rex]

11. I see you don't understand.

I tried.

[Philosoraptor]

12. Heel Rex, Heel!

[Rex]

13. Took you long enough.

:rofl:

[Kailassa]

17. Although it is not rational or useful to hate a whole group,

there are times when the actions of the most visible members of that group can drive a person to hate them all. Then the reminders from a person such as you are valuable in helping people regain their principles and see sense again.

Sadly, when it comes to hating Muslims, they have not organised "keyboard-warriors" around the globe to use words in their defense, and the governments in America, Australia and England have joined forces to set Muslims up to be suspected, feared, and hated.

After all, as Condi said in 2000, what we need is a common enemy to bring us together.

[aikoaiko]

19. when ideology or dogma informs the behavior of many in a group....

...I struggle greatly. Sometimes I qualify some of my statements like "I hate fundamentalist jihadist muslims" to be to clear who and what I despise.


Its essentially the same rule we (or many of us) use when we say we hate republicans.

[JerseygirlCT]

21. Gibson, like so many bigots, is just plain ignorant

and needs somewhere to spew his anger.

There is nothing logical about hating entire groups of people.

I don't think it's a problem to dislike IDEAS. But hatred of people is another thing. But maybe to some people, easier?

Blaming "the Jews" or "the Catholics" or fill in the blank for all your problems is just plain lazy and ignorant. I think, unfortunately, too many fall for that trap.