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Why Hate is Irrational and an intelligent atheist should forgive

I post this bold statement under the assumption that you know that there is no such thing as choice. This is an indisputable fact if you have studied the workings of psychology and is a different topic. I'd be happy to clear that up on another thread if enough people are confused.

The idea here is: since there is no choice, no action could possibly be a person's fault. There is no such thing as an "evil person" or an "evil act." What reason, then, should you have for not forgiving someone when your actions and theirs are a result of chance? Of bad luck?

Your genes and experiences have brought you to a place where your paths intersected in a negative way and it was by chance that you were wronged.

Now, what reason is there to hate or hold a grudge against another human being? We are all victims of chance. We have the same amount (none) of control over our actions and it is my personal interpretation of responsibility that we all work together to make a peaceful community on this rock we call earth that stresses the importance of universal love.

We have no choice. Why hate? Why hold a grudge?

Hate hurts. Hate kills. Hate is physically unhealthy. Our appeals to those who wrong us should be through reason, which is balanced and accessible to those who don't share our personal bias.

I'm suprised that I don't have more to rant about, but I feel like once I've put the thought there, it is rather self-evident.

I'd be happy to debate in order to clear up my position. Thanks for reading!

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Comment by Johnny on January 11, 2010 at 10:04am: no. read through the comments. It's about the absence of choice and its effect on the irrationality of harboring anger.

think of how differently people would view cases like blame, punishment, and revenge if they accepted this idea. I feel like it would lead to a much more stable and peaceful world.

Comment by Chris G on January 10, 2010 at 6:33am: Is this about child abuse?

Comment by Nate on November 16, 2009 at 11:45am: ...if they fight to eliminate sins by suppressing rights and preaching intolerance of the non-believer, then do they really forgive them?

Ironically, they're striving to curb the exercise of the "free will" that that so strongly believe in.

Comment by Johnny on November 16, 2009 at 11:37am: good point. forgiveness of something that doesn't exist LOL

now, the thing is: if they fight to eliminate sins by suppressing rights and preaching intolerance of the non-believer, then do they really forgive them? Do they really know what forgiveness feels like?

Comment by Nate on November 16, 2009 at 10:47am: Determinism and naturalism promote the nonjudgmental understanding of human behavior(you can call it forgiveness if you like). Christians are humans and as such are, as individuals, capable of this kind of forgiveness. The Christian forgiveness that is meaningless is the forgiveness of sin- as sin is a fabrication of theology.

Comment by Johnny on November 16, 2009 at 10:17am: theism and revenge at work....Christian forgiveness... disgusting... tell us Christianity teaches you to forgive now, theist.

Comment by Edward Teach on November 16, 2009 at 6:51am: The US currently has more of its citizens behind bars than any other country on Earth!

Comment by Edward Teach on November 16, 2009 at 6:50am: The right wing approach to all social ills... more law enforcement and more prisons.

I have students with criminal records and, subsequent to paying their debt to society... they continue to pay for the rest of their lives. They are all but unemployable. Lie about their record, they get fired. Tell the truth and they never get hired in the first place.

Comment by Nate on November 14, 2009 at 11:17am: this is also why I support the liberal idea of preventing crime by helping people slums and impoverished communities rather than making harsher punishments for them.

The prevention of crime is more important then the "revenge" aspect of punishment

Exactly. Treat the disease, not the symptoms.

Comment by Johnny on November 14, 2009 at 10:55am: this is also why I support the liberal idea of preventing crime by helping people slums and impoverished communities rather than making harsher punishments for them.

The prevention of crime is more important then the "revenge" aspect of punishment