Hatred addressed by religion and spirituality Part I
My present understanding plus some learning I wished for myself, trying not to write an “info-dump” but excuse me if it may amount to as such.
In my previous writing I discussed a first cousin who was an active skin head in the 1980s and 1990s. In the Oprah Winfrey show in which he was interviewed by phone from prison, a young black man stood up and commented on the unchristian-like nature of the skinheads within the audience and on stage who were proudly bigots. This comment was met with some laughter and some jeering, along with some observable silence but the young man had a very good point in my estimation.
I have decided to write in more depth of my current spiritual leanings in general, as it is my opinion that true enlightenment, which is obtained gradually in increments, is instrumental in dealing with all forms of hatred within oneself and in others. I will diverge somewhat from my theme of only addressing hatred, to some broader thoughts in which I today find myself having in this realm.
I thought it might be worthwhile to briefly delve into this question of hate as taught in several religions. I do think that we fall short by always associating religion to only Christianity, and by equating religion to
spirituality. So I will cover a range of religions and spiritual paths, starting with my current spiritual tendencies (I dislike the word beliefs) in my later adulthood. I am certainly no theologian, but have always had an interest in this area, and it certainly has been important in this round of my being. Perhaps a broad look can bring to light the human approach to dealing with hatred, through religious and spiritual guidance.
Samael Aun Weor and gnosis
I would like to start with a modern gnosis movement as to have originated from the study, teachings and writings of Samael Aun Weor (March 6, 1917 – December 24, 1977), born Víctor Manuel Gómez Rodríguez, a spiritual teacher and author of over sixty books of esoteric spirituality. He taught and formed groups under the banner of "Universal Gnosticism", or simply gnosis. Glorian.org is a good source to order the books, and also has other information, if you are so inclined. Broadly Gnosticism , in its history, goes back to antiquity, it developed alongside more well known religions and has many variations over the centuries. Gnosticism is an example of religious syncretism, a blending of religious systems into a new system.
There was persecution in the early centuries of the first millennium to Gnostics of the time. Leaders in early Christianity considered it heretical. Samael Aun Weor was threatened while he was alive for his teachings in the twentieth century. Part of gnoises is proper use of sexual energy, a force which can be used to dissolve ego and awaken consciousness and the use of the “occult” in such practice as Egyptian tarot cards. Such things clearly
do go against most conservative religious dogma.
I have not heard of persecution of others by those practicing gnoises, it would be antithetical to a master, but certainly will not claim that it hasn’t happened. Such is the sleeping consciousness, in the “egoical” man.
Aun Weor gathered together many elements of different mysticism from many religions and cultures into his synthesis. Speaking of Christianity, the teachings in the Bible are adhered to, but the general idea is that the writings are in very symbolic form, in a “code” to some extent, and modern Christianity is mistaken in some of its interpretations. The main element in Aun Weor’s teachings is that people have about three percent awakened consciousness, and work through meditation and other practices will free more essence, leading to a state of “enlightenment.” Herein is the reason I personally cringe when I hear the disparagement of the word “wokeness” by those on the right wing political group. Aun Weor teaches that dissolving the many egos is our purpose to awaken more consciousness. These are eastern religious beliefs, to my understanding, incorporated within Aun Weor’s teachings.
Aun Weor has written the following quotes related to hate:
“The society is the extension of the individual. If the individual is greedy, cruel, merciless, egoistic, etc. so it will be the society.”
“Cruelty will continue existing on the face of the Earth as long as we have not learned to put ourselves in the place of others.”
“A soft word pacifies anger, and the discordant words break the harmony of the cosmic diapason [a grand swelling burst of harmony], and generate disorders.”
“Kindness is a much more crushing force than anger.”
“Karma is a medicine which is given for our own good. Karma is the law of compensation, not of vengeance.”
And:
“Violence generates more violence; hatred produces more hatred. Peace cannot be conquered. Peace cannot be the result of violence. Peace comes to us only when we dissolve the Ego, when we destroy within us all those psychological factors that produce war.”
I have studied this philosophy/esotericism now for several years, and continue with it as its “truth” seems to resonate with me. It incorporates dreams, and their interpretations which I’ve found helpful. Thinking esoterically has been a challenge for me, and my scientific training sometimes brings to me skepticism, but it has seemed to be what I was searching for, although I’m far from a perfect student of it.
Bill W. and principles of AA and resentments or hates
It is said among those who regularly attend AA meetings and the other 12-step programs derived from it that finding one’s “higher power” or spirituality is essential for overcoming addiction. But in addition so many live much better lives through this same process, the spiritual factor is of utmost importance in human relations. Having and keeping resentments alive is an impetus toward resuming drinking. Nearly everyone in the program will say this. The 12-step program steps address these fears, resentments, etc. Religion and spirituality are constant topics shared at AA meetings. And in general many use the AA principles as their main source of spirituality, while others may adopt more conventional religious means to supplement their 12-step work. Spirituality is the key to sobriety longevity, both in a physical and perhaps even more importantly in emotional sobriety. All “old timers” will clearly tell the newcomers this, regardless of their association with traditional organized religions.
Before I start here are some definitions on anger, resentment and hate to perhaps clarify for myself and the reader the distinctions:
The difference between resentment and hate is that resentment is usually tied to a specific circumstance. You hate somebody in general, but you resent them for a particular event.
While anger can make it difficult to think, hate shuts down reason. Hate is a continuing state of mind embracing lightly repressed rage. Rage vibrates just below the surface of hate ready to explode.
Definition of Anger and Resentment: Anger can be defined as a strong feeling of displeasure. Resentment can be defined as a feeling of bitterness that an individual experiences for being treated unfairly.
Bill Wilson touches on the above in his writings. Although seldom do explicit conversations on race occur in AA meetings, it being outside the program’s purpose, resentments and anger are spoken of often. Again alcoholics humbly recognize that they are prone to perhaps harmful thinking patterns, it seems to be an innate part of the disease, so they consider carefully how emotions can be detrimental to themselves and others around them. Recognizing personal tendencies and one’s limitations is very important to physical as well as emotional sobriety.
Bill writes, “it is a spiritual axiom that every time we are disturbed, no matter what the cause, there is something wrong with us. If somebody hurts us and we are sore, we are in the wrong also. But are there no exceptions to this rule? What about ‘justifiable’ anger? If somebody cheats us, aren’t we entitled to be mad? Can’t we be properly angry with self-righteous folks? For us of AA these are dangerous exceptions. We have found that justified anger ought to be left to those better qualified to handle it.”
“Few people have been more victimized by resentments than have we alcoholics. It mattered little whether our resentments were justified or not. A burst of temper could spoil a day, and a well-nursed grudge could make us miserably ineffective. Nor were we ever skillful in separating justified from unjustified anger. As we saw it, our wrath was always justified. Anger, that occasional luxury of more balanced people, could keep us on an emotional jag indefinitely.”
Native American views
I have a good friend who joined American Indians in the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana in many ceremonies over the years. He is a carrier of the pipe and I have prayed with him in the indigenous ways in recent times. This is his primary spiritual path. I was interested in what the Native American said about hate. After some research I could not find any specific information pertaining to hatred.
I took time to ask my friend about his experience in the Native American spirituality which he had experience with, within the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine tribes on the broad subject of hate. He explained that there are many forms of hate, resentments, grudges or overly prideful ways . He said his Native American father, an elder, had said “there is a thin line between love and hate.”
My friend then explained that in the sweat lodge ceremonies the elder has to manage the good spirits and the bad spirits. It can be a sort of exorcism for members in the sweat, and that he had witnessed the struggle between good and bad spirits more than once during the sweat. He told of one white man in particular who was seen standing over the glowing rocks in the center, who was the subject of the process of the battle of spirits. He was in danger of being burned by the rocks, but managed to only burn his pinky finger in this struggle. The man could not remember afterwards anything about what happened to him in those moments.
My friend grew up as an Irish Catholic. He added to the discussion from a phone call of the Biblical story of Cain and Abel. Cain murdered his brother over jealousy of the offerings to God by both brothers. My friend said that Cain’s response to God, in regards to the whereabouts of his slain brother “am I my brother’s keeper,” is his interpretation of hate, that this is a good example of the human defect. God did punish Cain for his transgressions, assuring that this farmer would have to wander in his future due to crop failures. This is based upon both traditional Christian and Indigenous spirituality in one man’s thoughts of hate.
Continuing the oral tradition of Native Americans, my friend shared a story he had heard of an exorcism of a man afflicted with alcoholism in the sweat lodge. The alcoholic “demon” appeared during the ceremony from the man as a large, thick bodied, foul-breathed serpent, going from participant to participant breathing in their faces until it was flung out of the lodge by the “father” from above. Many stories have been told to me of “supernatural” experiences witnessed by my friend in his years of ceremonies, such as his fast on top Montana’s Chief Mountain near Glacier Park, in which he was partially struck by lightning, and witnessed the aura of certain rock formations at the peak, during the indigenous pilgrimage.
I did come across some general rules which have been coalesced from various tribes. Here from The Native American Code Of Ethics: 20 Rules For Mankind To Live By, Published on Sep 8, 2017, are some sage advice. This was originally published in the Inter-Tribal Times.
Advice in all one’s affairs including dealing with human defectives such as hate.
2. Pray to bring the derailed back on track. They are ignorant and they don't know better.
3. Finding one's own path. A man's own path should not be shown by others, rather it should be figured out by the man himself.
4. Behave well with guests. Treat them with hospitality.
5. Do not take anything that you do not deserve through the means of force - be it from another person, another tribe, another culture or nature around you.
6. Show kindness to everything around you, people as well as animals.
7. Respect other people's opinion even if it goes against what you believe in.
8. Do not backbite. Do not speak about other peoples perceived flaws behind their back.
9. Forgive small mistakes. Everyone makes them.
14. Never lie. Lying is bad for everyone.
16. Take responsibility for your own action. Think before you act.
17. Privacy should be maintained.
18. Know yourself. Believe in yourself and follow your own principles.
19. Let people follow their own religion and do not force your religion on them.
Druidism
I have another friend who confided in me that he was now a Druid, having once been a practicing Catholic. I have not discussed with him his views on hatred as a Druid. I know little about this path of spirituality. Druids were the primary obstacle to St. Patrick’s conversion of the people of Ireland to Catholicism. I found this written online by one who is Druid.
“Hate really boils down to what we really feel unpleasant and dislike in the extreme. Conversely, love is what we really like. Why then do we love some things and hate other things? I see the survival instinct at work here. Namely, that which we feel beneficial, we love; that which we feel harmful, we hate. This simple process of attraction and aversion is common to all life. It is the fulcrum of survival. The stronger we feel either one, the more active the response. The only two factors that are unique to humans are tool use and cognition. These greatly influence our responses to these universal survival instincts.”
“Not having a book to turn to for wisdom quotes, it’s down to individual druids to decide whether they want to forgive those who wrong them. I like this. I prefer to make ethical judgements as situation specific as possible. My experience has been that one-size-fits-all positions always have moments when they don’t really hold up. On the whole, my experience of Druidry pushes me towards a desire to live with compassion and to try and understand those around me. It does not incline me to cultivate jealousy, resentment, or malice. These things do me no good at all, and I care about that!”
Christianity
The Christian Bible has been interpreted in many ways over the centuries. My primary education was one of the ELCA Lutheran Church. Christianity is very wide ranging in its practices and beliefs. The Lutheran Church in which I was an active member for many years generally could be described as a more liberal minded church, but I found individual views varied among those in the congregations I was a member, as would be expected.
I searched through many of Martin Luthur’s (1483-1546) writings yesterday to find specifically where he addressed hatred. It was not easily apparent. Luther in his later years, frustrated in not being able to convert those of Jewish faith, seemingly gained an actual hatred for Judaism in his writings. Hitler took full advantage of Luther's later apparent prejudice toward the Jews of Europe in his malicious efforts. The Lutheran Church of today does not subscribe openingly to this phase of Luther’s writing. I never heard it discussed in any sermon which I listened to over the years within the church.
While I was within this faith I learned of this antisemitism by the venerable Luther. Within a church one who can only consider himself a student, and is hesitant to bring up such topics to the church leadership. Hence I never discussed this while a member, this perhaps is a common phenomenon in the church member in controversial topics. In hindsight, I really should have opened up this discussion.
Martin Luther was an activist in his time and called out rampant Catholic Church corruption of the time. For this I must say I have some admiration, however his human nature of fallibility was very apparent in his antisemitism at the end of his life. For this I find personally troubling still, and to me brings some lost confidence in Lutheranism in the realm of spirituality.
Here is one apparent mention of hate of his writings I perused, in which faith in Jesus Christ might be the answer toward hate. Luther, at last, briefly treats of the Second Table of the Commandments, but in speaking of the works of these Commandments he never forgets to point out their relation to faith, thus holding fast this fundamental thought of the book to the end. Faith which does not doubt that God is gracious, he says, will find it an easy matter to be graciously and favorably minded toward one's neighbor and to overcome all angry and wrathful desires.
To the Bible itself we find in 1 John 3:15 ESV:
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
In Matthew 5:21-26 ESV:
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council;... Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. …
In 1 John 4:8 ESV:
Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
But it seems that the Bible in use has been interpreted that God can hate as well. “Justified hate” seems to be a running theme in some circles of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, in my brief look at it. It seems that God can be justified in his or her hatred. The following from the website The following from the website gotquestion. org explains their interpretation of “God’s hate:”
“When the Bible does speak of God’s hatred, the object of His hatred is sin and wickedness. Among the things God hates are idolatry (Deuteronomy 12:31; 16:22), child sacrifice, sexual perversion (Leviticus 20:1–23), and those who do evil (Psalm 5:4–6; 11:5). Proverbs 6:16–19 lists seven things the Lord hates: pride, lying, murder, evil plots, those who love evil, false witnesses, and troublemakers. Notice that this passage does not include just things that God hates; it includes people as well. The reason is simple: sin cannot be separated from the sinner except by the forgiveness available in Christ alone. God hates lying, yes, but lying always involves a person—a liar—who chooses to lie. God cannot judge the lie without also judging the liar.”
The online ministry for this statement says “We are Christian, Protestant, evangelical, theologically conservative, and non-denominational.”
As to my comments on the above, it is not my interpretation of the Bible which I perhaps would take heart of. It should be noted that all four books of the Bible mentioned in identification of God’s hate are all Old Testament verses. It would seem that hate might not be adequately broken down in this theological view, and perhaps mortal man in this form of Christianity may not grasp the divine nature of love nor of its opposition, that of hate. It certainly may explain some wellsprings of hatred which we witness in today’s America. And perhaps lends a justification to assume one’s hatred is also God’s shared hatred in certain prejudices we observe in others and in ourselves.
I find the concept of hatred within a supreme being to be rather nonsensical. A divine entity should in all practically not exhibit such an inferior emotion. Perhaps it’s beyond man’s understanding to grasp a supreme being’s “emotion.” This is how I understand my limitations as a man in this conversation. It’s beyond me at this time, and once understood perhaps beyond my powers to accurately explain to those disinclined toward a state of enlightenment.
Finally end with my treatment of Christianity with this:
“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where these is hatred, let me sow love.”
— St. Francis of Assisi
I will continue my writing in Part II in the future involving other religious and spiritual teachings of more uncommon faiths to the “common” Americans, regarding hatred in future sub-stack writings.
Writing No. 3, February 4, 2023.