Enough religion to hate, but...
"Up to this point they listened to (Paul), but then shouted, 'Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.'"
(Acts 22:22)
It has been said that some people have enough religion to hate, but not enough to love. How true. No matter the faith tradition... time... or place...
CASE STUDY: First century, Palestine. The apostle Paul, having traveled around the Mediterranean region, starting new churches, comes back to Jerusalem and is arrested while in the Temple worshipping. When pleading his case, he gives his own backstory - he grew up a devout Jew, became a staunch religious leader (a Pharisee), before being called by God (through a vision of the risen Jesus!) to be a messenger for the Kingdom. All this time, his fellow Jewish brothers were tracking with him and giving him their full attention. But when he mentions his mission to the gentiles (non-Jews), they immediately call for his death! Wow. Kinda harsh.
They were so "secure" in their religious beliefs, they couldn't possibly envision any other realities than what they had deemed as "acceptable to God." Even if God moved among the Gentiles, they'd never admit it as being "kosher."
CASE STUDY: Present day, social media. As amazing and joy-filled and uplifting that social media can be... we've all also seen the dark side. When people espouse their "cherished" political and religious beliefs... without a care of the impact it may have on others... the "hate" often shines bright. Even (especially?), we people of faith post things with such certainty, we leave no room for the fact that God may actually be moving in ways that transcend our hard-fast beliefs.
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, once said something to the effect of: "There's a good chance I'm mistaken on a number of things, and down right WRONG on others!" There's something refreshing about that perspective. I'm all for having deep convictions, both theologically and politically. The freedom to do so is part of our nation's core! However, I also want to leave room for the world of God (which often goes beyond my very limited understanding of the Divine) and for the possibility that I may be wrong.
Some people have enough religion to hate, but not enough to love.
I don't want to be "some people."