Love thy neighbor

[dyresand]

It only applies to christians and no one else. So yeah you can hate your neighbor if they aren't christian. 

- Bible.

I cannot state this enough. While religion is a huge cause of human divisions, it isn't a patent owned by one religion. There is not one religion in the world that does not have competing sub sects that don't agree as to how to follow the umbrella label.

Our species ability to be cruel or compassionate, to see cooperation or to use force, is not in a holy writing or holy person or holy hero.

This attitude of "love" stems from the local and evolutionary tribalism. Most humans widely get sold the religions of their parents and are most likely going to defend what they grow up with.

I love my species capability of empathy, but I don't have to love the greed and violence any religion might use to justify it, or any individual for that matter.

No, I don't love every single 7 billion as individuals. I only value my species potential to be compassionate, that does not mean every individual will, only that my species has that capability. I do not owe "love" to any individual or sect that hides behind their religion to justify violence and or oppression to their fellow human.

Well said.