Hatred: Too good to give up?

[robvalue]

I'd say the main time I experience hate is when someone is causing suffering to a person or animal. I hate what they are doing, rather than hate the person though. I want them to stop so strongly that it creates a very strong emotion in me. I use this as motivation to do what I can to stop this harm, but not until I've calmed down enough to think through rationally what I will do. (Of course if I see it first hand and need to intervene, my desire to protect the innocent will be all I need and the hate won't have time to brew.)

The hatred isn't for me about wanting to hurt the person though, I don't. I simply want to stop them hurting others. I think every powerful emotion can be useful, as long as you don't let it make the decisions for you. As long as you recognise it's an indicator only, and not always accurate, I think they have their place.

I've had to come to terms with some things that I know are beyond my ability to change, at least in the short term, and to find a way to dissipate that hatred. Being in a constant state of any powerful emotion is not healthy.

The problem with religion is it throws righteousness on the fire of hatred, justifying in people's minds terrible bigotry which they otherwise would have a hard time defending.