Hate is an emotion of exclusion and disgust and expressions as Vanilla has posted here identify her hatred of Boaz. Quote, "Meanwhile, reading over your posts lately, I have to say your values really sadden me, Boaz. Christianity, as you practice it, is a nasty little religion. - Posted by Vanilla"

Under the Victorian laws even to discuss displeasure of another religion falls under the vilification [shari'ah] laws. Boaz you might have a case here. On the other hand being Christian means turning the other cheek, blessing those that persecute you and say all manner of evil against you, love your enemies. Christians are vunerable to the laws as they stand as even disgussion makes one a violator, as in the case of the two Dannys.

Christians uphold "love the sinner hate the sin", but Vanilla is incapable of determining the difference.

C'mon though. Wouldn't it be fun for me and Boazy to be on opposite sides of the courtroom, like a bitter divorced couple, him shaking his fist at me like a good Christian, me sipping on a martini and letting my slip show and making eyes at the judge like the heathen I am?

I'm up for it Boazy, if you are.

I would point out the obvious distinction I made. I don't hate Boazy, but yes, his views make me sad. I think it's true to say that I hate the brand of Christianity that Boazy advocates. I like other flavours though. I don't mind Foxy flavour.

"Christians uphold "love the sinner hate the sin", but Vanilla is incapable of determining the difference."

Actually, I can see the difference, but I've always found that particular Christian tenant extremely offensive. It's basically a way of hating or punishing someone while pretending (to God) that you love them, thereby getting off the hook.

As I have said in another thread, I believe in facing up to other people's behaviour, no matter how evil we find it. As Fractelle has pointed out, God is fundamentally immature. The mature approach is to look someone straight in the face and deal with what you see there, no matter how frightening. To my mind, if they are Stalin, then hate may be necessary — plus a realistic approach to preventing further atrocities. If they are simply gay, we need to double the love to make up for the prejudices of religion.

Separating people and behaviour is intellectually and morally lazy.

Philo says: "Hate is an emotion of exclusion and disgust." That actually defines the rather insipid emotion of elitism. You know, the sort of feelings that BD throws around a lot.

Hate is defined as hostility, animosity or detestation. Its synonyms are execration, loathing, abhorrence, abomination. It's a much more intense, dark, eroding emotion. Its serious. The word is bandied about on this forum as lightly schoolchildren use it, which devalues its actual dark and sinister meaning. Its a grown-up emotion. Its nasty and evil. And I firmly believe that any legislation that seeks to limit its corrosive effects is a good thing.

To accuse Vanilla of "hating" someone - anyone - on a thread like this is therefore somewhat insulting in itself. Admittedly I know nothing more about Vanilla that what one picks up from peoples threads; but I'm almost sure that if she was really going to poison herself by harbouring such an emotion, she wouldn't waste it on BD!

Course I don't hate anyone. My general attitude to the world around me and the people who inhabit it has much in common with a cocker spaniel's.

Lovely description of hatred there, Romany. If that's not an oxymoron.