When I was 15 years old I had no belief in a higher power... it seemed like a good idea, it made sense to be part of something bigger than myself, but it just didn't stick with me. I've said it dozens of times, as I share how I gained my faith in Christ, and I'll share it again; in the school I was in the only kids that really stood out from the others were the Mormons and the Muslims. What teenager doesn't like to stand out right?
Anyway, what drew me to find God was the the fact in my mind that religion was the only thing that really drew people together, uniting them to achieve something good, rather than simply uniting for survival against an enemy. I may have not fully grasped at that time the huge struggle in Europe back in the day when all of the reformations and creations of new churches ended in lots of bloodshed, but it was my view that God's work was, and the people who did God's work, were generally good. I went to many different churches and church services, and studied in depth even more religions. Eventually, many of my friends and acquaintances know, I not only joined a church, but I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The truth I was taught struck a chord with my idea of love, and my understanding of covenants, like baptism, satisfied my idea of what would help me take responsibility for my life.
It wasn't until college that I recognized the vast hypocrisy in my church, from the members to some leaders. This didn't change however, the truth I was taught, the truth I believe with all of my everything that God is love, and I have a responsibility to share that. This truth: God loves me, carried me into the mission field where I taught and conversed with many, many people; most of whom already believed my pillar of truth, that God loves his children; it was only the details that were different.
And this is where the hate comes in. In my experience hate is bred by ignorance and misunderstandings. Willful ignorance or otherwise I met individuals who professed an unyielding devotion to God and Christ yet hated all of who I was because of the little black name tag I wore, and a message of truth I had to share, not to force, but to share. And as I communed with people on all ends of the spectrum, from many different religions including some of my peers who tried more forcing than sharing, I noticed that the negative people projected their will as God's more often than not... but the humble ones, the preached love... missionaries and non-missionaries alike.
It's easier to be in survival mode in a regular situation rather than a progressive mode. Running on adrenaline against a perceived threat is more motivating than just trying to become better in a static environment. This is why religion has been around so long, it is true, and there is that dichotomy between good and evil, God and Satan, that is perpetuated in our culture from comic books to war.
I guess my point of this is that people use different vehicles to move their opinions around, using belief systems as platforms for words and actions. There is not one religion I have ever studied that teaches hate. While, they teach absolute truth about what is right and wrong, they teach love, and that it is not us mere mortals who are in charge, but Deity. I personally find it abhorrent that individuals pervert religion to push hate, and justify harm to others who have different values, cultures, and lifestyles.
In the world we live in today people are largely stepping away from God because of this perversion of truth. Maybe even they are stepping away from the mere belief that others should be loved and respected because those that are supposed to stand for this love are imperfect and fall short (purposefully and accidentally) I don't understand why this hatred and violence has been around for so long, and I didn't see it before... but I do know that even though I don't see religion as bringing people together for good anymore; truth and hope do bring people together for good. Life brings us together, only it is sometimes unable to be put into perspective after a loss of life.
This is why America came together after 9/11, after multiple school shootings, and after the most recent desecration of human life in Orlando. We know because of our humanity that even though our loved ones can't come back from the dead, that there can be healing in the hearts of those whom they have left behind. There is hope that those who have passed are living in a better place, I know this to be true, and in a way I believe there is more gratitude for the lives of those who are now gone.
Violence comes in many forms, but it starts with a misunderstanding that someone either is not loved, or does not deserve to be loved. Terrorism happens on a scale from emotional abuse to straight up mass murder, but in any level of this abuse to humanity, hate is the root. There is nothing explicitly empirical about it, and the sooner we consistently come together in love, the faster we will be able to heal mankind as a whole.
...yeah it sounds like a cheesy hippy thing to say, but it's true, and I personally would like to hang onto that hope that we may be able to seek an understanding of our brothers and sisters, so that we may act in proactive kindness rather than defensive hate. Maybe do a little more coexisting and less judging.
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