James O’Donnell presented the view that Christian concepts of sin and its consequences are responsible for hate crimes.

This belief is a response to the idea of hating the sin, not the sinner. Many believe that saying someone’s actions are wrong leads to hatred for the person and possibly violence against them.

The repulsive Rev. Phelps’ hatred of individuals is inexcusable. People are correct in rejecting the corrupted, mangled religion he presents.

The view that people are wrong in rejecting is that put forward by St. Augustine, who said, “To hate with perfect hatred means that we neither hate sinners on account of their sins, nor love the sins for the sake of the sinners.”

These sins can be the subtle traps of hatred, greed and pride, or they can be the more obvious sins of homosexual acts, heterosexual lust or drunkenness. All of us have the need to turn away from these sins and receive God’s forgiveness.

True Christians call people to turn from sin out of burning love for all people. They hate homosexual acts, lying, adultery and theft because these things separate homosexuals, liars, adulterers and thieves from God.

Christian love is so deep that true Christians will not seek acceptance by telling people what they want to hear.

They will tell people what they need to hear, even if it means being rejected by those they are reaching out to.

Hate crimes are not committed by those in the same position.

Ryan Larson

Junior

Political science and history