Hate your neighbor as yourself?

Posted on July 14, 2014 by jamesbradfordpate

Self-hatred is not an option for the Christian. God says we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, which completely rules out hating yourself: you have to love your neighbor, so in the first place you must love yourself. In the end, if you hate yourself you will wind up being hateful towards your neighbors, friends, and family too.

This idea took me aback the first time I came across it because I am really good at despising myself. I have been practicing for decades, and I have it down pat. But I am not granted the privilege of doing so.

Love toward oneself remains a fundamental principle of morality. CCC §2264]
It is natural to everything to keep itself in “being,” as far as possible. … one is bound to take more care of one’s own life than of another’s. [Aquinas, Summa Theologiae II-II q.64 a.7]
“Think…

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About jamesbradfordpate

My name is James Pate. This blog is about my journey. I read books. I watch movies and TV shows. I go to church. I try to find meaning. And, when I can’t do that, I just talk about stuff that I find interesting. I have degrees in fields of religious studies. I have an M.Phil. in the History of Biblical Interpretation from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio. I also have an M.A. in Hebrew Bible from Jewish Theological Seminary, an M.Div. from Harvard Divinity School, and a B.A. from DePauw University.

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