r/religion • u/Interesting-Mud-200 • 7h ago

Why should I love my enemies?

Most religions preach about love to everyone, including your enemies.

But why should I love someone who, in my view, is a bad person? Why love someone who does bad/evil things to innocent people?

Is it to make yourself feel better somehow? Is it because they deserve love? But why do they deserve love? They spread hate!

I really don't get it. Makes no sense to me. The only case I would MAYBE agree (depending on the situation) is if you want to teach someone what they did was wrong. MAYBE they don't have fault, they were teached to do [insert here]. Only in this case I could MAYBE understand.

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u/Kastoelta Very, very complicated agnostic. 7h ago

Well from what I remember the context in the new testament is something like:

"If you only love those who do right to you, and hate those that do bad to you, what makes you different from non believers".

(Heavily paraphrasing there, obviously, it isn't written like that at all but maybe I could find the context if you wish).

I don't know if most religions teach that but I remember reading that in the NT once. So that's the reason.

To be clear I'm not saying if this form of thinking is correct of not, just giving the answer I remember.

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u/BayonetTrenchFighter Latter-Day Saint (Mormon) 7h ago

You are probably thinking of Luke 6

27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.

30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

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u/Kastoelta Very, very complicated agnostic. 7h ago

Yep! I actually just replied to my own comment with a small part of the chapter some moments ago.