Opening this as a topic, why are hate crimes committed?

They appear (in the USA at least) to be often(?) committed by religous fundamentalists. I'm thinking of the anti-abortion people with the "you kill babies which is against Gods law, so we will kill you, which is against Gods law"
Why the killing of Gay people? For just being different. Why the killing of TG, I found my girlfriend use to have male genitals so I killed her. Why?
I realise I may be asking the stupid question but is there any information about what drives these people. Are they sexually inadequate and this is a jealous reaction. Are they just totally maladjusted things that will kill anyway? What drives the anger?

Interested in your thoughts as always

Cindy

Maybe a guy who finds out his girlfriend was once a male feels cheated somehow and that causes the rage. Some persons have been raised to hate. Anyone one who is not white anglosaxon protestant is not worthy of life in their book. Skinhead white supremists, neo nazis, KKK, Etc. All thrive on hate. I have a flickr account and some guy blamed me as a crossdresser for the downfall of Sodom and Gomorah. Say what? I took a look at his photos and found photos of what appeared to be a KKK rallie at a BBQ. Hate mongers. What winds their clock? Who knows.  I have been told from one gentleman that sometimes seeing a crossdresser makes a man doubt his own masculinity. That results in anger.

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Post Merge: July 03, 2009, 05:36:14 AM

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Also some hate mongers justify their actions because of their religious convictions. Their religion tells them my actions are immoral therefore any violence toward me is Ok since their God says it's OK.

I will catch all kinds of heck for my theory, but here goes.
It is a very warped religious view of the world.  The KKK used the bible as proof that they are right. Neo Nazi use their own bible, Mein Kampf.  Some have a wrapped patriarchal view, based on the bible again.

No, I am not anti-Christian or even anti-religion, but when terms like "It is against God's law", or "You are committing as sin in God's eyes", they bring it up.  It seems that hatred is being taught not love.

Janet

Quote from: Janet Lynn on July 03, 2009, 06:03:55 AM
It seems that hatred is being taught not love.

I agree with this. You just have to look at those westboro baptist folks to see it. What they are espousing is IMO way different from the love of Christ. And they'll have to answer for it.

I think that though there is rage and hate behind hate crimes, there is more fear then anything. I think that fear is the number one cause for negative action. For the longest time the world has come to fear things that can not be explained, and when there is something that is feared the first thought is that you need to fix the problem. As little of a comparison as it is, I am going to compare it to spiders of all things. People fear spiders. They are just another part of the world but they are different and we fear them, so if there is a spider in our house, our first instinct is to kill it. This is all because of fear. Sure there is always more to it then that but at all times I truly believe that the underlying cause of hate crimes is fear.

Quote from: Janet Lynn on July 03, 2009, 06:03:55 AM
I will catch all kinds of heck for my theory, but here goes.
It is a very warped religious view of the world.  The KKK used the bible as proof that they are right. Neo Nazi use their own bible, Mein Kampf.  Some have a wrapped patriarchal view, based on the bible again.

No, I am not anti-Christian or even anti-religion, but when terms like "It is against God's law", or "You are committing as sin in God's eyes", they bring it up.  It seems that hatred is being taught not love.

Janet

Janet, what I've discovered is that when you ask them what they believe what they believe they haven't a clue. They just believe this way without any critical thought about the consequences of their actions.

Gennee

Most religious fundamentalists in the US are uneducated and ignorant.  They live in very small worlds and are so afraid of going to hell that they aren't willing to question anything they are told or to go out and meet people who are gay, trans, etc. to find out if those people really are evil.

As for hate crimes, I think they stem from both that ignorance and fear that if they don't react that way, they'll be seen as gay, etc.

For a little insight (in terms of interviews and observation), I'd recommend watching "Jesus Camp", "Friend of God: A Road Trip with Andrea Pelosi", and "Fall From Grace," which is about Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas (although in the Phelps' family case, I think it's just insanity).  "Jesus Camp", in particular, gives some insight into what it is to be an evangelical Christian.  Also, "Religulous" (film by Bill Maher) has an interesting scene in a truck stop chapel that might give some insight as well (although, on a whole, I didn't like that film as well because it is so one sided...I think it could have been a lot better).