Does this promote love or hate?

[Katzpur]

On a church near my house (I won't say which denomination), there is a huge banner hanging over the door. It says, in huge letters, "HATE FREE ZONE." Every time I see it, I'm offended. To me, the implication is that within the doors of that particular church there is refuge, tolerance, respect, etc. that can't be found on the outside -- the outside meaning other churches. To me, it says, "We won't judge you, even though everybody else does." Am I being overly sensitive?

 

[Aqualung]

On a church near my house (I won't say which denomination), there is a huge banner hanging over the door. It says, in huge letters, "HATE FREE ZONE." Every time I see it, I'm offended. To me, the implication is that within the doors of that particular church there is refuge, tolerance, respect, etc. that can't be found on the outside -- the outside meaning other churches. To me, it says, "We won't judge you, even though everybody else does." Am I being overly sensitive?

Err! I hate signs like that! :banghead3 Even knowing they exist fills me with HATE!!! I'm being entirely serious, too. I hate those stupid signs, and I don't think they fulfill their purpose. They offend me, too. But just because they have no right to tell me that if I go in there I can no longer hate anything. Why would they dictate that sort of thing. Boy, you sure raked up a whole lot of hate that I don't want to post in here...

To answer you question. The promote hate.

 

[SoyLeche]

On a church near my house (I won't say which denomination), there is a huge banner hanging over the door. It says, in huge letters, "HATE FREE ZONE." Every time I see it, I'm offended. To me, the implication is that within the doors of that particular church there is refuge, tolerance, respect, etc. that can't be found on the outside -- the outside meaning other churches. To me, it says, "We won't judge you, even though everybody else does." Am I being overly sensitive?

I don't have a problem with it. That is what a church is supposed to feel like, ideally. And, your logic is flawed. The signs don't say anything about being the "sole" hate free zone, just one, possibly of many.

 

[Aqualung]

I don't have a problem with it. That is what a church is supposed to feel like, ideally. And, your logic is flawed. The signs don't say anything about being the "sole" hate free zone, just one, possibly of many.

Yeah, but don't you think it's just stupid? As if I'm not allowed to hate when I walk in the doors, and if I do, I'm not worthy to be there, because it's a hate free zone. It's just disgusting.

 

[Unedited]

Well...I don't want to sound like I'm being mean here or anything, but I personally think you should both lighten up. I honestly don't see what the big deal is. Sure, I can see why you don't like it, but is one sign really enough to get so riled up about? Maybe if the sign was made out of hate, but it would seem to me it was made out of good intentions, ignorance at the worst.

 

[SoyLeche]

Yeah, but don't you think it's just stupid? As if I'm not allowed to hate when I walk in the doors, and if I do, I'm not worthy to be there, because it's a hate free zone. It's just disgusting.

If you want to hate, don't go into the "zone"

 

[Katzpur]

Well...I don't want to sound like I'm being mean here or anything, but I personally think you should both lighten up. I honestly don't see what the big deal is. Sure, I can see why you don't like it, but is one sign really enough to get so riled up about? Maybe if the sign was made out of hate, but it would seem to me it was made out of good intentions, ignorance at the worst.

I'm actually not all that riled up. I guess it's just that I'm aware of some of the cultural issues at play here. The church in question is here in Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City is, of course, predominantly LDS. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints takes a strong stand against homosexuality. Maybe I'm wrong, but I just have a feeling that this sign is taking a jab at my church, and is implying that, "The Mormons may hate you, but we dont." The truth of the matter is that we don't hate anyone. I don't think most other conservative Christian denominations do either (except for those who hate us Mormons ). Hey, maybe the sign was just an invitation for Mormons to come worship there. Maybe it was saying, "Well, the [fill in the blank] church may hate you Mormons, but we don't!"

 

[Aqualung]

Well...I don't want to sound like I'm being mean here or anything, but I personally think you should both lighten up. I honestly don't see what the big deal is. Sure, I can see why you don't like it, but is one sign really enough to get so riled up about? Maybe if the sign was made out of hate, but it would seem to me it was made out of good intentions, ignorance at the worst.

Well, I'm hugely riled up. Yeah, it had good intentions, but I just don't like it. It just irritates me royally.

If you want to hate, don't go into the "zone"

I guess that church doesn't have many members then, eh?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

First of all, I thought it was a reasonable question and did not get the sense of anyone getting overly riled up. As for the sign itself, I suspect that Katzpur is right in suggesting an an anti-Mormon implication. I find it more crude than offensive, but that is probably a failure on my part.

 

[Aqualung]

As Micheal Savage said, but in different words, I have the right to hate, and nobody has the right to tell me when and where I am allowed to hate.

 

[kreeden]

Well Katzpur , does it say that it is the only " Hate Free Zone " ? Personally , I use to like socalled " free zones " untill the term became so everyday ... and everywhere . I would be more interested in finding out just how " hate free " it actually is , then thinking it is a slight agaisnt another church . After all , if it is a slight , it is hardly " hate free ", is it ?

 

[Fluffy]

Well as somebody who gets physically sick when he is hated, I can see an immense attraction to wanting to go to a place advertising itself as a hate free zone. If you felt particularly picked upon for whatever reason, something like this might really reach out to you. Its difficult to judge without knowing the intentions, however.

 

[michel]

I'm actually not all that riled up. I guess it's just that I'm aware of some of the cultural issues at play here. The church in question is here in Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City is, of course, predominantly LDS. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints takes a strong stand against homosexuality. Maybe I'm wrong, but I just have a feeling that this sign is taking a jab at my church, and is implying that, "The Mormons may hate you, but we dont." The truth of the matter is that we don't hate anyone. I don't think most other conservative Christian denominations do either (except for those who hate us Mormons ). Hey, maybe the sign was just an invitation for Mormons to come worship there. Maybe it was saying, "Well, the [fill in the blank] church may hate you Mormons, but we don't!"

I don't understand the ramifications of Anti Mormon politics, so I am hardly qualified to pass judgement.

Without understanding the politics, I can see nothing particularly 'heteful' in the sign. It sounds crude and ill-thought, and perhaps puzzling - because it does seem to imply that there is hate about.

I would have thought an advertisment promoting something positive would be better than one which promotes the lack of negativity - which does tend to make me think that you are interpreting the message correctly, or targetting another group.

Tackless at the best - at the worst, insulting.:tsk:

 

[Darkdale]

On a church near my house (I won't say which denomination), there is a huge banner hanging over the door. It says, in huge letters, "HATE FREE ZONE." Every time I see it, I'm offended. To me, the implication is that within the doors of that particular church there is refuge, tolerance, respect, etc. that can't be found on the outside -- the outside meaning other churches. To me, it says, "We won't judge you, even though everybody else does." Am I being overly sensitive?

I want to say yes, you are being oversensitive; but also, why should the church have to advertise?

 

[michel]

I am not sure if it is 'advertizing' as such; here we often see signs outside the Churches that read 'Make a friend of Jesus' and the like; I think it is more supposed to reflect a welcoming statement - which is why Katzpur may well not be being over sensitive.

 

[Darkdale]

I am not sure if it is 'advertizing' as such; here we often see signs outside the Churches that read 'Make a friend of Jesus' and the like; I think it is more supposed to reflect a welcoming statement - which is why Katzpur may well not be being over sensitive.

Well, I'm always annoyed by those signs. I guess I wouldn't notice the difference in intent. My favorite sign was, "Come find God. He'll make you rich!". It was a really swanky looking church too.

 

[joeboonda]

The sign seems to say to me, that no matter how sinful I am, whether a drunk or prostitute or druggie or gay or whatever, I am welcome there and will be loved unconditionally. I would hate to be on my last leg, ready to kill myself, and be afraid of the very people who could help me, and lead me to the Lord who can save me. I would go ask them what it means to them. Are you saying you would not let a gay person into your church? I don't think you are, as that is just one sin the Bible names of many. Jesus came to seek and save that which is lost, I think it is a wonderful sign for today, as most people think 'the church' hates them if they are gay, drunk, prostitutes, etc. The truth is, the church is here for the very purpose of bringing them to Christ who can save them and help them.