The Bible Speaks to You December 7, 1963 Issue

[The above is substantially the text, of the program released for broadcast the week of November 29—December 5 in the radio series," The Bible Speaks to You," heard internationally over more than 800 stations. This is one of the weekly programs prepared and produced by the Christian Science Committee on Publication, 107 Falmouth Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.]

RADIO PROGRAM No. 87 - Is Hate Necessary?

INTERVIEWER: We hear a great deal about hate lately. Sometimes people who have experienced injustices persecution, indignities, loss of loved ones, or loss of home or property feel they have a just and legitimate reason for hating. A British author, John Elsom, expressed this view sometime ago in the English publication The Listener. He said: "It is sometimes necessary to hate one's neighbour; Christians and non-Christians hated the Nazis in the last war. The Christian might reply that we hate the acts of the Nazis, not the people themselves. But we are aware of our neighbours through their acts and through what they saw It therefore we hate their acts and their talk, we hate all that we are aware of the person." (The British Broadcasting Corporation.)

We would be interested in your thoughts on this as a Christian Scientist. Can we hate wrong deeds without hating the wrongdoers, or is hate sometimes necessary?

SPEAKER: Let me answer that question by going back to the thought in the words you were just quoting. If all we're aware of in others is hateful acts or hateful talk, it's quite obvious we're not looking deeply enough.

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