[LeGrande]

you explain the Biblical command to "love your enemy"? That rule doesn't seem to "work" from a common sense or practical point of view. It is a radical idea and one that I feel cannot be explained by experience alone. Hence, I must disagree with your assessment that religion is a compilation of "helpful hints to live by".

Why is "love your enemy" any more a radical concept than thou shalt not murder? The Taoists believe that we are all "ONE", that goes way beyond loving your enemy. Love is a powerful force, maybe more powerful than hate. The phrase "love your enemy" is a simple recognition of that power.

[visually_augmented]

LeGrande: "The phrase "love your enemy" is a simple recognition of that power."

What is this power? Where does it come from?

Your original post (#65) was fundamentally agnostic in that you believe religion to be merely a created concept "useful" to man. If there is some "power" (such as the power of love or hate), then this must exist outside of man.

You made the inference that religions were invented by man to promote his own well being. But you give no proper explanation of why loving your enemy promotes man's well being except for this illusive "power".