“a command to love others (as defined by the Law and the Prophets) even when they don’t love you”

If conservative Christians define love as the way they treat people they don’t agree with, then that is scary as hell. These people are awful. Do you listen to them talk? I can’t wrap my mind around anyone with that much hate in their hearts.

Now, I don’t know if you personally hate anybody. I do know the religious right and their captive Republican Party hate me, and think of me as a second-class citizen and person. And work to codify it into law.

So to address both points at once: the Constitution says everybody gets religious freedom. If we’re a Christian nation, the first amendment only applies to some people, and I am (among many others) a second-class citizen.

So we can either try to live up to our supposed ideals, or live in a low-grade apartheid state where Christians prescribe everyone else’s lives. Take your pick.