How much does Fear play in religion????

[Bird123]

Do religions scare you into believing? I have a friend who doesn't really believe in what religion teaches. He stays with them just in case. He is covering himself from going to Hell. Is this really what God wants?? There are other kinds of fear. Do you fear you don't fit in when everyone starts talking about religion?? People can be judgmental. Do you fear some will be hateful or mean to you because of your views?? A Being capable of creating universes must be very smart. Would such a Being need to use fear to control people or is it really mankind creating all that fear??? There is not much love and kindness in Fear. Couldn't possibly be God!!

 

[*Anne*]

I think it's very possible that fear is a motivator for some. I've been to funerals where the preacher said something to the effect of, "So-and-so's family can rest easy. They know he's in Heaven with Jesus. Can YOUR family say the same thing? Will THEY worry about where you will end up?" I thought that was pretty ballsy.

Do you fear some will be hateful or mean to you because of your views??

I've never had anyone be hateful towards me because of my religious views, but I have been given the cold shoulder because of them.

 

[Tree)O(Life]

Aren't Christians afraid of going to hell and being slave to the devil after all thats why they continue to worship Jesus. Hell and sin is fear you sin within the grasp of fear so yes Id say a faithful Christian is afraid of the power of god if they oppose.

 

[Bird123]

I think it's very possible that fear is a motivator for some. I've been to funerals where the preacher said something to the effect of, "So-and-so's family can rest easy. They know he's in Heaven with Jesus. Can YOUR family say the same thing? Will THEY worry about where you will end up?" I thought that was pretty ballsy.


I've never had anyone be hateful towards me because of my religious views, but I have been given the cold shoulder because of them.

Is it right to use fear as a motivator??? As for getting the cold shoulder, I never let it bother me. I know interaction will always ruffle a few feathers. That is usually where the learning lives.

 

[*Anne*]

Not all Christians believe in the concept of Hell, so some do follow the teachings of Jesus without the motivator of fear.

I found a decent amount of fear in Catholicism though.

 

[*Anne*]

Is it right to use fear as a motivator???

I don't feel it is. Not for spiritual matters.

 

[Bird123]

Aren't Christians afraid of going to hell and being slave to the devil after all thats why they continue to worship Jesus. Hell and sin is fear you sin within the grasp of fear so yes Id say a faithful Christian is afraid of the power of god if they oppose.

Makes one question their religion. Ruling by fear is only necessary when you aren't smart enough to out think your kids. Of course, fear will draw people into believing anything. It's a good way to get followers.

 

[Bird123]

I don't feel it is. Not for spiritual matters.

Using fear isn't really the High ground!! For spiritual matters, we need to be on the High ground!!

 

[Breathe]

Fear plays a part for some people, especially in some religions where there is a concept of Divine punishment if you do not do as he says.

Myself? Naw. I'm a defiant little bugger; I wouldn't follow a deity out of fear.

Hell? Hee. What a strange concept. So lucky I wasn't raised with it.

 

[Gaura Priya]

Well, there should only be one fear; fear that we do not do the right thing in this lifetime... since God's desire and will for humanity is its unification, I think that not having that accountability for our actions can be disastrous.

So fear can be used in a good way if it means pressure to do good things, and to do the right thing. A little motivation can bring one to the right path...

However, utilising things like Hell and Satan are pretty barbaric and abusive to me in religion, or the punishment that derives from religious authority to the exclusion of the member... it makes religion more like a social club or a frat house, and less of something that actually changes the conditions of the heart.

 

[England my lionheart]

The Carrot and the stick,the fear of going to Hell (stick) the Carrot,the hope of going to Heaven,ain't religion fun

 

[Gaura Priya]

The Carrot and the stick,the fear of going to Hell (stick) the Carrot,the hope of going to Heaven,ain't religion fun

Not all religions are based on Hell or Heaven, the Fire or Paradise, etc.

What is the purpose of life?

Mother Theresa: To become holy, and to go to Heaven.

Unitarian Universalist minister: To become whole, and to make Heaven on Earth.

 

[England my lionheart]

Not all religions are based on Hell or Heaven, the Fire or Paradise, etc.

True but i think its obvious which religions i meant

What is the purpose of life?

Mother Theresa: To become holy, and to go to Heaven.

Unitarian Universalist minister: To become whole, and to make Heaven on Earth.

Does it have to have a purpose?

 

[Perversity]

It's fear, absolutely. You made a valid point just from your own personal experience.

I do, however, feel that some participate in religion through indoctrination where fear is not the only reason; When I protested the Iraq war there were several Christians who were right there with me who probably became Christians because they felt like it gave them a purpose in this world. They also do a lot of charity work, etc.

 

[BruceDLimber]

Fear plays NO role in the Baha'i Faith, which is eminently POSTIVE and doesn't contain all the negative nonsense found in some other religions!

Peace,

Bruce

 

[Nerthus]

With certain religions, I believe fear plays a huge role. When you look into it, why would anyone follow that God, knowing what he has done and will do to people, if it wasn't for fear of the same happening to you?

 

[ninerbuff]

Fear plays NO role in the Baha'i Faith, which is eminently POSTIVE and doesn't contain all the negative nonsense found in some other religions!

Peace,

Bruce

Unless you're a person raised in baha'i faith and are HOMOSEXUAL. No fear from members then?

 

[Vinayaka]

I think it depends a lot on the religion. It seems to me that generally Abrahamic religions are more based on fear than the dharmic or other ones as classified on this site. Of course there is also a huge variation in practitioners within all faiths.

I certainly don't have a lot of fear (at least I intellectualise that to myself) within SD.

 

[EtuMalku]

Certainly not all Belief Systems use scare tactics for their indoctrination.
For those that do, I see them using a form of 'guilt' more so than 'fear', although the Dante-esque images *(archetypal imagery) entrained in our minds do instill fear because of the painful and frightening circumstances that may arise from our 'Sins' (which are culturally subjective by the way).

 

[Penumbra]

Only a subset of religions use fear, and only a subset of members of those religions follow them because of fear.