How much does Fear play a part in Religion????
By bird123
@bird123 (10632)
United States
March 19, 2011 12:43am CST
Does religion scare you into believing?? Do they use the Almighty Power of God to bend you back into shape?? Do you really think God is one to be feared?? After all, He is supposed to be sending souls to hell. I have a friend who doesn't really believe all what his religion teaches. He stays with them just in case. He is sort of covering himself from eternal hell. Is this really the way God wants it??
There are other kinds of fear. Do you fear you won't fit in when everyone is talking religion?? People can be judgmental. Do you fear that some will hate you and maybe be mean to you for your views?? Not much love and understanding coming from some. Do you fear that since they seem so confident that your view isn't as important??
I have found that God is not One to be feared. God is Unconditional Love. Though some of our challenges can be hard, we will see them through. The views of everyone are important. We learn from each other. Even if your view can not believe in God, it is important. It will challenge those of religion who accept blindly, assuming they have all the answers. Knowledge is a funny thing. There is always more to learnALWAYS!! If one believes they can never learn more, they do not really care or search for the truth.
So relax, don't let fear be an issue. God loves you Unconditionally. Show your view to others. You never know when you will make a difference. God places people around you for a reason. They need your view.
3 people like this
7 responses
@jennyze (7029)
• Indonesia
21 Mar 11
I know that some religions instill fear on their believers, so I stayed away from these religions. It is sad, but most of the time it is the high priests understanding of the religion that are wrong and compelled them to make the believers believe them instead of believing the religion itself.
I don't fear God. To me God is wonderful, why should we fear God. God will take us anytime, good or bad and love us.
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
22 Mar 11
Slipping???? oops??? If you fully understand a bad choice, you will never choose it. Making a bad choice simply shows God and the world what you need to learn. God sends lessons when He returns your choices to you. This has nothing to do with hate or punishment. It's education at it's best. Sometimes it really hurts, however if one is willing to give it, one should be willing to receive it to understand what your action really mean. In time, all of God's children will realize that there is only one answer. Unconditional Love just like God. After all, that is what we want back, isn't it???
@FRANCISCOANDLEE (750)
• United States
22 Mar 11
God does not demand fear...it requires understanding of God and His relationship with humans...which parallels that which we had with our parents, and the children of our own.
1 person likes this
@djbtol (5493)
• United States
20 Mar 11
All people have some fears, maybe a little and maybe a lot. This is true of those who are religious and those who are totally secular.
I think fear can be the motivation to make a person seek God or religion. Fear can also be a factor in why a person continues to live for God. Fear can also be the reason a person does not seek God.
Those who are loved by God will experience fear, but it should not be the controlling factor in their life. The Bible says that 'Perfect love drives out fear', and of course perfect love is God's love for his child.
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
20 Mar 11
Fear should not be the controlling factor in life. We are meant to THINK! Reason should always lead, however many allow emotions to lead their lives. There are thinking people who choose evil who can lead the feeling people to parts unknown. An example are some of the cult deaths of the past with brainwasher people following blindly. Fear is merely a warning that one doesn't have enough information. When one has enough knowledge, fear never stays around. Thinking always brings better results!!
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
19 Mar 11
Sadly fear does play a huge roll for the masses IMO when it comes to mainstream religions which is really an unfortunate think. Ppl are scaring INTO believing which to me says that they really DONT believe or at least cant be sure whether or not they do since they are consumed with fear of what if...
As for fear playin a role in MY life....NOPE! I'm just too damn old and cranky and have been through far too much to fall prey to that sort of mindgame. AND like Galena said, I dont walk the path I do and believe what I do in order to be rewarded or avoid a scolding etc..I walk and believe because MY PATH is the truth for ME..Make sense?
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
19 Mar 11
I guess the fear game is one of the many lessons one can learn around religion. Religion's who use it care more about getting followers than discovering the real truth. As a friend once told me, religion is a business regardless of what anyone thinks.
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
20 Mar 11
Many Scams use greed as bait, but Religion has used fear successfully for many centuries. Christianity is the Biggest, Wealthiest Business the world has ever seen. This makes the Christian Religion the Biggest Wealthiest Scam, and the Pope, the Richest man who ever walked on earth.
(Whereas Jesus never collected money from anyone for any reason!)
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
20 Mar 11
Hmmmm??? Very interesting point!! So if Christians and Christian churches really wanted to be like Christ, they must stop collecting the money!! Yes, That's going to happen!!! I BELIEVE!! I BELIEVE THAT WILL HAPPEN!! As we all know Beliefs aren't always true. That's why I don't rely on them. The religions are really just going to get richer. Since fear and finding everyone flawed and sinful will draw in the money, they will continue to hurt people. There are lots of lesson they need to learn. No matter how one looks at it, it doesn't come out as Unconditional Love,now does it??
@starsailover (7829)
• Mexico
19 Mar 11
Hi bird: I believe in my religion. However I must admit that some of the members of my religion (I am a catholic boy) and also some persons from other religious groups are intolerant. I think my moral and religious values are an inspiration to be a better person and also to love the people around me. However, some persons (and I think they are not doing right) use religion as a weapon. I don't think it's ok to use our beleifs to insult people or to "play God" and say to a person that he/ she is going to be on hell or that he/ she is a bad person just because he/ she doesn't think the same as we do. For me religion is about love and respect, not hate.
ALVARO
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
20 Mar 11
Good reply.People can always find an excuse to hate others especially if others are different. When people say God hates this or that or anything, it's clear they do not know God. We are all children of God so we all have something in common. When we find someone we want to hate, we should make them our best friend instead. Learning from each other brings understanding.
