Who to love? How to love? Who to fear? How to fear?
Are these not the questions which every belief, every ritual, every rule and regulation try to answer?
Are we not anthropomorphizing these qualities when we speak of Christ and Satan?
Have we allowed literalists too much influence over our thinking that we confuse metaphor with reality, that we fail to see that humanity's common belief is in the power of Love and that the absence of that belief leads to the belief in the power of Fear?
Do you really believe I go to hell for believing in "Love" rather than "God"? Are you so trapped in your rituals that you believe semantics makes a difference? So trapped in the legalism of your beliefs that unless someone follows your formulaic approach they cannot know the power of Love in their life?
If we dispensed with rituals, with formulae, with semantics, would we not find Love at the root of every religious/spiritual belief system?
2006-09-03 04:18:00 · 7 answers · asked by bobkgin 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Elliot: Isn't it the fear of not being loved that inspires that kind of thinking? We all want to be loved.
2006-09-03 04:25:48 · update #1
Sher: There is nothing "simple" about the bible.
If you wish to extract a verse or two and find truth there alone, so be it. But if you would deny others the validity of their faith in Love because of your formula, then you've simplified nothing.
2006-09-03 04:29:51 · update #2
Religious belief is based on fear and ignorance
2006-09-03 04:22:08 · answer #1 · answered by Gallivanting Galactic Gadfly 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pagan here. Don't believe in either Heaven nor Hell. I think fear plays into religion, but not just of the punishment of an angry or vengeful god, but fear of the unknown. The unknown can be anything, another religion, another race. Those not US. We demonize these things. I think of things as good or evil. Hate is the evil and hate is born of fear. On the converse, good is born of love. We all want it, we all need it. What we need to learn is to realise that we are one world, one people. I would say that love SHOULD be the basis of every spiritual/religious belief system, but I'm not certain it has totally wiped out fear.
2006-09-03 04:42:57 · answer #2 · answered by Gaki 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can accept your point of view and your reasoning to be seen by you as good support for your conclusion. what I see is missing is exactly how you do define the word "Religion".
I do define religion as not limited to the christian beliefs for I see it as including any form of belief system. The way I read the word religion in a dictionary, it includes anything which a man elevates or looks to for guidance as in some way having some influence or control.
Now if you want to place every desire of humankind in the love or fear category as the source of the act or action it is fine with me. However what do you do with the other emotional reactions that may generate an act.
Does a man have to fear fire to not want to get burnt. can he not respect the fire without love or fear, Can he not hold the belief that the fire will burn him and hurt him in a way he does not want to be hurt without expressing fear or love.
I do have some difficulty of seeing only fear for the word fear also includes respect or to exalt on high because one does deserve to be exalted.
Please dosee this as my view only and do have a good day. Thanks for the question and detailed explanation of your position.
2006-09-04 23:39:45 · answer #3 · answered by cjkeysjr 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd say fear is the basis of the vast majority of religious beliefs, even those relating to love. Christianity, for example, works by telling people they're sinners. Not just because of whatever they may have done, but because they were born that way. It tells them that as a result of this they'll go to hell unless they do something to fix themselves. So, out of fear of hell, they declare love for jesus. When we're scared we're vulnerable, and that's when it's easiest to convert people.
2006-09-03 04:23:06 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God is Love. Read chapters of John explains it best. Its as smiple that a small child can understand. Some try to make this so difficult to show there intelligence and depth, you've missed it. Its simple!
2006-09-03 04:27:09 · answer #5 · answered by sher7us 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religious group leaders exercise control over their followers by filling them with fear and guilt.
2006-09-03 04:29:52 · answer #6 · answered by paleblueshoe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
THE LIGHT, THE LIGHT, IT'S TOO BRIGHT!!!
2006-09-03 04:20:24 · answer #7 · answered by jerkoff 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋