why do religions need to have the fear of enternal damnation to ensure their followers do as their told?

Question

if religion is about morals and ethics why the need to treaten belivers into upholding them

Answer 1

Because religions are redundant. If they were doing there job properly, then ultimatley we would all find liberation and the church would would have to shut up shop. Like all organisms, the church fights to perpetuate itself, whereas really it should be striving to end it's necessity.

If everyone got well and there was no more disease or risk of injury, would the doctors be going out trying to cause accidents?

Answer 2

If you read the bible you will see that God wants people who want to follow him and love him with their hearts, not because of fear or being forced to. Romans 10:10 speaks of the "heart... exercising faith." 2 Corinthians 3:3 says that we should have God's law on our hearts. God wants us to serve him because we have chosen to, not because someone has got up in the pulpit and tried to scare us into worship.

Sadly, the chuches have generated this picture and made the masses fear God largely so they can pocket the money from their flocks. Followers are often told that by making such contributions they can help themselves find forgiveness. This is agin contrary to the bible. Just think, if you believe in God and believe He takes a real interest in us all personally, and also believe that He is all powerful, how could you 'buy' his favour. What difference would a fiver make to the Supreme Being?!

Answer 3

I do not like to use the word "religion." For that is mans attempt in their best efforts to get right with God. Many different demoninations, or practices, that people follow that makes them feel like they can get in "good standing" with our creator. Thats why there are so many conflicts between these "religions" and people are fighting over it. Thats the result of tainting God's plan. We forget the reason Jesus came and died for us! He came so that we would have the true way back to the Father, and that He would establish the TRUE way of living. Thus, Christianity, which means Christ-like or little-Christ, is NOT a religion but merely the lifestyle of Christ that we are to replicate. Not by our own efforts, but made possible by the Holy Spirit in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Accept His Gift of salvation and experience the life of abundance. Dont make it hard on yourself when you know the answer! May the Lord Bless You Abundantly!!!

Answer 4

Maybe that's how it is percieved where you are, but I personally didn't believe in any of it until I met Jesus for myself. Nothing beats experience, and mine was a powerful and undeniable spiritual experience. He is real, he is alive, and he is all the bible says he is.

For the record, I thought being nice was enough to get me into heaven. Christianity, if the truth is taught, is about having a personal relationship with Jesus, and I don't agree at all with 'scaring' people into belief, because that is not faith, it's a cover up.

Answer 5

Do you need the fear of being run over to stop you walking across a motorway during rush hour? If someone told you that you would die if you tried it, would that be reasonable? Or should they leave you to wander through the traffic believing that the cars and lorries cannot hurt you?

Do you need the fear of being poisoned to stop you downing a whole bottle of painkillers? If I said that was going to kill you, would I be being judgemental? If you believed they were harmless, should I let you carry on believing that?

If I knew the brakes on your car were broken, would I be right to warn you, or should I just keep it to myself? After all, if you believe your brakes work, who am I to question it?

So, if we tell you that you must accept Jesus' sacrifice on your behalf in order to gain Eternal Life, and that there is no other name under Heaven that can give you this, are we not justified? We believe this as much as we believe that walking across a busy motorway will get you run down. We believe it as much as we believe that swallowing a bottle of painkillers will kill you. We believe we have to warn people just as much as we should warn people about faulty brakes on their car.

Answer 6

All religion is a control mechanism. Are you familiar with the saying "Stick and Carrot" ? A Donkey has a carrot dangled from a stick in front of its nose. The Donkey is lead wherever the driver wants, because the Donkey imagines, the reward is in reach. He never gets the carrot, and if he veers from the chosen path, he is beaten with the stick !

Answer 7

I'm a christian and I don't have any fear of eternal damnation at all i know i'm saved because i love and I have faith in Jesus Christ.
And by the way religion may be about ethics and moral but if you take just a litle second that God gave you in your life and read in the bible you would understand that God is all about the personnal relation and the faith you have in him.
i'll pray for you
Good day

Answer 8

Because human nature is selfish and self-indulgent...most cultures adopt social contracts wherein people choose to act on that choice which brings the least unpleasant consequences. Ethics have changed significantly in our current philosophical clime...it is no longer "good is as dictated by on high", but good is evaluated on the amount of positive relative to the amount of negative impact...most humans are too self absorbed even to adopt enlightened self interest, let alone judge themselves by the effects of their choices...

Answer 9

The bible teaches against using fear. Isa.29:13-14

Answer 10

Many priests in many religions are after power. Blackmailing someone with a threat which they will believe is one way of getting power and lets face they are never going to have to justify that threat. There are lots of silly people about