The reason I ask is because so many of you tell me that when I die, I will have to "face god" and answer for my atheism (which I guess is supposed to scare me.)
Also, many of you keep advising me that it's better to believe in god and "play it safe" than to risk the alternative (whatever that is), which you seem to be deathly afraid of.
Further, I've been informed by many of you that humans are NOT descended from less evolved primates, but were made complete, "as we are", in your god's image.
So to sum up...
1) You fear having to face your god as non-believers
2) You fear dying and going to hell (or at least NOT to your god)
3) You fear the idea that we evolved from ape-like ancestors
It appears as though your entire belief system is predicated on FEAR, and not on spreading love as so many of you claim.
Am I misunderstanding something? I'm only going by the statements that all of YOU are making to me.
2006-12-20 10:45:09 · 39 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No, it's called reverence. I love and revere my Father.
Only God's enemies should fear Him. How are you doing?
You are making up lies and believing your own lies. What kind of person does this? I'll tell you, a person with no common sense.
>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<
2006-12-20 10:47:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
In my experience I've seen way more of trying to spread the love of God on here than spread the fear of God. Go through any thread on here and the love response will far outweigh the fear based caveats.
But regarding fear, isn't it the better part of good prudence to fear and respect a being that has the power to create and destroy. It shouldn't matter if the religion involves fear or love, what matters is whether it's true or not. If it's true and the entire thing is predicated on fear...it's still better to submit to God, then to resist because you don't like the terms.
2006-12-20 11:14:32 · answer #2 · answered by sickblade 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you are misunderstanding somethings. I also think that Christians that try to instill fear in you are missing something. God's Grace, Mercy and Love are the primary reasons for believing. There is always a little fear involved. I mean God is our Heavenly Father, Creator of all, I am in awe of him and what He has done and what He will do. If we didn't have some fear of consequences, then anything goes and God's will cannot be done on earth.
Merry Christmas.
2006-12-20 11:04:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I am part of that "all of YOU" that you speak of. I am in no way shape of form afraid of being evolved from ape-like ancestors, I just think its ridiculous and I don't believe it. I am not afraid of facing God as a non-believer, because I do believe, and I have had enough evidence in my life to be solid in my foundation of God existing. And I do not fear hell, because I know I am not going there. Yes, it is scary to think about being there, but that is not why I believe and follow Christ. As a Christian, we are supposed to try to save others, and help them understand Christ's reasons for what He did, and what life is more importantly about. Some approach that in a very evangelistic way which some may call "pushing their beliefs on others". Others only talk about it when it is brought up, and are more quiet about it. Either way, we aren't doing it because we feel we are better then others, but because we want others to experience the love that God has, and the goodness that he can fill your life with.
2006-12-20 10:51:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am not what most would call a christian and I don't go to church,( I think that some churches can actually turn people away from god because of all that fear they display.) but I do believe in god because it helps me have hope and have kind thoughts of others and to be caring. I do not believe in the bible because men have wrote things that they wanted us to believe and to keep as many people under control as they could. In the end I think that god is good and it comes from the heart not a book or a church.
2006-12-20 10:53:11 · answer #5 · answered by chelldiane 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Pro 19:23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
Pro 22:4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honor, and life.
Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
2006-12-20 10:51:06 · answer #6 · answered by scriptureman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I was a teenager, I went to a fire and brimstone church. For a while, I was literally afraid of burning in hell for breathing the wrong way, making the wrong choice, making the tiniest little mistake and not having time to repent, etc.
I don't like churches that operate on fear, which is why I have decided to make it a point never to go to another one like that ever again. I am a mature, rational person. I don't need to be "scared straight." And honestly, I don't think anyone else does, either.
2006-12-20 11:03:02 · answer #7 · answered by I'm Still Here 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a great question and your answer is yes you are misunderstanding. Christianity is based on faith and not fear. It is easy to misunderstand because faith and fear have the same definition; the belief in that which has not yet been seen, with opposite results. Faith has positive results and brings life while fear has negative results and brings death.
It sounds like you have been talking with some "young in their faith" believers. Their motive is to get you into the kingdom of God and are trying to motivate you through fear. This is very similar to the preachers that "spread the word of hellfire and damnation" not so long ago. It seems that today we have swung to the other end of the pedulum with love love and grace grace and the liberality that everything is acceptable to God. Niether are true although they both have some truth in them.
The final question that every person will have to answer is this. Do you know God and does God know you.
Every person has to answer this question and the answer determines their destination. Eternal life or eternal death.
This has nothing whatsoever to do with were you a "good" person or not. This is about God reaching out to man and making a path to Himself so that all, each and every one of us, can know God in person. This is not just knowing about God, this is actually knowing Him.
Some people accept this path to God because of fear, however, this path is only able to be traveled on with the truth. Have you really accepted that God is who He says He is and that the free gift of grace and redemtion, the path to God, is only given through Jesus. This is not mans idea of how to get in touch and to know God, this is Gods path and God's way that God made for all mankind to Him.
You might be thinking, what's the big deal? This is why it is a big deal. God created man so that God, this infinite being with no boundries of a top, sides or bottom, could have a relationship with some one that wants to have a relationship with Him. To accomplish this he gave man free will and the power of choice. In giving these attributes to man He also has to let man be willng to destroy himself, even though He is here and available and well able to establish order. To give man the ability to exercise his will and choices in life with authority God gave man the earth to rule.
The heart of God is perfect love and His attitude towards man is that of grace and mercy. God is a Holy and Righteous God and cannot have a relationship with unrighteousness or sin. This is why Jesus is the path to God . We are able to be covered by Jesus righteousness allowing us to be in the presence of God the Father.
2006-12-20 11:58:43 · answer #8 · answered by David R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check into the developmental psychologists, esp. Erickson. He talks about the stages of development kids go through growing up and I think they apply very well to us as we grow in faith. At an immature age, a kid only does "good" to avoid punishment. But as he matures -- if he matures -- he comes to understand that there is a better reason to do good, that is because it's the moral thing to do. That's a kind of higher reasoning. If right now you only believe because you're afraid of death/hell, don't sweat it. Keep on believing as best you can and don't forget to pray. Somebody once said that the Roman centurian's prayer in the New Testament is the most basic of all prayers a human can offer: "Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief."
2016-05-23 02:08:42 · answer #9 · answered by Ann 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I do not obey God because I am afraid of him. I have nothing to be afraid of, because Jesus died for my sins and I know I am forgiven. (yeah, yeah, I know, more Christian rhetoric... but you asked!) But if you don't have the blood of Jesus to atone for your sins, you'll have to do your own atoning in hell.
If you aren't saved, you SHOULD be scared. But you apparently aren't, and I can't make you afraid, so I'll spare the grisly descriptions of fire, brimstone, and the like.
Frankly, I'd rather live my life as if there was a God to answer to, and find out that he doesn't exist.... than to live my life as if there wasn't a God, only to die and find out there IS a God.
Oh, and evolution? ...OK... what is there to be scared of about evolution? It is a THEORY- and not a really good one, when you really look at it.
I don't want to go into too much debate here, so I'll just direct you to www.drdino.com. This guy knows what he's talking about, so if you have any questions about creation and evolution, ask him.
2006-12-20 10:56:44 · answer #10 · answered by ATWolf 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To "fear" the Lord means to reverence HIM.
The fear that we have for burning for eternaty is human nature not to want to suffer pain.
God is Love and anyone that is following HIS path is giving love to all.
Do ya want to believe you are derived from an ape or the living image of the Creator of Life?
And it is good to fear HIS anger because HE is the Almighty with power that the human mind cannot fathom.
May God Bless You
2006-12-20 10:58:22 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋