Do you think scare tatics are a main drive in religion?

Question

Do you think that many join a faith do to the "threat" of some great evil awaiting them after they die?

If so do you think this still counts as embracing the faith? or do you think its just cowardice?

Do you think it is unneccesary/ or wrong for faiths to pressure people by telling them "repent or face an evil fate"?

Just curious on everyone's thoughts...

Sigh. Okay for the record i mean currently, as in today's time. We don't have prophets anymore, we have interperters, and this question applies to them as well as the religious community upholding the faith they believe in. I'm asking if it is fair, right, equal, and neccesary to use fear of a fiery torment after life to push someone into a religion.

Answer 1

I really don't think it's fear that makes people believe, because I don't think that the majority of even the most devout religious people living today really deep-down in their gut believe that there is a god, or an afterlife. I think it's really more of a bedtime story people tell themselves to keep the existential angst away.

Answer 2

First of all, I don't think a person "joins a faith". Faith is something you either have or don't have.
I think some people do join a particular church or embrace a particular religion due to fear (fear of death, fear of damnation, etc.) and there are some who have a connection with God, and they are genuinely looking for a way to get closer to HIM.
I will say though, that a lot of religions/churches prey on the ones who are genuinely looking for God, but are also afraid of whatever it is they're afraid of, and they (the churches) take advantage of these people. I believe though, that God will punish those who do this, if they don't repent.

Answer 3

I think I can not judge but my opinion is this:

I do believe we as Christians have done a poor job witnessing. I think to scare someone into knowing the love of God is only driving them further away.

This isn't accept and believe in God SO you DON'T go to hell.

It is accept Christ, believe in him and you WON'T go to hell.

See the difference? Hell isn't the reason you believe. God doesn't love you b/c you owe him anything. God doesn't want to save you from hell for any other reason than he loves you. I know I am playing on words. You do have to repent. The wages of sin is death. EVERYONE is a sinner. Christians are no better or worse. The point is progression not perfection. I need Christ to help me as much as the next. I have chosen to accept him and the Holy Spirit is changing me. I can't do it. The threat is awaiting me after I die whether I am perfect or not. That is the beauty of God. His heart is to have not one perish. Unfortunately we have gotten so far from that we can't even see two feet in front of us or two hours in the future.

I am sorry I am preaching, let me get off my soapbox and just say God loves you. That is what we should preach to non believers. The love and heart of God

God Bless and good question

Answer 4

I agree. Do this, or you'lll burn in hell forever. It's a way of controlling people--the police can't be everywhere. It keeps them in line when nobody else is watching.
Also, the basic fear of death is what causes humans to create religions in the first place. You don't even have to threaten people with an "evil fate." Everyone's going to die, nobody's too crazy about the idea of not existing anymore, so most religions have some component of a life after death.

Answer 5

i've got faith there's a tension accessible that creates the universe; it might desire to no longer in elementary terms be the effect of a few explosion. I meant look on the human physique it rather is appropriate designed for what it does. Now this days everybody is watching the human’s physique action to create the technologies (cranes, hydraulics etc…). each and every thing around might desire to no longer be the effect of a few explosion this is been created. someplace interior everybody is familiar with this and that they ill for the tension however the only factor they discover on the top is faith that has been tolled with the help of the mummy and father, u . s ., tribe u . s . or books and different surrounding issues. i've got faith that the religion has been created with a view to have ability and administration over the inhabitants. If to take the historic previous: a number of the priests the place having additional funds territory and ability then the kings themselves. The Spanish inquisition killed greater people then some wars do yet for what for faith? I don’t be attentive to haw approximately you adult males yet i will greater effective carry on with the character’s forces then what people say.

Answer 6

They use several levers. Fear is just one and likely accounts for less than 20% of the decision process.
Nice page on coercion methods here:
http://changingminds.org/

Once you are aware of the vulnerabilities and strategies used against them it becomes painfully obvious what kind of believers you are dealing with.
The ones who need love are very plain, those who need to be right are exposed. It also makes you more aware of what needs you are trying to fill in yourself.

I admire both Father K and Mel for attempting to *love bomb* you, even if it was clumsy and does not work well over the Internet.
Earl D. is definitely feeding his *Righteous Anger* and likely feels very good about his whole *Holy Christian Warrior* trip.
These few samples show why religion is so hard to deal with. Unless you can deal with believers as individuals you will not be able to change their thinking. Even the idea of creating cognitive dissonance can back fire and make them more attached to their addiction to religion.

Answer 7

The only religions to use the tactic of believe or suffer are the Abrahamc religions, the rest of them have different ideas. Some of them think you will have bad luck, bad crops etc if you displease the gods, but nothing akin to Hell. In those religions, displeasing the gods usually means a shoddy sacrifice and there is no concept of sin.

Answer 8

It doesn't seem to me like Jesus used "scare tactics" to get to people in the Bible. He spoke much more about His grace and love than he did about eternal damnation in hell. Although Christ did talk about hell. The description of hell and the terrifying punishment people will face if they don't have faith and repent has it's place though, I think, when you tell someone about putting their faith in Christ.

I think we should charm people to Christ. How many people are going to come to Christ if being a Christian means living what looks like hell on earth? Your living example speaks volumes about what being a Christian is all about. If people feel loved and accepted by you then they are more apt to find out about the God you believe in. Also, showing people grace is very important. I struggle having grace towards people and I'm working on not condemning people.

Answer 9

I think a lot of religions tend to incorporate scare tactics, which really don't seem like something that could, in my opinion, be divinely inspired.

I can't really speak for other religions, but a huge part of Christianity revolves around doing good because you'll get rewarded for it, and if you don't do good you'll get it trouble. It's like no one is doing good because they want to, it's either because they're greedy or scared.

But, it's a part of Christianity, so I'd say they're embracing the faith.

Answer 10

While the Word of GOd says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of understanding, I don't think no one will be truly loyal to God under scare tactics. It must be a heart thing, May God Bless U.