Is any person who would promote an agenda or idea using fear inherently evil?

Question

Sorry, had to rephrase the question

hmmm...neil...is it safe to say that people become drunks in the first place because they afraid? Afraid of that social situation, or afraid of those memories they are trying to numb out?

And are the rest of us too afraid to help that drunk before they become alcoholics, who are messed up in the head enough to drink and drive?

Answer 1

If that is the motivational factor behind the agenda or idea then I would say yes. Only someone that is evil would think to use fear as a means to get people to follow it.

After all if the agenda or idea would be good / positive then you wouldn't need to be coerced into it.

Answer 2

If people didn't promote agendas and ideas using fear, then very little would get done in the world. People use scare tactics because they work, and they work because fear is the most universal motivator. Using it doesn't make someone inherently evil. It's means they have a basic understanding of human nature.

Answer 3

I'm not trying to be the loophole guy again here, but if the idea or agenda were beneficial to those that the person were promoting it to, then no, that would not be an "evil" act.

Now, there are big questions on what agendas would be genuinely beneficial, but I'm just assuming that it is for the sake of argument.

Say you wanted to promote genetically enhanced food to people who would starve to death if they didn't eat it. You could use the fear of starvation in order to get them to eat the food.

Answer 4

There was a great letter to the editor of the NYTimes on this last week. The person pointed out that a real leader gets the followers to be fearless in time of strife, not fearful. The implications about Bush are obvious.

Answer 5

No, not inherently. What if, in Nazi Germany, someone had said to Hitler "Stop slaughtering Jews or I'm going to rip your face off"? This person would be promoting an agenda (stopping the holocaust) and they would be doing so using fear, but I doubt many people would consider their action to be evil.
And what about our criminal laws? Do they not use fear (of criminal sanctions) to promote an agenda of social cohesion?

Answer 6

Fear is inherently evil because how could you fight the forces of evil when you succumb to fear and not have the courage to face the facts and dark sides of our lives and win over it.Fear is the catalyst that suffice evil utilizing it to dominate the weak for the fulfillment of its dark purpose.Conversely, courage is tantamount to win over fear, provided, it should be used for better objectives.

Answer 7

Not necessarily, the difference is whether or not the "Fear" they are selling is real or not.
Your question would most definitely describe Jesus Christ, though any sane individual would never see Him as evil.
Why? Because the fears He spoke of are real. Eternal Separation from God in Hells Judgement and Torment.
Also He offeres an alternative of Salvation. Evil does no such thing.

Answer 8

I don't believe in evil, using fear to accomplish anything shows disrespect for the intended victim. Anytime you do not respect another beings right to be, you disrespect your own rights. It is wrong and why I will never let my children alone with a Christian or Muslim until they are old enough to understand the difference between belief and fact.

Answer 9

Well I think so, but unfortunately there are many people in this world who think that the intended outcome justifies the means. Like Christians who terrorize their children with stories of hell and the devil and the wrath of God with the intention of making them grow up into good, law abiding, hardworking citizens.

Answer 10

I wouldn't say inherently evil. Just scared, perhaps.