We've all witnessed religion modifying doctrines to maintain validity with it's followers. Some religions more than others. Some just rely on isolating their followers from the outside world. The ones that change do so because their credibility gets undermined, yet the fact that they change undermines their credibility as the truth.
Will this proccess always continue, with people blindly accepting the idea that truth can change so they can avoid having to face the reality of death?
2007-04-30 21:22:42 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I always thought that the fear of death was what kept most doctors in business. Quite a few scientists and pharmaceutical companies too. I imagine they even treat athiests.
Personally, I am not religious 'because' I fear death.
Cheers :-)
2007-04-30 21:37:35 · answer #1 · answered by chekeir 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not religious, but I do have heavy sociological / anthropological background. If you feel the need to "fear" your God, then it's because you feel guilty for something, or you want to feel victimized. Most folks don't fear their God. They love their God. God is like the ultimate leader. As Machiavelli said, a good leader must be both loved and feared. If he is just loved, then people will still do what they want against his wishes at times. If he is just feared, then they won't love their own lives, only doing what he wants out of fear of ramifications. If they love and fear him, then they will do what he wants out of love and respect first, and out of fear second. Let me try to use a different analogy for God... God, in most peoples' eyes, is like a good parent. A good parent uses 2 parts love and 1 part discipline to ensure people lead a good life. 1 part love is unconditional. God loves you unconditionally, because you are his creation. (Just as a parent loves their child unconditionally). 1 part love is for positive reinforcement. God shows you love to reward your good behavior. This is what most folks call "blessings", "miracles", etc. Parents do the same with them children; give them hugs when they succeed. 1 part discipline is used for negative reinforcement. God punishes people when they've been bad. Parents do the same to children. Now, most people will follow a Godly life simply because they respect and love God due to 1 part unconditional love, and 1 part positive reinforcement. If that doesn't work then they fear the 1 part discipline. However, what's "blessing" and "punishment" from God is subjective. Different religions, and even individuals, may see something as a blessing while others see it as a curse. Everyone can see whatever they want into something. When a mother hugs a child, it's pretty tangible that it's a hug. But, when a person finds $5 on the street is that a blessing? What if it just enables them to do something bad? I think the better way to look at God is that he gives people chances. The $5 is an opportunity. How the person chooses to use that opportunity dictates whether it's a "blessing" or "curse".
2016-05-17 22:42:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I feel that religion always has and always will feed on fear. But people are beginning to wake up now to a new spirituality. People are searching for their own answers and many of us are finding peace in remembering who we are and where we came from. We cannot die. When you leave the body you are now in, you won't even blink because you are still there - still the same soul, the same you, back Home with your Creator. If we start to let God be the awesome Creator that She is rather than lock Him up in a box the size of our heads then there is still hope for His wonderful world.
2007-04-30 21:36:19 · answer #3 · answered by hedgewitch18 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I watched a PBS special on mormonism tonight. It depressed the snot out of me. Some of the stuff is just so off-the-wall and obviously a sham and yet the faithful hold on.
I used to think that people could be educated out of religion, but I'm coming to think that some people need it and are going to hold onto it even when their minds are screaming at them that it's a fairy tale.
2007-04-30 21:27:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don`t see how fear of death makes you religious,Christians rarely even think about it, and when they do it is with joy, it seems to be those with no relationship with God who do the worrying, though most would not admit it.
2007-04-30 21:29:18 · answer #5 · answered by Sentinel 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Religious relativists got to be the most miserable people on earth. If its not true then its not worth living or dying for. If it is true then its totally worth living and dying for.
The sting of death is sin, where is the sting, where is the bite, praise God for the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ who takes away the sin of the world.
2007-04-30 21:35:55 · answer #6 · answered by Who's got my back? 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I don't know I don't fear death but will still remain a Christian
2007-04-30 21:34:39 · answer #7 · answered by † H20andspirit 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah they need to get over it already, everybody dies.
Also i think that "jesus dying on the cross" guilt trip goes along way. Oh yeah, can't forget the whole buring in hell thing.
If they'd only use there brain for half a sec, they'd see that their "god", is the one who decided "jesus" should die in such a sick way.
Which makes their god a sadist.
2007-04-30 21:34:30 · answer #8 · answered by lilith 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Death is something that will bestow on everyone. Ether population will grow or not its hard to tell.
2007-04-30 21:26:07 · answer #9 · answered by sonia 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes Missinglink so you may as well join them j/k
2007-04-30 21:26:33 · answer #10 · answered by ausblue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋