is FEAR of GOD the BEST motivator of MORALITY?

Question

why do most people use the word FEAR than LOVE for what they believe keeping them GOOD?
i found it questionable.. so i ask
:-)

Answer 1

Nah, I think the FEAR of ALL CAPS SHOUTING works better than fear of a "god", *lol*. :P *razz*

Sorry, I couldn't resist. ^_^ It's still a worthy question though as always.

I think what it boils down to is your basic view of humanity. Do you agree with Plato's take on the world, or that of Socrates? If your view is more Platonic, then yes, "fear of god" is likely going to be where you come from on issues of faith. You're likely going to think deep down that if people are left to their own devices, that they will fall into evil (a.k.a. sin), run riot and ruin themselves. You'll think that people need to be on a leash to function in a noble, civilized way in other words.

And likewise, if you think in a Socratic manner, that if people are left alone, live and let live, that they will aspire to their nobler natures and *rise* to those aspirations, you are more likely to approach faith from the position of *loving* other people, and of leading by good example, if you presume a "superior" position at all that is.

Generally speaking, throughout history, people have held the Platonic position (people on a leash) as being the more realistic one, and in the short term, it can be the more effective position. But.

As people get older (as they grow up and stop being children), or smarter (as civilization progresses) the Platonic view holds less and less water. Society starts to have *many more* roles than it once did and so the odds of people being able to fit in *somewhere* improve immensely. And....people start to *resent* being treated like dumb animals as well. The leash starts to chafe and cut....

Eventually assuming the worst becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. In time people will lash out and fall into ruin, not from want of control, but from *too much* control too strictly or unfairly applied (a.k.a. abuse), and the resentment, despair and hatred that it brings. People are usually too smart and too sensitive to live in *constant fear* of massive punishment all of their lives.

So the smart thing to do, in my humble opinion, is to have enough sense to be flexible about it. Understand that people need both control and structure, on the one hand, and *also* freedom and hope on the other. Fear *alone* is the worst saboteur of morality long-term because in time it will do *more harm and not less*. Freedom alone is too easily abused by those few who would refuse anything *but* the leash.

So keep the big picture in mind, look at both the short and long term, and use the *least* amount of control you need to *get them* to the position of freedom and hope. Only use fear until you can *love and trust* someone instead.

Not that any established religion works like this (if it did we would have no need for *psychology*)....they are all heavily into the control game, substituting the "end of days" for the "end of faith" or "end of fear dominance" to keep the flock around, because telling people the truth--that in time they won't *need it* anymore to be moral beings--would be bad for the physical tabernacle in the here and now, don't you know?

Ah, but that is being cynical and platonic, as it were, about the nature of organized faith. ^_^

My point is, faith in a god *should* be about love of human kind. But what happens more often than not is that *faith* gets confused with the *institution of it* in the here and now, and the institution has agendas apart from those of mere faith. Agendas that drive a need for power and a need to "motivate" morality instead of letting it "grow forth" of its own accord. And when "morality"--a.k.a. an agenda--is driven versus being natural, you can bet it is driven by fear, and not *grown from* loving kindness and nurturance.

So no, fear is not the best motivator of morality, because the best morality *comes forth naturally* of one's own free will, and isn't driven forth by a motivator.

Think *people*, not sheep in a flock. ^_^

I hope this helps, and thanks for your time!

Answer 2

Are we in a drowning season? Are our moral principles defined by reward or punishment? Rhetorical, of course. The Christian God is a patriarchal God. Fact. If daddy makes the rules, & we break them, we get a spanking. If we follow the rules, we get candy. Does this represent the truth of who we are, or, our fear & greed? (The last paragraph from Bradley P says it all.) Fear does not keep people "good." Fear is not a motivator at all, in the sense that some WANT to do things but are afraid of hell, & some do them anyway. "Morality" (however subjectively defined) is something one has, or does not. NOTHING can keep someone "good." How does "love" faciliitate being good--in the largest sense? Serial killers have been known to love, selectively. How then, can love be a factor? Fear of God sometimes prevents negative actions, but it does not motivate TRUE morality.

Answer 3

I had this feeling, ever since I can remeber, that if people were going to make this work (this meaning all life together), then we were going to have to adhere to something more than written laws.

I still believe that if I follow this...code and others do as well, it will enhance the quality of life for everyone.

So that's always been my motivator. I believe in God. I do not fear a judgement from him, nor do I try to do the right things toward others because of God. Maybe it sounds selfish, but I try to live by my moral code because doing so will inherently improve my own quality of life.

Answer 4

I don't think that stating fear rather than love can be
definitively assumed to be an indicator that a person
would be bad if God wasn't a consideration. I think
that it is a struggle between biological impulses and
rational consciousness. I think many people, if not all,
have irrational impulses which must be checked by
rational conscious, and I don't think that makes people
less humane; by catching the immorality before it
materializes.

Answer 5

Well, by FEAR we mean respect. We need to respect God and realize that he is way bigger than us. We have no control over him. We're not talking about cowering fear. But yes, love plays a big part too. Our motivation for morality should be wanting to please God. This was a good question!

Answer 6

There are many other motivators. We can not say which is "best" because there is not one thing that works for every person the same way. Morality is something that should be taught as a child is growing up. It is very difficult to get an adult to change their habits, let alone, admit that their behavior is immoral. Everyone has their own measuring stick to measure morality, and that is where we collectively, as a people, fall short.

Answer 7

No, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The best motivator for morality is the will of God shown in man's freedom. This implies unconditional love. Not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and gave Himself for us. God was in Christ reconciing the world to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciiation. This reconciliation is morality. We get what we give. If we act in accord with God's will we are truely free. Those who are good out of fear are in Hell.

Answer 8

Great Compassion (or Love) shines brightly from a person's heart. It comes from within. Fear has lost its effectiveness on the baddies of today, cos like what tt guy says... people today can commit crimes, cheat and act like a beasts.... if they do not believe in GOD anymore, then isnt FEAR useless? So FEAR applies to different people.

Answer 9

I believe in God, but I don't think that morality is just for Christians. Non-Christians (i.e., people of other faiths and atheists) are just as capable of being morally upright as believers are. I don't know why people think that atheists don't have any morals and don't know right from wrong. I mean they're not running around acting foolish and doing what they want to.

Answer 10

It is a strong motivator, for people who are stuck in a rut. It operates the same way a threat to a child does, like "Behave yourself and go to sleep, or the Boogeyman will bite you!"

The problem with this kind of threat is that it really does not guarantee that a person will act morally or have any morals, once they recognize that they can violate the rules without any consequences. Frankly, the doctrine of karma operates on the same basis, though it is much more subtle and possibly more effective, since it is more easily internalized. Still, religion should be a personal set of beliefs not a code forced on people from the outside, without any internal nurturing.

I think the best motivator for morality is unconditional love from the family and strong examples of good behavior of your family and community. Nothing is worse than hypocrisy. Parents need to have strong bonds with their children and talk to them about morality and ethical issues in an age-appropriate fashion on an ongoing basis. They need to set aside their own bias and be open to discussion of topics that might make them uncomfortable (sex, homosexuality, suicide, gangs, drugs) if they can, so that they can listen to issues that are important to their kids. Internal morality needs to grow and to be worked through on an individual basis.

Answer 11

Fear alone is never a good motivator. My personal beliefs on right and wrong determine what I do. My idea of good and bad, moral or immoral may different from yours. Since my god is feminine, her concept of morality will differ from the morality of your male god. She is less likely to go to war; more likely to see the good in people