Of all the religious faiths, which thrive on FEAR and why?

Answer 1

Well any religion that promises hell and damnation to those that do not follow its tenets is thriving on fear.

Any religion whose members forcibly convert non believers, or persecute and discriminate against non believers is thriving on fear.

The religions that thrive on fear the most are Islam, Christianity and Judaism. The monotheistic faiths!

Islam is today, by far the worst!

Islam and the Arab conquest that carried it, was spread by the sword. So it was a violent religion from its very INCEPTION. People were forced to convert or die, not always, and not at all points in history, but often!

Non muslims were taxed, and had various laws implemented against them. In effect the KUFFAR or Dhimmi were second class citizens, infriors.

Non muslim peoples are STILL being violently persecuted in the islamic world to this day, look at Southern Sudan, the Assyrians and Chaldeans in Iraq, Yazidis in Iraq, Zoroastrians and Baha'i in Iran, Christians in Turkey, Copts in Egypt etc etc.

Look at the reaction to any criticism, satirical comments, cartoons or percieved insults against Islam. Violence, Threats, Terrorism, Aggressive protests, Fatwahs etc.

Apostasy, someone leaving the faith is in severe danger of being killed. Someone breaking islamic law or tradition will suffer anything from social ostracisation through to death. And the theres honour killings!

Terrorism is well documented, its been going on for around 30 years now, literally, enemies or critics of islam, are supposed to be TERRORISED.

So, for me Islam is by far the worst, whether you look at it Theologically, Historically, Politically or in terms of actual practice.

PS Not all forms of Islam are like this, Sufi and Ahmaddiya muslims dont persecute or act violently toward anyone.


Some forms of christianity and Judaism threaten damnation and hell for breaking the faith or non belief. However this is usually non violent these days, and is more a form of spiritual or moral blackmail.

Its pretty obvious to anyone who has studied history that Christianity has much blood on its hands. Particularly from the period when the Europeans wrested the religion from its middle eastern founders. The Roman Catholic Church acted in the way Islam does today for centuries.

Criticism was not tolerated, scientists and thinkers were persecuted for fear they'd undermine the mostly man made doctrine of the church, and its authority.

Religious Wars, persecution and killing of followers of other christian doctrines, such as Nestorians, Bogomils etc etc, not to mention the Catholic Vs Protestant wars that raged from the 1500's through to the 1700's.

Protestant strands such as Calvinism and Puritanism were also guilty of the same thing. Harsh unforgiving doctrines, keeping members in line by force, fear of spiritual hell etc.

There is really no coercion or fear in Buddhism, Taoism or Confucianism at all.

Hinduism and Sikhism do have it to a degree, but monotheism is by far worst.

PS I am myself a christian, Assyrian Church of the East. And we do not and never have thrived on fear. Christianity was spread throught the middle east, india, central asia, mongolia and china by Assyrian (often wrongly called Syriac or Nestorian) priests from around 30AD through to the middle ages, ALWAYS peacefully!

Shlama!

Answer 2

I think there has to be an element of fear in all religions. In the Christian faith it might be abstract, like the fear of being separated from God, by doing things you know he hates. In other faiths it could be the fear of authorities for breaking the rules.

Answer 3

There are two types of fear. One is fear of the bad guys. People out to harm you. "Don't go down into the dark basement alone." in the teen horror flicks. (Well, depending on your view of teenagers!) This can be viewed as unhealthy fear. True, it keeps you alive, but over time, constant fear damages your health.

The second type is one like a child has for parents. A fear of being a disappointment to them. We all want to please our parents and bring joy in their lives. This is a healthy fear. It does nothing but good for both parent and children in a good family relationship.

The same is true of religion. A healthy fear of displeasing our God by doing His will is a good thing.

A unhealthy fear of doing one sin and God will send you to burn in torment for eternity is sponsored by false religion. It is not found in the Bible. It has been pounded into the skulls of people for so long they do BELIEVE that they read it somewhere. But, this goes against what the Bible really says. When certain people were burning their children as sacrifices to idols, look at God's reaction to just the thought of it in Jeremiah 7:31. It NEVER entered His mind for such a thing!

So there must be a separation of the true worship of the God of the Bible with all other faiths including false Christians.

Answer 4

I think the Islamic religion thrives on fear because there's so many radical Islamic extremist out there who incites fear in the minds of the believer through misinterpretations of their Holy Book, the Quran.

Answer 5

All faiths work on the basis that a supernatural being is watching everything that we do and that we will be either punished or rewarded after we die.Therefore the "faithful"live with the paranoia that if they enjoy themselves too much they will be called to atone for their"sins"

Answer 6

With some Atheists using such terms as brainwashing, deluded, and decrying that their rights are being taken away, it is debatable. And these are the things that are not pure hate speech, such as evoking Hitler's name, which are also used. Sounds like fear mongering to me.

Answer 7

It changes, different time periods etc. Hundreds of years ago, the church thrived on fear but it's different now. Religion doesn't haven't a hold like it used to. I don't think it's a question of which religion... but which question. Religions will thrive on people who fear death.

Answer 8

Islam and Xianity are both driven by fear; fear of going to hell if you don't suck up to 'god'.

Any religion that threatens hell for unbelievers is FEAR driven; NOT driven by unconditional love.

Someone is gonna argue with what unconditional love is; a mother has unconditional love for her child; it would be extremely rare for a mother to condemn her child to a hell forever for any reason.

Answer 9

All of them _thrive_ on fear. I suspect Christianity is the most important religion in today's world that is _based_ on fear.

Answer 10

IMPure religions: based in Law, tend to Fear(hath torment).
Eg: fear, of the LORD(LAW), is the "beginning", not end.
Every way you look at Law vs Law it's as Loser vs Loser.

POINT: Grace is not Law Law, nor Law vs Law.
Mt 22: 36-40: the 2nd(Law) is like unto the 1st(Law).
Rom 8:2 Law vs Law: it's as Loser vs Loser either way.
Heb 4:12: Grace is smarter(sharper) than any Law Law.

The GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ with you all. Amen.