2007-09-06 02:12:12 · 45 answers · asked by Deke 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Good question.
I say yes: real Christianity would thrive. "Perfect love casts out all fear." Christians are about loving one another.
But fundamentalism would collapse. Fundamentalists are about fear and intimidation and delusions of superiority. They could not function without their main mode of proselyzation: scaring people into God's arms with threats of hellfire and brimstone.
2007-09-06 02:14:48 · answer #1 · answered by Acorn 7 · 7⤊ 5⤋
It wasn't predominant in the beginning...apparently the first people of the earth didn't fear God too much. Religion wasn't originally fueled by fear anyway...it was fueled by the human greed for power. If you understood any ancient religion history you would know that Paganism was the first religion. Fear of God and His works have never meant much to man...look at the time of Noah, the Pharoah, the Prophets and etc. It has some weight in the town of Ninevah and a few other places and the Herodian leaders feared Christs birth but not in the way you imply...God didn't and doesn't want us to fear. He wants us to trust...if you are speaking of the eternal consequences to man's actions...well, then you are speaking of things that are pagan and not of God. God never once threatens that humans would be tortured for eternity in a fiery pit called "hell". Look up the terms...we are told we will die, be destroyed, to be separated from God and apart from Him...we are nothing. That is the deal.
2007-09-06 02:36:14 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God didnt give us a spirit of fear,i claim no religion and am a follower of Christ,religion is man-made therefore fear is non-existant to me and religion cant thrive after all Jesus taught in the temple but never claimed a religion,His love is universal//reverential fear of God is awe of Him not the same fear
2007-09-06 02:23:58 · answer #3 · answered by loveChrist 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think so. Why? Personal experience. Yeah, I know you atheists love that answer so much.
Anyway, I'm a Christian and fear is not my motivation at all. I think that religion would exist without fear, although most likely to a lesser degree. Not all of us Christians are Christians because of Pascal's Wager.
2007-09-06 03:31:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Very good question! By fear I presume you mean the fear of damnation and/or the fear of death. Both of these fears sustain religion, but they're not the only reasons religion persists despite the scientific knowledge accumulated over the last five hundred years. If humans knew no fear, my guess is that religion would still be around offering "answers" to such questions as "Why are we here?" "What's the purpose of life?" and "What happens after we die?"
2007-09-06 02:22:07 · answer #5 · answered by Hispanophile 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I agree with Jon M but I would add that 'The Fear of The Lord is the beginning of Wisdom'
God does want to be held in Awe, it is the fear of God as well as a Love for God that will keep His people from sin.
Everyone has within them a desire for something more, the sense that something isn't quite right (The Matrix) this desire will always drive humanity towards some kind of religion or spirituality.
2007-09-06 02:20:48 · answer #6 · answered by Dan 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Of course. My religious beliefs have nothing to do with emotion or fear. Existance of God is more reasonable to me than non-existance of God.
Congratulations to John M. I think that may be the best answer about religion I've ever read from an athiest. He gets my vote. CORRECTION: someone just pointed out to me that John M is not an atheist. I swear I read something the other day that led me to believe he was, but as I search I'm just finding that his answers contradict my theory.
2007-09-06 02:16:05 · answer #7 · answered by Thom 5 · 5⤊ 1⤋
My religion could. Religious Science. It is not fear based at all. Check it out if you want...
www.religiousscience.org
But - there are many religions which are fear-based - and NEED fear in order to exist. If fear was non-existent - they would be too.
Namaste!
2007-09-06 02:25:57 · answer #8 · answered by liddabet 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes; even a higher form of Christianity. Christianity drives out fear, but it is a process. Fear of death will lessen for the believer. What is remaining is true spirituality.
2007-09-06 02:30:44 · answer #9 · answered by expertless 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
What does one have to do with the other? As a Christian, I don't have anything to fear. If someone is afraid of going to hell, then that's something they have to deal with. But I don't believe in God or Jesus just so that I don't end up in hell. That isn't truly believing and there is no faith, so what's the point?
That's like saying the only reason (most) people don't run around stealing, raping, and killing, is because they fear going to prison. Don't most people follow the law because it's the right thing to do?
2007-09-06 02:22:41 · answer #10 · answered by kaz716 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I think so
certain faiths or religions are not fear based as many of the monotheist / polytheist types are, or conditional
some faiths are close to Humanist and about the middle path, not concerned or afraid of an after life
2007-09-06 02:17:18 · answer #11 · answered by voice_of_reason 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋