2007-09-11 05:45:32 · 27 answers · asked by matt j 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
when people someone say something about god they walk away is it they don't know him or that they have left him or that they were hurt by a man of god
2007-09-11 06:00:09 · update #1
I don't think it's fear, Matt. Ignorance is perhaps more applicable. You clearly can separate the believers from the non-believers. When you read ppl joking of burning in hell, they obviously don't have a clue!!!
2007-09-11 05:53:10 · answer #1 · answered by Mookie 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I was taught to be afraid of the wrath of god, of hell, of not repenting in the right way. It seemed that there was little I could do to 'make up' for the things I done to hurt god. I would say that I had the 'fear of God' instilled in me. I believe in God but not the way Christianity teaches it and it has taken me a long time to get to this point. It's just how I feel.
2007-09-11 12:50:54 · answer #2 · answered by Yogini 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Those who do good deeds, speak truth and wait patiently for God's help are not afraid of Him but those who don't do the foregoing have to be afraid for God is the Creator of the Universe and he has forewarned those who do not abide by his commandments of severe retribution. Its the likelihood of the coming retribution and not the loves He gives that makes many afraid.
2007-09-11 13:01:39 · answer #3 · answered by bashah1939 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think that you need to read the Old Testament and validate the "love" you are talking about. This God is not a loving God at all. This God can't even muster the love that us imperfect humans have for our children and fellow men. I'm not seeing where you get the love from.
2007-09-11 12:55:06 · answer #4 · answered by Night Owl 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Because he can give and take away with a blink of his eyes. So it's better not to be attached. ANd that's scarey...u know, facing the world alone....w/o his love or protection, when u know it's out there, but are so afraid, that u don't even reach out and grab it even though he's offering it to u with outstretched hands.
2007-09-11 12:52:57 · answer #5 · answered by Uncertain Soul 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Matt, is the god of whom you speak also a white male Republican Protestant who, according to the words which he either wrote or inspired (it seems to change almost daily), favors slavery, stoning to death one's wayward kids, burning daughters alive, selling daughters into sexual slavery, sleeping with one's daughters, conversing with a talking snake and a talking donkey, walking on water, rising from the dead, dashing babies against walls, genocide, gang rape, looting and robbing, slaughter of the innocent, human sacrifice, and other holy stuff like that? Matt, for the life of me, the 'love' thing escapes me.
2007-09-11 13:02:52 · answer #6 · answered by Yank 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
That's like asking a kid why he's afraid of his father....when his father beats the cr*p out of him, or threatens to, saying, "This hurts me more than it hurts you."
It's like asking why a woman would be afraid of a man who says, "If you don't marry me, I'll stalk you for the rest of your life."
Gee, why would I be afraid of a god who's said that he'll let me go to hell if I don't "love" him and worship him and believe all his stuff?
2007-09-11 13:02:48 · answer #7 · answered by catrionn 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They aren't afraid. They have doubts about God's existence. Those are two different things.
2007-09-11 12:53:57 · answer #8 · answered by milomax 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because in many sects, God is used to terrify people in a way to obey the prophet.
2007-09-11 12:53:50 · answer #9 · answered by zikassouf 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
They fear God because of the misconceptions about hell. It is hard to reconcile a loving God to one who wants you to burn eternally.
The idea of hell has been invented by those who want people to fear so they can control them. Hell, in reality, is merely death of the soul.
2007-09-11 12:52:29 · answer #10 · answered by Soul Shaper 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋