[[Keep in mind, I'm an atheist, but am assuming the role of the Christian in this question, in order for it to be written in a way that people will easily understand. And yes, I'm aware I've already asked this, however, I'm hoping to obtain different viewpoints, by asking at a different time, when different people are online.]]
I'm not sure about the rest of you, but in my experience, every young child experiences the fear of a "monster" under the bed, or in the closet.
A child has no proof that it exists.
The child is afraid of it.
The child in question believes, truly and fully, that the "monster" is there.
Now consider this...
We have no proof that God exists.
We fear God.
We believe, truly and fully, that God is there.
Hrm...interesting.
When our children fear the monster under the bed, we help them to understand that it does not exist, and we comfort them.
But when our child fears God, we encourage it.
2007-09-21 16:42:29 · 31 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
They are afriad of Hell, not God
or maybe they are scared to doubt a god they really dont know exist's. Either way, I defenitly understand your point, and I also feel more "grown up" for realizing this.
2007-09-21 16:58:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The monster under the bed is something both politicians and religion with God in it have in common. In the case of the politicians they first assure people that they Bogeyman does not exist then they tell the population the Bogeyman does exist and they know who and where he is. It does seem odd doesn't it. God is a bit of a monster under the bed and The Devil merely a distraction as God has been quite monstrous through out history. It is not the monster under the bed people should fear but themselves and what they might do to each other in The Name of their God or with the word of their Holy Books to back their own desires.God could be called a War Criminal Mask or tool but since the tool is still there and the people who have used it over centuries gone the tool should be convicted of being War Criminal to indicate how unworthy it is that it was but a prop used to justify crimes against people . God was propaganda used to control the masses during The Medievael Ages like propaganda is used now .God is propaganda what was written in The Bible could be banned as hate speech and definately would if non -religious in nature. Propaganda is excused if called religious though religious people have spoken against it the propaganda in The Bible should be legally named as such.
2007-09-21 17:10:36 · answer #2 · answered by darren m 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is interesting that this question should find its way into my life because just today my parents were telling me about a "monster" spray that they would spray around my room at night so that I could sleep when I was a child.
I was never taught to fear God, and when the subject comes up with my own children ( when I have them) they will also be taught the same thing. Love and fear are two different things. Obeying rules out of fear is not as effective as obeying them out of love.
I think that it is time to change the mentality. I think fear of God is wrong and old fashioned. I think that perhaps we need to change our views of the Creator.
2007-09-21 17:13:05 · answer #3 · answered by The Pope 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I understand what you are saying. I know it seems reasonable to you and it WOULD be reasonable if fear of God and fear of monster were the same thing or anything close to being the same thing. But they are probably at opposite ends of the spectrum.
Fear of monsters is fear of harm, fear of destruction, fear of death.
Fear of God is utmost respect. It's like the fear you might have of hurting someone you loved very deeply if you did something bad and they found out, something that you would be ashamed of. Fear of disappointing them.
God loves me with an ever-lasting love that is deeper and more complete than the love anyone here on earth has, has had, or will ever have for me. He loves each of us this way, whether we believe in him or not. He cannot show his love to those who don't believe in him because they do not see his love, they do not perceive it as his love, they cannot feel it. It's not that he is not giving it, but those who don't believe do not have the ability to receive. They can gain that ability, but it's a decision that they have to make.
2007-09-22 10:29:27 · answer #4 · answered by William D 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I haven't even looked at these answers yet. However, I can already tell that almost all of them are going to say, "NO! Fear means respect and reverance!"
And I tell you that the above statement is two things: that is complete and utter crap. If you want to say "respect and reverance," say respect and reverance. If whatever authors of the Bible wanted it to be respect and reverance, they would have SAID respect and reverance--there's a word for it in every language. Instead, people will deny it and use eisegesis to deny that the Bible says to be afraid of a supposedly loving God.
Some followers of religion do not worship God out of love for God...which would be worshipping of their own free will. People will sometimes worship a God out of FEAR (as in: a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined;) of the reprecussions of doing otherwise. They do not worship of their own free will at first, only because they are afraid of damnation...but as time goes on, they forget this and just worship blindly because they've always done it. (Isn't that called "brainwashing?" Hm...)
I like this question a lot, not because it makes a point against Deism, but because it makes a point about fearing God instead of loving Him...sometimes, certain portrayals of God can be even more horrific and cruel than the boogeyman.
::EDIT::
One more point I forgot to mention, some people will also say there is no need to fear God (by nature of the definition I gave above). But just look at the Old Testament and Revelations, and many parts of the New Testament that warn against sinning...burning in Hell for all eternity isn't something to be afraid of? That's ridiculous. Hell doesn't exist--early Christians used it to scare people into following their religion, and it works to this day.
2007-09-22 14:21:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Our actions are dictated by our beliefs. For a child to believe in monsters, their experience is real because they make it come to life in their experience.
When it comes to God, man makes you believe that he is to be feared -- first mistake. Then man uses that fear to control their actions and manipulate their way of thinking.
Yes, religion can be interesting when it contradicts a lot of what we teach our children. IF I did not know anything about God, I would be an athiest too.
2007-09-21 16:50:04 · answer #6 · answered by Maria V 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good example. I'm personally Catholic, so I hope I can help. Monsters under the bed and in the closet are considered to be evil. Would a child be in fear of a nice monster. If they were nice, would they be considered as monsters or just creatures?
God in the Bible, especially in the New Testament, is considered to be a very good... person, spirit... anyway you you want to look at it. By following his laws, you will be sent to a happy place, heaven. Look to your monster answer, if God was considered to be evil, would people still worship him, and would people then discourage their children to worship and evil God?
I like the way you think. That really was a great question.
2007-09-21 16:54:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
There are monsters under the bed and in the closets. I do not fear my gods and goddesses. I can call them anytime I need something and I can channel thier power throught me at any time I want. So amyby Christians can not see thier god and maybe they fear thiers bit I do not.
2007-09-22 13:59:52 · answer #8 · answered by raven blackwing 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
when you are using the term,
"fear of God", you are using the word 'fear" in its modern
definition--to be afraid of.
The "fear" as mentioned in the Bible is more of a reverence/ respect/love/accepting His
holiness. You are never to
be "afraid of" God. He is
not your enemy!. Many preachers use this reasoning
to force their congregation to
come "in line"...but the Lord God will deal with them on this. They are to love the sheep (believers) not beat the
sheep over the head as sinners. This is totally unscriptural!!! Believe this,
that God is good, He has always been Good, and He
will always be Good. He is
not your enemy and He will
never do you harm. If you get
punished for your foolishness,
it's not God that did it, it's this
world and the way it works.
2007-09-21 17:36:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is evidence of God's existence, or any god for that matter, in all of their creations. The bed monster never really did anything to us except make a really horrible movie with that kid from The Wonder Years.
2007-09-21 16:49:23 · answer #10 · answered by Atlas 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Okay, consider this ...
The proofs revealed to a Christian by the Holy Spirit are irrefutable evidence of God's existence. It's a deeply spiritual thing non believers are not privy to.
I am in awe of God.
I believe, truly and fully, that God is there.
2007-09-21 16:51:23 · answer #11 · answered by High Flyer 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋