Defining specific differences between humans and animals fascinates me. At first glance, the differences would seem obvious and if one has an overly religious perception of their place in reality then the difference is so obvious that it’s absurd to begin to attempt to define it. Yet to a mind open to all knowledge without faith based restrictions, the differences are few. Whilst our technology and our accumulated knowledge has allowed to progress far, there are many aspects of our behavior that are inherently animalistic in nature.
In a world of predator and prey, fear is an essential teaching aid to young animals. Close calls with predators and other life threatening situations leave indelible pathways within the mind and these lessons remain with the individual for life. We modern humans however are at the top of the food chain, we have no predators and life threatening situations, which are a daily occurrence for animals, happen only a handful of times throughout our entire lives – fear is not as an essential teaching aid for humans as it is for animals.
Except when it comes to religion…
2007-10-23 23:51:54 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"fear is not as an essential teaching aid for humans as it is for animals"
I'm sorry to say, but yes it is an essential teaching aid when our children are small and it's for the same main reason animals do it... Predators. Many parents tell their children that if they aren't careful someone will take them away and maybe hurt them (there's really no maybe to that, but we don't want to terrify them so badly that they don't even want to go outside). We warn them of accepting candy from strangers because it could make them sick, etc.... We DO indeed have predators... one in particular... ourselves and that is a life threatening situation. And people with small children, it is a daily occurrence. You are thinking of this on the level of an animal that is a predator Eating their prey. But Predator in the "human world" has come to mean sexual predators, adults who prey on our children.
Fear is a natural survival instinct, even when it comes to religion (they want their souls to survive death). But the exception to this is, animals do not cause fear in their own kind. You don't see rabbits ganging up and bullying another rabbit because it's fur is a different color or it decided to live in a different hole than the others, etc... They don't use Fear to try to gain power over others of their own kind. Humans are really the only animal that has such an ego and will do whatever it can to Harm it's own kind, while most animals work with their own kind in order to further their own species. We're the only animal that kills itself for pleasure and power.
2007-10-24 00:10:44 · answer #1 · answered by River 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
FEAR features in religion in a big way.
A True Believer⢠is fully convinced from an early age that ‘god’ knows everything they say, think and do; they are also convinced that if they don’t suck up to the big fella in the sky that he’ll send them to hell for all eternity.
This religion is big on FEAR.
Couple this with the xians’ cowardice in not wanting to face life alone and his not wanting to take responsibility for everything they say and do AND you have someone with the need for a flexible delusion which is capable of anything.
FEAR is the best weapon especially against people who are easily impressed or lead.
2007-10-24 08:42:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of coruse it would. We do not use either fear or shock tactics.
We use love. Have you ever heard of that? Do you know what it is?
I sincerely hope that you do not come into contact with any children. The differences between children and animals are few, you say. I disagree.
I wonder if you would be kind to Christian children or if you would hate them as much as you hate those of us who are adults.
2007-10-24 18:04:59 · answer #3 · answered by batgirl2good 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't agree with you. Fear is an essential teaching aid for children. Fear of punnishment is what stops them from trying dangerous things out for themselves....for example running out into a busy road or touching a hot stove. Adults can and do learn through misadventure but it would be irresponsible for parents to let their children do the same.
2007-10-24 07:34:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Religion is an example of GREAT marketing.
What do most advertisers do, when trying to sell you a product? They convince you that something is either wrong with you, or that you are missing something. Then, they present their product as the item that can fill that void in your life. As part of the sell, they will often tell you why other similar products won't work as well as theirs. You can see this in everything from ads for paper towels to religious promotions.
I once asked a question here : if fear were a non-existant human emotion, could religion thrive at all (or something close to that)? Personally, I think not.
2007-10-24 06:59:43 · answer #5 · answered by bamidélé 4 · 4⤊ 2⤋
No, it would not. Fear is the most powerful of our emotions and therefore the strongest indoctrination tool, but it's not the only one. Love and positive reinforcement tactics work pretty well, too. That's why some people do come to religion later in life and why kids like Santa Claus so much.
BTW, I agree with your premise, but you need to tone down the rhetoric.
2007-10-24 06:57:56 · answer #6 · answered by Don Adriano 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
yeah, children are smarter than adults in many ways.
they have a way of looking from different perspectives and figuring things out that most adults dont have. children are innocent from sin so they dont only think about sinful things like adults do. adults are easily manipulated by the devil through sin. he makes bad things seem appealing to the human mind to distract them from the reality that is God. thats why people are atheist. humans are like dumb little kids compared to God. they are always acting so sure about what they think they know because they hear other people say it first. but thats why it seems like Christians against the world. the Christian religion is like no other. most other religions are about saving themselves and loved ones from hell where Christianity is about saving you and everybody else on earth as much as you can before you die.
2007-10-24 06:54:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
I have not "indoctrinated"(which is the basically the same as brain wash) my son to love Jesus. He is six years old and he loves Jesus. He always wants to hear more and more about him. Why? Because he knows that Jesus is his Savior. He knows that Jesus loves us and is always with us. And he knows that Jesus lives in his heart. He is six, and so faithful and so inspiring. And he knows nothing of hell. I would not talk of hell to my child. Childrens little precious minds need to be protected of anything that could confuse them or scare them. So, no, you do not need to tell a child about hell to teach them affectively about God.
Postscript:
Though I do believe in hell, and one day he will learn, when his mind matures and he can understand it better. What he does know is that some will go to the Kingdom of God at death and some will not. He understands many things, but for hell itself and describing it and threatening hell, no I would never do that.
2007-10-24 07:15:33 · answer #8 · answered by biggestjesusfan, † Cat P.W. † 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I don't agree that the fear tactics are employed on children, I do, however, think those are employed when people come of age more, maybe in the pre-teen and teen years.
For young children, I think its more fairytale type stories and little songs ...at least, that was my experience.
2007-10-24 08:20:30 · answer #9 · answered by Mikey 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Okay... after a few minutes of trying to see through this babble with the aid of other people's answers, I can only say this:
There is only one fear that compels me to do what is right....
...and it's the fear of hurting the people I love when I do something wrong.
2007-10-24 07:12:37 · answer #10 · answered by Otaku in Need 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋