2007-11-05 16:04:42 · 10 answers · asked by buttercup 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think the answer to that is going to vary from person to person. To the extent that fear helps us realize the limits of our self, I think it is a driving factor in the limits of belief. But there are ways to transcend limits, like with Love. (And things like Reason, for example, have the power to define limits without fear.) Fear is a centripetal force, pulling us ever inwards. Love is a centrifugal force which breaks outwards, without limits.
Peace to you.
EDIT: Nice to see Jon & I are on the same cosmic page tonight! Good to see you...
2007-11-05 18:08:32 · answer #1 · answered by Orpheus Rising 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No I would have to say it is someone's level of awareness that is the largest role in what we chose to believe in. When I was a child my level of awareness was low and I blindly followed what others had taught me and now as an adult my awareness has increased and I know realize the errors of my youth and the extent of the brainwashing
2007-11-05 16:12:17 · answer #2 · answered by TSIRHC 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think they do in the case of an Atheist. Could it be that deep inside an Atheist ask him/herself "What if I'm wrong?" Would they not fear death and an eternal life of separation from God and that which is good? Maybe the Atheist doesn't believe and is looking for excuses to support their feelings. Know what? They can stop looking because they ain't there.
2007-11-05 16:19:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are only two basic emotions, love and fear. All others derive from them.
Fear is insidious and creeps in below the level of our awareness. It disguises itself as anger, self-righteousness, abuse of others, bullying, all sorts of emotions and behaviours we call negative. They all come from fear.
The only antidote to fear is love.
EDIT
For Orpheus Rising, my friend.
If I were to differentiate fear, to split it in half, it would be between fear of the known and fear of the numinous. Like, if I were told there was a tiger outside in the corridor, and I believed it, that's fear of the known. If I believed there was a ghost out there, that fear would, I think, be qualitatively different.
D'you think?
Nice to see you too.
J the fearless B
2007-11-05 18:08:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
One of the largest, definitely. If you see sickness or death enough, you begin to fear it, and to soothe that fear you might turn to religion to find solace in the idea that what lies beyond is something tranquil and free of suffering.
Unfortunately it's entirely likely that's not the case, but maybe in your last moments of life this solace will ease the transition?
2007-11-05 16:08:35 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
My experience agrees with the words of the songwriter:
" 'Tis grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear,
the hour I first believed."
"Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come and has redeemed his people....to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days."
Luke 1:68,74-75
2007-11-05 16:15:56 · answer #6 · answered by wefmeister 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Our hopes and sence of self play a big part too.
2007-11-05 16:24:17 · answer #7 · answered by Kris 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure. After my life, there isn't a whole lot that I fear. So I'm not sure that makes sense to me.
2007-11-05 16:10:21 · answer #8 · answered by ~Heathen Princess~ 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
For the religious yes. Some of us just need to know and will look until we find it or not. ~ : )
2007-11-05 16:34:48 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
No.
2007-11-05 16:09:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋