What's with the whole "fear factor" in the Bible?

Question

I really do not get it.

Personally, since I am surrounded by religious discussion on here at least once every day - I can't help feeling this soft nudge of dread that's got to do with the Bible...

My mind tells me "Why would you want to go to hell? Why are you standing up against Christianity when it wouldn't hurt to be in it anyway? Is it really worth the risk of your soul?"

Before my heart kicks in again and I realise that standing up for what I believe in is the most important thing.

It's not the Christianity religion I'm against - it's more likely the Bible (which is foundation of structured Christianity anyway). I just don't see how it's the true words of God when the writers are no more devine or inspired than anyone else in the world.

So my question is - why does the Bible have to put everyone on a guilt trip?

Why does it spread the message of fear among non-Christians instead of the message of love? Why would people want to convert to a religion based on fear (of hell)?

"When you say you are "standing up for what I believe", what are you trying to achieve with your belief?"

Equality and anti-discrimination for everyone. I really don't think I can accept the Bible if a fair few instances discriminate against both women and homosexuals.

If some parts of the Bible aren't right, doesn't that dis-credit many other parts of the Bible? And if those parts aren't the word of God, what parts are? And if those parts ARE the words of God, I really don't want anything to do with it if that's the messages they want to put across.

Many parts of the Bible are discriminatory.

Answer 1

2000 years ago there were many competing religions. You had to frighten your people from following your competition's religion. So you had to be really scary. Frighten people into staying in your religion. Have your God be wrathful and full of vengence and jealous, saying you won't have any other gods, and the ONLY way to heaven/paradise is to believe Jesus.

So the Christian religion has been able to survive this long by being the scariest.

Answer 2

The Bible begins with the Jews as an explation of their originas and to establish a power that created and ordered a universe that they did not understand. All religions are based on attempts to explain human origins, the existance or originas of the earth and stars and natural phenominon.

The Fear factor is placed there to force people to believe and therefore place themselves under the power and influence of the religious leaders. That gave them privelage, power and wealth.

It is the priests and "Sayers" that tell you to believe or be condemned. If you believe, you have to pay and do what they tell you. It is all about money and power and it has been right form the start.
If there is a guy who tells you to "Do It" or get a beating, you will tend to comply. If the "Holy Man" tell you to obey or this mysterious god will smite you or send you to this "Hell" they are always talking about - you, being told of how ignorant you are - will be far more compliant, controllable and pay for the possibility of avoiding the wrath of this terrible god that could create all this. It is called INTIMIDATION through threats of harm.

Answer 3

Hi
It doesn't well not the original teachings
You have the many translators to blame for that I'm afraid
Read
The Emerald Tablets of Thoth the work translated by Dorrel
Ponder on the Tablet which explains "Fear Is An Obstacle Great"
In these times Its all food for the demons "If You Allow It"
You still have Your free will It's up to You
Only knowledge dispels the fears only knowledge can do that
The rest You have to work out for Yourself Keep going and Good Luck with it all

Edit
just seen your update This is exactly what the translators wanted There is truth in there keep going


May this help

Answer 4

There is no conversions based upon fear. Fear is like a warning signal but after the warning, it is reason that should take over.

What would you tell a child about running away from home? Would there be any element of fear that might come out of that discussion?

To believe is "to hold as true" and is an act of the intellect. We believe things/hold them to be true in order to achieve something. For example, I hold a belief about the weather today so that I will know how to dress. When you say you are "standing up for what I believe", what are you trying to achieve with your belief?

I hold that God exists in order to seek the love of God. Others hold that God doesn't exist in order to have their independence for the authority of God over them.

Answer 5

Please try to understand the Godly reverence we have for our God that went to Hell for us.
His anger is justified and it is not just about you
This world is dying, and his pleading with you is to LIVE

Fear works like this in society.
run the red light and you know through fear, you will get hurt.
Steal and there is fear attached
kill and there is fear attached
lie hate hurt others, there is a fear attached
OR AT LEAST THERE ONCE WAS THE CASE.
as you well know NOBODY HAS THAT FEAR ANY MORE.
Fear = Reverence to the whole system
Produces a love and respect for fellow man

Answer 6

When asked to sum up the whole of the law, the essence of the answer by the founder of Christianity was 1. Love God and 2. Love your neighbour.

Fear? No, love. Love is to the Bible as a good marinade is to cooking: it permeates it throughout.

Answer 7

What i dont get (and if I'm wrong sorry, ive never read the bible)
is how the devil/ hell is supposed to be bad and how god/heaven is supposed to be good.

Because: If the devil PUNISHES the bad - isn't he really on Gods side? It would only make sense that they were 'enemies' if he punished the good and praised the bad.
That bit of christianity confuses me.

I think the idea of hell was invented to get people to follow the religion. It would make them think "Why don't I back christianity - just in case there is a hell?"

Answer 8

Because even though God is a God of love, he is also a God of wrath, and has proven that in his word countless times. and as far as believing the bible, there is only 1 bible I will believe, it is the only 1 that has caused thousands to die for it, it is the most printed book in History, it is the only book in the Library of Congress's 500,000,000 selection that does not have a copy write. It is the 1611 KJV.

http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Bible/1611_authorized_king_james.htm

Answer 9

The bible is not completely about scaring anybody but,like other useful writings, it helps the seeker to weigh what he reads with his intuitive perception.

Truth revitalises but what is obscure weighs the spirit down.

There are reports in the bible which do not conform with the actual happenings in creation and this is due to the writer who in his ignorance wrote down things about what he heard from transmission and his own interpretation of what he was told.

Answer 10

I think you have misunderstood God's word. Any loving parent will tell you that when you discipline a child, it's not that you don't love the child but that you want the child to grow up in a Godly responsible manner, and anyone knows when there are no boundaries, there's always chaos and lawlessness.

It's the same thhing with God, He is our heavenly Father and He knows if He does not put boundaries for us, we will eventually destroy ourselves, check out how far we have gone with making nuclear weapons, one country can easily destroy another in seconds. So God knows best.