Has anyone thought, as the church has used fear less, it has had less members in recent years?

Question

My grandmother's generation was taught at a very young age to fear God. And she has ever since. She practices blind faith and would be appalled at doing it any other way.

I was not scared nearly as much as she was. Although the idea of hell was taught, and that kept me "believing" until around the age of 16, that was about all the fear I learned.

It is evident to me that the churches' (namely Catholic) different styles of instilling fear throughout the years has resulted in less participation. So, it looks like fear = belief.

This doesn't seem healthy to me at all. Shouldn't belief be based on actual belief, and not on "if I make myself believe, I won't be punished" ?

This thought is one of many reasons why I'm in a period of transition from the Catholic church to learning and taking the best from many religions.

My point was certainly not that the concept of hell and fear should be taught more. Living in fear is not truly believing.

Answer 1

Christianity isn't motivated by fear, it's by love. God's immense love and care for us should be enough to believe.

Answer 2

Answering Your Highlighted question:

No, I disagree, Dan. The new and popular message is the $$$$$$ PROSPERITY message like the one Joel Osteen preaches. And his attendance levels, as well as those of his peers, have sky-rocketed!

A friend of mine is the head rigger at the Nokia Theather where concerts and big events take place. He has recently been asked by big acts like Van Halen and the like to go on tour as a paid stage and/or lighting/rigging manager. He has turned ALL of them down because the boards of these state-incorporated churches PAY BETTER. Go figure that!

I live around the D/FW area and I can tell you for a fact that there are so many of these large 501(c)3 churches being built that it would just blow you away! And they are MASSIVE! Gargantuan! He is consulting and accepting work independently in his spare time (3 days a week) and the rigging and jumbotrons he is overseeing meets or beats those utilized by the big rock and country bands.

If you have become familiar with any of my answers throughout these pages regarding the gospel of easy-believism and false christianity (some of which have been intentionally removed), you know that I SLAM these state-institutions because they are wolves in sheeps clothing, leading the people astray and profitting off their shirt-tails.

As for "religions" - leave them be. They are all under the jurisdiction of the Adversary. Here, come home and find GOVERNMENT, the only legitimate government for mankind:

http://www.embassyofheaven.com/

Peace, Dan

Answer 3

I agree with you completely. Fear is very useful for keeping attendance high but not for helping people on their spiritual walks. I do not think that fear was used (in recent times, anyway) as an intentional tool to keep the coffers full, but that is a mere opinion with no fact behind it.

In the mainstream protestant churches the attendance is diminishing as less emphasis is put on being strict in following the tenets of the faith. I have read a few articles that propose a return to a little of the old fire and brimstone/holding people accountable will actually improve things. I am not sure - Americans these days do not seem all that interested in being told that they are not good enough. The self-esteem movement of the last 20 years has worked to the point that people do not want to be judged. I think we often confuse being judged with being responsible and accountable.

Answer 4

Iam a Catholic convert and not once have I ever heard a homily based on fear.Or been threatened with fear or fire and brimestone. The Catholic Church preaches the truth of God and has done so for over 2,000 years. Dont need to preach fear when one has the truth. The only ones that preach fear are the "fire and brimestone " preachers. Turn on the t.v on Sunday morning and listen to them preach to instill fear into their followers. Joel Osteen, Benny Hinn, thats all you hear from them.

Answer 5

The idea of fearing God is not a sense of trembling fear from scary movies or anything. The context is in regards to reverence and respect to God.

Using "fear" as an evangelistic tool works from time to time, but I have found that engaging in relationships with people and showing God's love to them is a much better tool to winning people to Christ.

I've always heard that if you scare someone into heaven you have to scare to stay there.

Answer 6

Yes, you're right that fear was a tool used in earlier times. I don't know that this was wrong for the time though.

I converted to Catholicism...not out of fear but out of love for Christ. My desire for him led me to the Eucharist, the sacraments. Instead of fear my motivation is love. I love Jesus Christ, I want to do as he has asked me. I want to keep his commandments, I want to receive him body, blood, soul and divinity. I want to go deeper into his sacred heart. I look forward to Mass each week and just feel so amazed by his sacrifice and mercy. When I'm there I feel as if I never want to leave.

As people turn from fear to love I think we see more members. I know in my Church we have many, many people joining. Many devout Catholics there, worshiping in obvious awe of our Lord. The lines are long for confession and the talk they had the other day on birth control brought out many people...including many young people. I see a move into a realm in which people are embracing their faith because they understand it, and not because they fear it or are copying their parents.

Answer 7

If you fear God, you will keep his commandments,

but you are right, man teaches a kind of fear that is oppressive

yet at the same time you are dead wrong, in not Having a Godly fear to reverence God your Father in heaven

The fear of God is to keep you from disaster, it frees you of all the oppressions of man
as you will let go of the RELIGIOUS RITES, and replace them with a lovingly and watchful God who will help you through all the darkest days of your life

Answer 8

Yes, the Catholic church is losing members continually. They teach doctrines and traditions of men. Any honest-hearted person who studies the Bible should see through the failings and misinterpretations of the Catholic church and get out of that religion. I did. I could not believe how many are duped by their teachings. If they don't get out of Babylon the Great they will suffer with her in it's destruction. P.S. There is no burning hell. That's another lie that is taught in many religions. You need to find a publication entitled, "What Does the Bible REALLY Teach."

Answer 9

It wasn't fear it was truth. Today many people act like little pansies and cant stand to hear the truth, that's why many of the church leaders have lightened up. A mistake to be sure, we didn't have such a disrespect for life when the Church spoke the truth back in the day. Now...school and shopping mall shootings.

Answer 10

No one answer is correct. Fear is a Factor. Id even go as far to say it is a Major contributor. The rise of technology and the internet , television and video games I belive has played a bigger role. With so many places to devote attention to who has the time to be told how your going to hell when you die?

Answer 11

Nah, I just think that people don't think that church is necessary to be with God. You can be with God and not attend church. You can attend church and not be with God. Fear is not used in church. The door swings open both ways to enter it and to LEAVE it.

Edit:
I mean why do I need someone to tell me how to interpret the bible or other religious texts? I can do that at home on the couch.