How many Christians are Christian only because of fear?

I was raised catholic and I agree with Imperial_Samura, I think most christians are just christians out of habit.
Children will grow up going to religious school, date religious guys/girls, go to church every sunday, etc. Why would they question their faith when they're lives are that comfortable. Of course fear does play a role but from my experience most catholic kids just live this routine and they find no need to change it or to try new things.

I am not catholic btw, I'm agnostic.

Originally posted by sithsaber408
I began to open up, and the Lord healed me in many ways. I forgave my parents, and have a better relationship with them.

This is one of the great benefits, IMO, of religion (any faith) when practiced in a positive, constructive way. Healing, forgiveness (of self and others). Even if one wishes to see this as a placebo effect, the benefits are still real. Plenty of scientific studies - in the medical field, no less - have unequivocally demonstrated this.

Can one achieve this kind of healing (and forgiveness) as an atheist? Given the power of belief for any individual, I would think so, though I am not aware of any studies in this vein.

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
So you are not afraid of going to hell. What if you are not in the right church?

I think the people who haven't posted here are the ones who are afraid. 😛

Fear is bondage.........As scripture says The truth will set you free 😄

My family are proclaimed Christians.

But this is the way I see it. It only seems to be my Dad and my sister's family who is the real one. He's gone through so much yet has never turned his back on his faith and he has been rewarded for it in more ways than one from multiple sources you'd never think of.

My mom, is trying her best to be one. She's not perfect and she's prone to rage but she means well.

My younger brother is a handful, droppijng out of school doing druigs, and getting someone pregnant and not being at least gainfully employed. But he's mellowed out now and while not gainfully employed, is at least employed and has an excellent track record at work (though he still has to finish college)

My older brother, I know little of. Except that he also dropped out of college and became an entrepreneur. But did no drugs (as far as I know), is gainfully employed, and seems to be handling himself well enough.

My older sister has been recently wed to another christian and has 1 year old son. As far as I can tell, they seem to be happy with one another and with their son. I know her husband and I can say and believe he is a decent person.

Which leaves me. I am still in college and not gainfully employed (but employed and taking part time masteral studies).

I have an on and off relationship with Jesus because there are so many questions that I have that can't seem to be answered short of "just have faith". I always find myself asking the very same question. Am I a christian who is only a christian because I'm deathly afraid of going to hell? I ask some christians I meet regarding this, and they never really thought much that it was the fear of hell that haunts them or coaxes them into being a christian.

One even told me that no one can really be a christian, even the proclaimed ones if they do not have a personal day-to-day relationship and encounter with Jesus or God. He even went further to tell me that's what christianity is all about. Having that kind of relationship where you feel like you could talk with and feel Jesus/God as your mentor, your older sibling, or even parent.

Attending church and the like is not necessary to cultivate a relationship with Jesus/God. He emphasized relationship and not traditional religious beliefs.

That does sound silly doesn't it. But there was a calm yet not obnoxious way he related it to me which made me rethink the whole thing.

But truth of the matter is, I'm a selfish person who only looks out for himself. I don't like the idea on hugging onto a deity. If at all possible, if there was a place that is not purgatory and where neither heaven nor hell existed, and is outside the influences of both, I might prefer that.

But there is absolutely no way for me to be sure that there is a hell. I don't like unpleasant surprises so I assume there is and I do not want to go there. But following the tenements of faith make it seem like I have much ass kissing to do. Which I dislike.

So here I am claiming to be one. But I know I'm not. It doesn't matter to me if I am loved or not. I can get by and for me thats what matters. Sounds like a sad lonely ultimate existence, but its the one I can logically explain. Though in and of itself, logic is limited because by mere logic you simply cannot know everything. At least while you're alive and still breathing.

That's my 2 cents on the topic.

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
Also it’s kind of cool to be a Christian

The dominant culture is pretty much never "cool".

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
You don’t really believe all of the things they tell you about Christianity, but you don’t want to be singled out and made fun of. Also it’s kind of cool to be a Christian cause all of your friends are Christian, but deep down inside, you know that all of this can’t be true. However, you dear not think about it, because what if you were wrong, you don’t want to be possessed by a demon or burn for eternity in hell.

Is this you? Do you feel this way, but don’t want to tell anyone? Do you think that science makes a lot more sense, but you would rather go with the crowd?

If this is you, tell us about it.

Warning: Please, do not come here to flame anyone who posts here.

If you dont believe everything about Christianity, does that make you not Christian?

Originally posted by Ordo
If you dont believe everything about Christianity, does that make you not Christian?

I know a lot of Christians who do not believe that same. JIA and peejayd is a good example: JIA believes in an original sin while peejayd does not. You would think that the original sin mythology was fundamental to Christianity, but I guess it's not.

I don't think most Christians are Christians out of fear. In fact, I think almost none are. I think most are Christians because they were raised that way, and it's very, very hard to buck one's upbringing. What a person's parents are is the overwhelmingly biggest factor in determining what religion someone will be.

And if you believe you're right, there's no fear. It's more of a contentedness, or something to lean on through hardships.

I do think, however, that many won't officially leave Christianity out of a vague fear. I'm talking about "lapsed" Christians who still identify themselves as such to society, on a census, etc. What's the point of continuing as such if you don't really practice that religion? But I think that's the point at which some form of Pascal's Wager creeps into the mind and keeps them officially Christian.

damn it Digi, I was going to post almost the exact same thing!

Originally posted by Digi
I don't think most Christians are Christians out of fear. In fact, I think almost none are. I think most are Christians because they were raised that way, and it's very, very hard to buck one's upbringing. What a person's parents are is the overwhelmingly biggest factor in determining what religion someone will be.

And if you believe you're right, there's no fear. It's more of a contentedness, or something to lean on through hardships.

I do think, however, that many won't officially leave Christianity out of a vague fear. I'm talking about "lapsed" Christians who still identify themselves as such to society, on a census, etc. What's the point of continuing as such if you don't really practice that religion? But I think that's the point at which some form of Pascal's Wager creeps into the mind and keeps them officially Christian.

However, when I became a Buddhist, I got "but you will burn in hell" from all of my family. They were using fear to try and stop me from becoming a Buddhist.

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
However, when I became a Buddhist, I got "but you will burn in hell" from all of my family. They were using fear to try and stop me from becoming a Buddhist.

And you probably responded with "by not being Buddhist you're in a cage". Frankly I think this tells us more about you than anything else.

Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
And you probably responded with "by not being Buddhist you're in a cage". Frankly I think this tells us more about you than anything else.

No, but when I was a Christian, I was in a cage of the mind, but now that I am not a Christian I am not in that cage. Buddhism doesn't threaten me to stay, but Christianity did.

Oh, I think this is a definite factor on christians. Not necessarily fear of hell, but I think fear of being ostracized is a real issue. the christian right in america has done a very good job of making atheists seem unamerican, evil, etc...

Anyone who thinks pascal's wager is a valid argument is showing the powerful influence fear has on their religion.

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
However, when I became a Buddhist, I got "but you will burn in hell" from all of my family. They were using fear to try and stop me from becoming a Buddhist.

yes, but that doesn't mean fear is what motivates their beliefs, just that they now are afraid for you, or think you should be afraid of eternal consequences to your soul.

Originally posted by King Kandy
Oh, I think this is a definite factor on christians. Not necessarily fear of hell, but I think fear of being ostracized is a real issue. the christian right in america has done a very good job of making atheists seem unamerican, evil, etc...

interesting.

Originally posted by King Kandy
Anyone who thinks pascal's wager is a valid argument is showing the powerful influence fear has on their religion.

I think very few religious people honestly took Pascal's wager before determining their beliefs. Rather, it is a meme that allows cognitive dissonance (arguably one of the most powerful motivators of religious belief) to quickly dismiss any logically powerful arguments against their spirituality.

Originally posted by inimalist
yes, but that doesn't mean fear is what motivates their beliefs, just that they now are afraid for you, or think you should be afraid of eternal consequences to your soul.

I disagree. From as far back as I can remember I was told about hell and how I would go to hell if I did not become saved. That is the reason I became saved. I wanted to go to heaven and not hell. It is both karat and stick.

Originally posted by inimalist
I think very few religious people honestly took Pascal's wager before determining their beliefs. Rather, it is a meme that allows cognitive dissonance (arguably one of the most powerful motivators of religious belief) to quickly dismiss any logically powerful arguments against their spirituality.

* i am a Christian by choice and by faith, not out of fear... my two cents: in the Bible, the word "fear" does not literally means you are afraid of something, example:

"This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man."
Ecclesiastes 12:13

* here, fearing God is keeping His commandments... other passages include:

"The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."
Psalms 19:9

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever."
Psalms 111:10

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Proverbs 1:7

"The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Proverbs 8:13

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."
Proverbs 9:10

"The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened."
Proverbs 10:27

"In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge."
Proverbs 14:26

"The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death."
Proverbs 14:27

"The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility."
Proverbs 15:33

"The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil."
Proverbs 19:23