Originally posted by Storm
Religion spends a lot of time reacting out of apparent fear. Rather than simply and confidently laying out a positive program of beliefs, too often religion is more concerned with raising an alarm over alleged dangers lying in wait all around us.Not all religions use threats, divine or otherwise, in their attempts to enforce particular moral codes but it’ s certainly a common phenomenon. Shouldn’ t religion focus on the ideals of adhering to moral codes out of a sense of decency and love, rather than out of a fear of hell? Fortunately some do adopt this strategy, many others though don’ t seem to recognize the problem.
Perhaps threats and fear must be attractive to some people because otherwise, these religious groups would disappear.
Perhaps religions are so concerned with these "dangers" lets take the Devil for example because they actually exist...but the devil tells people such as yourself that hes no threat to anyone and that religious people are just trying to scare you...like a parent might tell a child the bogeyman will get them if they don't eat their veggies...its like...if you wanted to kidnap a child, even though the child has been told strangers are a danger they might go with you because you simply told the child you weren't a danger.
Re: Fear as the Basis for Religion?
Originally posted by Storm
Religion spends a lot of time reacting out of apparent fear. Rather than simply and confidently laying out a positive program of beliefs, too often religion is more concerned with raising an alarm over alleged dangers lying in wait all around us.Not all religions use threats, divine or otherwise, in their attempts to enforce particular moral codes but it’ s certainly a common phenomenon. Shouldn’ t religion focus on the ideals of adhering to moral codes out of a sense of decency and love, rather than out of a fear of hell? Fortunately some do adopt this strategy, many others though don’ t seem to recognize the problem.
Perhaps threats and fear must be attractive to some people because otherwise, these religious groups would disappear.
So go make a religion and see what happens . . .
Not all religions use threats, divine or otherwise, in their attempts to enforce particular moral codes but it’ s certainly a common phenomenon. Shouldn’ t religion focus on the ideals of adhering to moral codes out of a sense of decency and love, rather than out of a fear of hell? Fortunately some do adopt this strategy, many others though don’ t seem to recognize the problem.
Oh can I also point out that whole statement is false and clearly brought about by a sweeping generalisation on a topic you know little about or have a prejudice towards due to limited study.