For obedience purpose I assume.

(September 6, 2014 at 11:38 pm)Drich Wrote: For the same reason we respect/fear forces like gravity, fire, electricity...

All those actually exist, don't they ?

(September 6, 2014 at 11:38 pm)Drich Wrote:

(September 5, 2014 at 1:06 pm)Elskidor Wrote: Not even a lick of logic in the phrase when it's twisted in such a way that it is suppose to be seen as a good thing.

To fear in context is to respect.

We are told to fear God first meaning we are to respect honor and observe. In this is the beginning of wisdom.

So why does God demand respect? For the same reason we respect/fear forces like gravity, fire, electricity. All of these forces like God cut both ways. If and when you approach these elements with respect you can benefit greatly. If how ever you choose to not respect these elements you will be 'burned' by them.

We respect those forces as a first step to taming those forces, drippy. Any more idiotic assertions through moronic analogies?

(September 5, 2014 at 1:06 pm)Elskidor Wrote: Not even a lick of logic in the phrase when it's twisted in such a way that it is suppose to be seen as a good thing.

Fearing god is good because it's the beginning of wisdom. Duh!

Elskidor, there's a lovely bit in the Wind In The Willows (definitely a book worth re-reading as an adult if you haven't so done) where rat and mole are going to see the god, Pan. Kenneth Grahame beautifully captures the mix of awe, trust, love and fear of which the biblical authors write. A problem is, perhaps, that we don't really have an English word to capture this response that we have to such a sense of numinous, the sense of something so much greater than us that it is awesome, fearsome, comforting, peaceful, and disturbing all at the same time...

Quote:'Rat!' he [mole] found breath to whisper, shaking. 'Are you afraid?'

'Afraid?' murmured the Rat, his eyes shining with unutterable love. 'Afraid! Of Him [Pan]? O, never, never! And yet— and yet— O, Mole, I am afraid!'

Then the two animals, crouching to the earth, bowed their heads and did worship.

(September 7, 2014 at 3:29 am)Michael Wrote: we don't really have an English word to capture this response that we have to such a sense of numinous, the sense of something so much greater than us that it is awesome, fearsome, comforting, peaceful, and disturbing all at the same time...

We do. The word is "delusional".

(September 7, 2014 at 12:17 am)FifthElement Wrote:

(September 6, 2014 at 11:38 pm)Drich Wrote: For the same reason we respect/fear forces like gravity, fire, electricity...

All those actually exist, don't they ?

To some ALL do. To others all do not. Kinda like God.

(September 5, 2014 at 1:06 pm)Elskidor Wrote: Not even a lick of logic in the phrase when it's twisted in such a way that it is suppose to be seen as a good thing.

As DarkMatter2525 (channeling Nietzsche a little, I think) says in the absolutely brilliant pilot episode of Power Corrupts- God was a way for those elders who had exclusive access to his commands by going into a cave forbidden to everyone else, to have absolute power over all who feared what this being might do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA5PlJiqOnk

(September 7, 2014 at 4:17 am)Chuck Wrote:

(September 7, 2014 at 3:29 am)Michael Wrote: we don't really have an English word to capture this response that we have to such a sense of numinous, the sense of something so much greater than us that it is awesome, fearsome, comforting, peaceful, and disturbing all at the same time...

We do. The word is "delusional".

Actually the term is 'the sublime'. It's applied to the feeling of awe people feel when confronted with awesome natural stuff.

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(September 6, 2014 at 11:38 pm)Drich Wrote: To fear in context is to respect.

You get feelings of fear about people you respect?

(September 8, 2014 at 12:04 pm)Bibliofagus Wrote:

(September 7, 2014 at 4:17 am)Chuck Wrote: We do. The word is "delusional".

Actually the term is 'the sublime'. It's applied to the feeling of awe people feel when confronted with awesome natural stuff.

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(September 6, 2014 at 11:38 pm)Drich Wrote: To fear in context is to respect.

You get feelings of fear about people you respect?

Here's your mistake. God is not a person. God is God. More a kin to a force of nature, like lightning/electricity or fire.

Now do you respect lightning or fire? Can you also fear them? Or is it more correct to say that out of a fear for lightning and fire you came to respect them?