It has been said by Australian author, Alex Peterson, that there are really only two emotions in the physical universe; love and fear, and that all the other emotions are just the result of these two primary states of consciousness. This of course is only one school of thought and there are many other writers and self-proclaimed philosophers who can and do offer up equally valid ideas about the dynamics between love and fear. Regardless, I think it safe to say that most people when asked would deem love a positive force in the world and fear a negative force. It is my contention that the Bible specifically violates the natural antithesis of these emotions by demanding love of a being that you are also commanded to fear.
Deuteronomy 10:12
And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God.
Proverbs 23:17
Be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
Psalm 147:11
The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him.
Matthew 10:28, Luke 12:5
Fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
This is just a few of the dozens of verses in the Bible that not only command fear, but speak of a god that revels in it. How can this be? How can a father demand fear of his child? After all, that is what the Bible claims of its god. That he is somehow a father to those who are his children. Supposedly, we’re asked to believe that a father would not only want his child to fear him, but also enjoy the fact that he fears him. Why?
Well, love and fear are both great motivators. Love being a powerful tool that can lead soldiers to lay down their lives for their comrades, mothers to sacrifice food for their children, and complete strangers to offer up organs to dying patients. But as powerful as love is, it does not have the selling power that fear has. Fear is louder, it spreads quicker, and it is far easier to attain than love. It can be easily used to exploit a reaction from nearly any group and it has often been used as the primary motivational edge for those who seek power over others.
When a person perceives a concept or an idea to be absolutely inevitable but never currently tangible it can be a considered an illusion. The creation of an unknown enemy, or a doubt, or a punishment is most often illusory and useful only to achieve an agenda. What better way to get immediate reaction and continued desired responses than to feed the illusion that one will suffer for eternity should they not accept an ultimatum poorly disguised as a free gift? Nothing about this concept is compatible with love … especially when you consider that the being demanding this impossibility is supposed to be a father.
I am, as many of you are, a father, and since the Bible clearly states that god is a father we must require ourselves to look at this in that light. In no way have I ever or will I ever want my son to fear me. Respect, yes, but respect is a result of admiration, trust, loyalty, and strength of character – all positive attributes that cannot be born of the negative. Fear does not breed trust or true loyalty and it certainly does not enhance strength of character.
The bible itself even backs me up on this concept when it contradicts itself in 1 John 4:18 ~ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Ask yourself this: Do you want your child to fear you or do you want your child to love you? Never mind the religion you’ve been taught. Just answer it as a father. I believe it is dishonest to answer anything other than love. They are not compatible and to attempt to have both creates neurotic children, confused, ill-mannered and desperate for approval. Remind you of anyone? How often have we, the non-believers witnessed for ourselves the complete and total lack of “peace” that Christians claim to receive when surrendering their lives to such a horrific father figure?
It’s a lie. You cannot command someone to fear you and also love you unconditionally. My son once had a bad dream and he told his mother that he dreamed that his daddy had “an angry face” and it scared him. Even though I knew it was just a dream, this knowledge hurt me. It injured me to the point that I sat with him and assured him over and over that he would never have to be afraid of me. He of course already knew this and ended up reassuring me that he was fine.
If you want a father that delights in your fear of him … than Christians, by all means, you can have him … but don’t expect the rest of us with intelligence to respect such an ill-advised decision.
(Buddha knew it and was teaching it before Jesus even showed up)
Deuteronomy 10:12
And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God.
Proverbs 23:17
Be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
Psalm 147:11
The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him.
Matthew 10:28, Luke 12:5
Fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
This is just a few of the dozens of verses in the Bible that not only command fear, but speak of a god that revels in it. How can this be? How can a father demand fear of his child? After all, that is what the Bible claims of its god. That he is somehow a father to those who are his children. Supposedly, we’re asked to believe that a father would not only want his child to fear him, but also enjoy the fact that he fears him. Why?
Well, love and fear are both great motivators. Love being a powerful tool that can lead soldiers to lay down their lives for their comrades, mothers to sacrifice food for their children, and complete strangers to offer up organs to dying patients. But as powerful as love is, it does not have the selling power that fear has. Fear is louder, it spreads quicker, and it is far easier to attain than love. It can be easily used to exploit a reaction from nearly any group and it has often been used as the primary motivational edge for those who seek power over others.
When a person perceives a concept or an idea to be absolutely inevitable but never currently tangible it can be a considered an illusion. The creation of an unknown enemy, or a doubt, or a punishment is most often illusory and useful only to achieve an agenda. What better way to get immediate reaction and continued desired responses than to feed the illusion that one will suffer for eternity should they not accept an ultimatum poorly disguised as a free gift? Nothing about this concept is compatible with love … especially when you consider that the being demanding this impossibility is supposed to be a father.
I am, as many of you are, a father, and since the Bible clearly states that god is a father we must require ourselves to look at this in that light. In no way have I ever or will I ever want my son to fear me. Respect, yes, but respect is a result of admiration, trust, loyalty, and strength of character – all positive attributes that cannot be born of the negative. Fear does not breed trust or true loyalty and it certainly does not enhance strength of character.
The bible itself even backs me up on this concept when it contradicts itself in 1 John 4:18 ~ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Ask yourself this: Do you want your child to fear you or do you want your child to love you? Never mind the religion you’ve been taught. Just answer it as a father. I believe it is dishonest to answer anything other than love. They are not compatible and to attempt to have both creates neurotic children, confused, ill-mannered and desperate for approval. Remind you of anyone? How often have we, the non-believers witnessed for ourselves the complete and total lack of “peace” that Christians claim to receive when surrendering their lives to such a horrific father figure?
It’s a lie. You cannot command someone to fear you and also love you unconditionally. My son once had a bad dream and he told his mother that he dreamed that his daddy had “an angry face” and it scared him. Even though I knew it was just a dream, this knowledge hurt me. It injured me to the point that I sat with him and assured him over and over that he would never have to be afraid of me. He of course already knew this and ended up reassuring me that he was fine.
If you want a father that delights in your fear of him … than Christians, by all means, you can have him … but don’t expect the rest of us with intelligence to respect such an ill-advised decision.
"The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one.
Only the moment you reject all help are you freed." ~ Buddha
Only the moment you reject all help are you freed." ~ Buddha
(Buddha knew it and was teaching it before Jesus even showed up)
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