Fear of God (page 3)

Satanus

LT

That might be true, somehow. I find it interesting that atheists, illuminated ones, pantheists, taoists, dieists, spiritists and a few other types also get free of godly fear. Atheists seem to do just as well as believers, maybe better.

S

LittleToe

S:
You'll have to elaborate for me, as your comments left like that give me little to respond to.

What do you mean: "...also get free of godly fear."

And in what context do you mean: "Atheists seem to do just as well as believers, maybe better."

Narkissos

Actually both "fear God" AND "love God" are typical Deuteronomistic formulae (Deuteronomy 10:12; cf. 6:2,5,13,24; 10:20; 11:1; 13:3f) -- inspired by the Assyrian treaties of vassalship where both fear and love, along with service/obedience were part of the duties of the vassal toward the suzerain.

The opposition of loving God and fearing God is the exception in the NT, not the rule.

For a positive use of "fearing God/Christ" in the NT, see Matthew 10:28; Luke 1:50,65; 7:16; 12:5; 18:2ff; 23:40; Acts 5:5,11; 9:31; 10:2,22,35; 13:16,26; Romans 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:11; 7:1,15; Ephesians 6:5; Philippians 2:12; Colossians 3:22; 1 Timothy 5:20; Hebrews 10:31; 1 Peter 1:17; 2:17; Revelation 11:18; 14:7; 15:4; 19:5.

LittleToe

Didier:Would you not say that these texts follow the precept of fear being the beginning of wisdom, though?

Does there remain to it "fear" with a child of God?

talesin

Acts 13:16

Paul exhorts those 'who fear G*d' to listen to him .... sounds like a televangelizer. I don't see how this is positive.

It seems to me that we should listen to people because we respect them and their deeds, not because we fear their [hidden, nameless, unknown, despotic] boss.

He is still basing faith upon fear -- fear, not love.

I'm just not getting it, Narkissos.

Jesus did preach a message of love, but according to the bible, we cannot love G*d unless we fear him. Why? Because we fear having the chance for resurrection/everlasting life/heaven yanked out from under us if we do not worship him. So even fear & love are bound together. This doesn't work for me.

Well, that's just my own twisted logic. :)

t

Satanus

LT

your comments left ;like that give me little to respond to.

Ah, it's an arguement you want, eh? Then, you must take up a contrary position. I used the term 'godly fear' instaed of fear of god. Godly fear has a sort of superior moral connotation, as compared to 'fear of god'. I equate them, however, in order to break that push button conditioning.

Their getting free of fear of god was merely an observation i was making. Of course, some lose it because they conclude that there is no god, or that god is aloof. Their 'godly' fearlessness is arrived at for different reasons than theists who have come to that point by means of some spiritual expriences and leaving behind fundamentalism.

Many atheists that i have seen seem well adjusted to living in this world. They seem kind, tolerant, etc. No doubt other atheists are hateful. But, some christians are too. My point was that they do not seem to have any disadvantages in dealing w family members, raising a family, being sociable, working, etc, when compared to christians who have also lost their fear of god.

S

Ps, if you find nothing with which to argue here, then there may spelling mistakes.

Satanus

Heading out for a bit.

S

Rod P

Well I still believe/think there is such a thing as the "God of the Universe", I do not find it necessary to be in "fear" of God. Yet, I do feel a certain "respect", but not out of fear.

(I am not at all finished with this topic, and I am, as we speak, very busy preparing some write-ups that will get into question of God, and a lot more.)

In terms of this thread, however, I do think that much of what has been written in the Old Testament, as well as the writings/scrolls/tablets/artifacts from all of the many ancient cultures demonstrate that these different peoples had belief systems that were evolving and developing in terms of their various ideas and notions about their deities (or deity). Fear (respect) was an integral part of their beliefs about their God(s). Also, many of these tribal communities borrowed concepts and deities from their predecessors or their contemporaries, or their conquerors, converting the many attributes into their own culture and language, adopting them as their own. Much of this reflected an anthropomorphic concept of deity, giving their god(s) many of the characteristics that were a part of themselves as humans. It was out of this that I suspect concepts like fear and respect, wrath, anger, judgement, condemnation, jealousy, punishment and a whole array of human emotions were imbued into their beliefs about their gods, both positive and negative.

Rod P.

LittleToe

LOL - en garde - have at you !!!!

You must be an incredibly chronic speller, then, as I find little to disagree with

That would then beg the question - what is gained?

I can only answer that from my own experience; which is the experience of the "love" of the Divine, which suffuses and transcends anything else I've ever experienced.

tetrapod.sapien

That would then beg the question - what is gained?

a lack of belief.

hi LT!

Fear of God

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