Faith is Born from Fear

[sealybobo]

I seriously doubt that fear had anything to do with early religion.

Fear is a primitive tactic to herd people. A practical religion does not need fear, it just need to give good advice on living.

Anything else is some kind of "attachment" which you could examine further if you want to know what the purpose of a particular religion/religious sect is.

If that is all they did we wouldn't have a beef with them but they always add lies and tell us if we don't believe their stories then we'll go to hell. If your books only gave good advice why would we have a problem with them? We wouldn't. Why would they have to embellish and make up stories and push them as real historical events?

Also, regarding fear being a key component of belief. What do you guys always say about fox holes? No atheists in fox holes? That's the proof that fear is a big part of your religion. Or I've heard the story where if you were in the ocean surrounded by sharks and I was too a couple miles away, the difference between you and me is that you would not be alone. See, you would have god with you to help you deal with the fear and I would not have god to help me. If that doesn't tell you fear is a big part of your belief nothing will. And those aren't my analogies, those come from theists/christians.

Then mix in some wishful thinking and you have a believer.

 

[sealybobo]

I seriously doubt that fear had anything to do with early religion.

Fear is a primitive tactic to herd people. A practical religion does not need fear, it just need to give good advice on living.

Anything else is some kind of "attachment" which you could examine further if you want to know what the purpose of a particular religion/religious sect is.

OMG you couldn't be any more dumb. Fear is exactly the reason the human mind came up with god(s). That and ignorance regarding science. Think about early primitive man. Like us they wondered what happened to their love ones when they died. They were sad when they died. And they wondered what would happen to them when they died. Of course they told themselves that one day they would see their love ones again in the great beyond. In "heaven".

Like every other animal humans too had a healthy fear of the unknown. It helped keep them alive. They also had brains large enough to imagine up a super parent/god(s).

Fear played a very big part in inventing god. For you to suggest not says how close minded you are to the possibility that your god(s) are completely made up. Trust us, they are.

The human response to fear is not faith... it is anger.

Really? When I was scared as a kid I ran to my parents arms. I don't remember being angry.

HowStuffWorks Fear Responses

Are you sure about that?

If you enjoy horror movies, you know that fear can be exciting. Many people enjoy being afraid -- the arousal that comes with the fight-or-flight response can be pleasurable and can even mimic sexual arousal. It's no wonder so many people go to see scary movies and ride roller coasters on dates.

There is actual scientific evidence that supports the fear-attraction connection.

 

[PratchettFan]

I seriously doubt that fear had anything to do with early religion.

Fear is a primitive tactic to herd people. A practical religion does not need fear, it just need to give good advice on living.

Anything else is some kind of "attachment" which you could examine further if you want to know what the purpose of a particular religion/religious sect is.

OMG you couldn't be any more dumb. Fear is exactly the reason the human mind came up with god(s). That and ignorance regarding science. Think about early primitive man. Like us they wondered what happened to their love ones when they died. They were sad when they died. And they wondered what would happen to them when they died. Of course they told themselves that one day they would see their love ones again in the great beyond. In "heaven".

Like every other animal humans too had a healthy fear of the unknown. It helped keep them alive. They also had brains large enough to imagine up a super parent/god(s).

Fear played a very big part in inventing god. For you to suggest not says how close minded you are to the possibility that your god(s) are completely made up. Trust us, they are.

The human response to fear is not faith... it is anger.

Really? When I was scared as a kid I ran to my parents arms. I don't remember being angry.

HowStuffWorks Fear Responses

Are you sure about that?

If you enjoy horror movies, you know that fear can be exciting. Many people enjoy being afraid -- the arousal that comes with the fight-or-flight response can be pleasurable and can even mimic sexual arousal. It's no wonder so many people go to see scary movies and ride roller coasters on dates.

There is actual scientific evidence that supports the fear-attraction connection.

Yes. I'm sure about that. We are not talking about adrenaline rush here. We are talking about fear of unseen future events. Like being afraid your spouse may not be faithful. The response to such fear is not faith, it is anger.

 

[sealybobo]

I seriously doubt that fear had anything to do with early religion.

Fear is a primitive tactic to herd people. A practical religion does not need fear, it just need to give good advice on living.

Anything else is some kind of "attachment" which you could examine further if you want to know what the purpose of a particular religion/religious sect is.

OMG you couldn't be any more dumb. Fear is exactly the reason the human mind came up with god(s). That and ignorance regarding science. Think about early primitive man. Like us they wondered what happened to their love ones when they died. They were sad when they died. And they wondered what would happen to them when they died. Of course they told themselves that one day they would see their love ones again in the great beyond. In "heaven".

Like every other animal humans too had a healthy fear of the unknown. It helped keep them alive. They also had brains large enough to imagine up a super parent/god(s).

Fear played a very big part in inventing god. For you to suggest not says how close minded you are to the possibility that your god(s) are completely made up. Trust us, they are.

The human response to fear is not faith... it is anger.

Really? When I was scared as a kid I ran to my parents arms. I don't remember being angry.

HowStuffWorks Fear Responses

Are you sure about that?

If you enjoy horror movies, you know that fear can be exciting. Many people enjoy being afraid -- the arousal that comes with the fight-or-flight response can be pleasurable and can even mimic sexual arousal. It's no wonder so many people go to see scary movies and ride roller coasters on dates.

There is actual scientific evidence that supports the fear-attraction connection.

Yes. I'm sure about that. We are not talking about adrenaline rush here. We are talking about fear of unseen future events. Like being afraid your spouse may not be faithful. The response to such fear is not faith, it is anger.

People who fear death aren't angry. I don't get angry when I think about death.

In fact I laugh at theists who get mad at god(s) when someone they love dies. As if god is looking out for each and every one of us personally. NOT.

 

[AtheistBuddah]

You ever hear of protesting too much? That's the op.

On the contrary, Christians DON'T have to live in fear because Christ died for their sins and paid the price.

John 3:16 King James Version
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The op is protesting too much he doesn't have fear and making it clear, he's living in denial.

I made no form of protest. I stated facts. Also I just have to point out that the irony of your closing statement is pretty funny.

No, sorry you did not post facts, you posted YOUR OPINION. And in it, you protested way too much.

Your protesting too much, betrays fear. Your anger betrays fear.

If you were so darn secure, you wouldn't need to be declaring why you think atheism is better than Christianity. Obviously, Christianity worries you. You can read it all over the op. Maybe you don't see it, but everyone else does.

BTW, I don't fear hell. I don't have to, I'm covered by the blood of Jesus.

But you? What is the old saying? If a Christian is wrong then, he's wrong. He'll die and never know he was wrong.

But if YOU are wrong, then what? Better think about that.

Alright firstly, Pacal's Wager is full of shit and you betray your fear by using it. It's a false dichotomy. It assumes that the only two options are:
A)You're right in which case I burn and you are rewarded.
Or
B) I'm right and neither of us will exist to know about it.Those are not the only two options. We could both be wrong.
Any of the other religions could be right and we'd both burn in their version of hell. Or they could all be wrong. There could be an afterlife but no God(s). Or God(s) but no afterlife. Or there could be a God(s) that just lets everyone into heaven.
Even if I had undeniable proof that your God existed I still would not worship him simply to save myself from hell because that is the act of a coward. I have a guiding set of morals that your Bible and your God routinely trample on and I won't comprise them just to save myself from your deity's wrath.

Lastly, yes Christianity does worry me but not for the reasons you think. The possibility of me being wrong doesn't scare me. The possibility of your religion turning the country I love into a theocracy does.

 

[AtheistBuddah]

All religions have their genesis in fear.

I don't think that's true. Familar with some ancient Greek and Roman sects where fear is not what first comes to mind.

I agree and the same can be said of a few Eastern religions as well.

 

[AtheistBuddah]

It has been said by many Christians that one of the primary reasons for someone being an atheist and saying that they don't believe is because they don't want to believe. They don't want to ask the hard question "What if I'm wrong?" because they can't accept the implications of that questioning. They claim that we as atheists take the easy way out but I argue that it is just the opposite. Christians downright refuse to humor any kind of questioning when it comes to their belief. They refuse to look inside themselves and ask "What if there is no God?" because they are terrified of the implications of that question. They claim we are afraid of hell but in fact it is they who are afraid of oblivion. Of nonexistence. Understandably so. The idea of ceasing to exist is unpleasant to say the least. That is why being an atheist is far from the easy way out.

As an atheist you look that unpleasant reality in the face, swallow your fear and accept it and live your life to its fullest. Being a Christian is a way of ignoring the fact that the world is an unpleasant and often unjust place where some people live their whole lives in despair before their flame of consciousness goes out forever. This world can be cruel and unfair but as atheists we accept that it's the only one we are ever going to get and that motivates us to fight our hardest to make it a better and brighter one. For our sake and for the sake of our children. We don't turn away from reality and turn a wishful eye to an afterlife that isn't going to happen.

You are doing to others what you complain others are doing to you.

I am doing no such thing. I do not complain about the criticism of my ideas in fact I welcome and cherish it. I welcome Christians to make the same criticizing statements about my views because that is a vital part of how a free society works. What I complain about is when my rights and the rights of other minorities are infringed upon by the Christian majority in the name of their specific values.

 

[AtheistBuddah]

It has been said by many Christians that one of the primary reasons for someone being an atheist and saying that they don't believe is because they don't want to believe. They don't want to ask the hard question "What if I'm wrong?" because they can't accept the implications of that questioning. They claim that we as atheists take the easy way out but I argue that it is just the opposite. Christians downright refuse to humor any kind of questioning when it comes to their belief. They refuse to look inside themselves and ask "What if there is no God?" because they are terrified of the implications of that question. They claim we are afraid of hell but in fact it is they who are afraid of oblivion. Of nonexistence. Understandably so. The idea of ceasing to exist is unpleasant to say the least. That is why being an atheist is far from the easy way out.

As an atheist you look that unpleasant reality in the face, swallow your fear and accept it and live your life to its fullest. Being a Christian is a way of ignoring the fact that the world is an unpleasant and often unjust place where some people live their whole lives in despair before their flame of consciousness goes out forever. This world can be cruel and unfair but as atheists we accept that it's the only one we are ever going to get and that motivates us to fight our hardest to make it a better and brighter one. For our sake and for the sake of our children. We don't turn away from reality and turn a wishful eye to an afterlife that isn't going to happen.

Despite some radical differences... Atheism is like Paganism in many ways.

There is no single doctrine, or formula, to be an atheist because there are many ways to be an atheist. Same with Paganism.

There may be some shared beliefs. Atheists do not believe in the existence of deities, Pagans do believe in the existence of deities.

Unlike Christianity, the subjective delusion of morality varies greatly among atheists. The subjective delusion of morality varies greatly among Pagans as well.

You frequently use terms like "we" and "us" when talking about Atheism, as if you speak on behalf of all atheists, yet you speak only for yourself. You cannot speak on behalf of all atheists just as I cannot speak on behalf of all Pagans. You need to learn that.
​

You are right in many ways and to a large extent I agree with what you said. I don't think one person should speak for all atheists and honestly I try not to and when I do I try to make statements that are as general as possible that describe as many atheists as possible. I realize that I probably don't always succeed in that regard and to any atheists that feel misrepresented by my words I give my sincere apologies. But atheists are an ideological minority and at times we have to band together to give our voices more weight so that we aren't drowned out by the majority.

I also agree that atheists and Pagans have a lot in common. Some groups of Satanists, particularly Laveyan Satanists have a fair amount of common ground with many atheists in their value for individuality and forging one's own path. I listened to an interview between an atheist podcaster and the head of a Satanist church in Oklahoma and he summed up his views in a statement that I rather like and agree with.
"Follow the law of the land, but aside from that do whatever the fuck you want. If you decide to break the law, then that's your business just don't bring me into it and don't bring this church into it."
The atheist comedian Jim Jefferies made a statement about the Bible that I agree with as well.
"The Bible should just be one sheet of paper and on it it should say 'Try not to be a ****' and if you do that than you're a good person."
We can both agree that morality is largely subjective. If it weren't then we would all have the same morality but we don't.

 

[AtheistBuddah]

Romans 10:17 ►

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. God commands believers to "FEAR NOT" for I am with you always! PTL.

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

So having read the Bible, and a bunch of other religious texts the fact that that only made me not-believe is answerable how?

Simple! You chose to not believe God and thus you allow satan to blind you to truth. your choice!

Belief/Unbelief is not a choice. The evidence is either enough to convince you or it isn't. You don't simply get to flip the faith switch on and off. I can't go back to being a Christian no matter how much I want do. I don't by the way, but even if I did want to believe it I can't. The Bible is full of lies and I can't just unsee that.

 

[AtheistBuddah]

By the logic everything in the Bible is from God, we should all convert to the LDS since that's the most recent claim of being direct from God (by way of an angel.)

Not like anyone'd lie about something major like that...

It is your duty in this life to seek and find truth=God. God says you have no excuse to not know He is real. God says==
God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, evil men who push away the truth from them. 19 For the truth about God is known to them instinctively; God has put this knowledge in their hearts. 20 Since earliest times men have seen the earth and sky and all God made, and have known of his existence and great eternal power. So they will have no excuse when they stand before God at Judgment Day.
21 Yes, they knew about him all right, but they wouldn’t admit it or worship him or even thank him for all his daily care. And after a while they began to think up silly ideas of what God was like and what he wanted them to do. The result was that their foolish minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming themselves to be wise without God, they became utter fools instead. Romans 1:18-22

I agree that as animals with sentience we have a responsibility to seek truth and a greater understanding of the universe but truth doesn't automatically equal God.

 

[haissem123]

if you morons had a brain, you would have fear in your hearts for the evil in men's hearts has control of this dying world. you better come to some for of common sense and work together to defend all of yourselves from this evil in some men, because it's gonna be the end of mankind if you don't. look around you. do you see things beside video games, violent tv and games , distractionary violent sports, pornographic music making the world better? better really take a hard look at which way you think we are going or how it's gonna end up, and if you think you can sit it out looking out for yourselves you better get a really big and well supplied rock to hide under.

 

[Darkwind]

It has been said by many Christians that one of the primary reasons for someone being an atheist and saying that they don't believe is because they don't want to believe. They don't want to ask the hard question "What if I'm wrong?" because they can't accept the implications of that questioning. They claim that we as atheists take the easy way out but I argue that it is just the opposite. Christians downright refuse to humor any kind of questioning when it comes to their belief. They refuse to look inside themselves and ask "What if there is no God?" because they are terrified of the implications of that question. They claim we are afraid of hell but in fact it is they who are afraid of oblivion. Of nonexistence. Understandably so. The idea of ceasing to exist is unpleasant to say the least. That is why being an atheist is far from the easy way out.

As an atheist you look that unpleasant reality in the face, swallow your fear and accept it and live your life to its fullest. Being a Christian is a way of ignoring the fact that the world is an unpleasant and often unjust place where some people live their whole lives in despair before their flame of consciousness goes out forever. This world can be cruel and unfair but as atheists we accept that it's the only one we are ever going to get and that motivates us to fight our hardest to make it a better and brighter one. For our sake and for the sake of our children. We don't turn away from reality and turn a wishful eye to an afterlife that isn't going to happen.

Poorly thought out.

You say that we don't examine ourselves and ask what if there is no God. The truth is, we have and have reached the logical conclusion that if there is no God, then we're no worse off than you are. However, if God existence is proven out after the death of the physical body, then is sucks to be you.

In addition. What right do you have to even question My beliefs?

 

[AtheistBuddah]

Sounds like you are well down the road of talking yourself into hell! BEWARE! as satan will laugh in your face as your die.

That's the case to say I believe and not question it? You must be Catholic.

Le'ts say that I'm 100% (minus .000 ... 01%) certain there's no gods as you think of them. So while I"m living life to the fullest doing good works just to be good for the helluvit (while hoping to lead by example) you're going through your life trying to instill fear into people threatening them with eternal torture and pain and misery...So they don't get that after they die? But you'll give them the emotional equivilent of hell while they're still alive never really making that connection huh?

I have found truth=God and God says we believers are to share the good news about God's love, I take no pleasure seeing you played for a fool used as satan tool puppet on the road to hell.

It's Ironic. I could say the same to you only in my version I'd leave out "God" and swap "Satan" for "your religious leader(s)"

 

[AtheistBuddah]

All religions have their genesis in fear.

I don't think that's true. Familar with some ancient Greek and Roman sects where fear is not what first comes to mind.

I agree and the same can be said of a few Eastern religions as well.

BELIEVERS FEAR?????? How strange to think sons of ALMIGHTY GOD would live in fear. God commands believers to fear not for I am with you always even to this end of this age.

Umm where do you think the phrase "Put the fear of God in you" comes from? Believers most certainly do fear. They fear God, they fear hell, and they fear to even entertain the notion of being wrong.

 

[AtheistBuddah]

if you morons had a brain, you would have fear in your hearts for the evil in men's hearts has control of this dying world. you better come to some for of common sense and work together to defend all of yourselves from this evil in some men, because it's gonna be the end of mankind if you don't. look around you. do you see things beside video games, violent tv and games , distractionary violent sports, pornographic music making the world better? better really take a hard look at which way you think we are going or how it's gonna end up, and if you think you can sit it out looking out for yourselves you better get a really big and well supplied rock to hide under.

What I'm not going to just sit around and accept is your doom and gloom rhetoric. The world isn't perfect and there are people out there that could potentially harm it a great deal but on the whole, the developed world is much more moral and much better than it was in the day when religion ruled supreme and religion played little to no part in its improvement. The third world is just as bad as it's always been possibly worse even and that is in large part due to religion.

 

[AtheistBuddah]

It has been said by many Christians that one of the primary reasons for someone being an atheist and saying that they don't believe is because they don't want to believe. They don't want to ask the hard question "What if I'm wrong?" because they can't accept the implications of that questioning. They claim that we as atheists take the easy way out but I argue that it is just the opposite. Christians downright refuse to humor any kind of questioning when it comes to their belief. They refuse to look inside themselves and ask "What if there is no God?" because they are terrified of the implications of that question. They claim we are afraid of hell but in fact it is they who are afraid of oblivion. Of nonexistence. Understandably so. The idea of ceasing to exist is unpleasant to say the least. That is why being an atheist is far from the easy way out.

As an atheist you look that unpleasant reality in the face, swallow your fear and accept it and live your life to its fullest. Being a Christian is a way of ignoring the fact that the world is an unpleasant and often unjust place where some people live their whole lives in despair before their flame of consciousness goes out forever. This world can be cruel and unfair but as atheists we accept that it's the only one we are ever going to get and that motivates us to fight our hardest to make it a better and brighter one. For our sake and for the sake of our children. We don't turn away from reality and turn a wishful eye to an afterlife that isn't going to happen.

Poorly thought out.

You say that we don't examine ourselves and ask what if there is no God. The truth is, we have and have reached the logical conclusion that if there is no God, then we're no worse off than you are. However, if God existence is proven out after the death of the physical body, then is sucks to be you.

In addition. What right do you have to even question My beliefs?

Firstly: See my previous statements on Pascal's Wager why there is nothing logical about it.
Second: What makes you think your beliefs are about questioning.? Nothing is above scrutiny not even your God.

 

[AtheistBuddah]

if you morons had a brain, you would have fear in your hearts for the evil in men's hearts has control of this dying world. you better come to some for of common sense and work together to defend all of yourselves from this evil in some men, because it's gonna be the end of mankind if you don't. look around you. do you see things beside video games, violent tv and games , distractionary violent sports, pornographic music making the world better? better really take a hard look at which way you think we are going or how it's gonna end up, and if you think you can sit it out looking out for yourselves you better get a really big and well supplied rock to hide under.

What I'm not going to just sit around and accept is your doom and gloom rhetoric. The world isn't perfect and there are people out there that could potentially harm it a great deal but on the whole, the developed world is much more moral and much better than it was in the day when religion ruled supreme and religion played little to no part in its improvement. The third world is just as bad as it's always been possibly worse even and that is in large part due to religion.

USA = THE ONE TRUE SUPERPOWER ON EARTH and in GOD we trust.

Speak for yourself. This American trusts in no one, least of all your dictatorial deity.

 

[haissem123]

what the hell are you talking about? do you really think we are going the right way? name a few things going the right way? what's getting better? you can name 4 or 5. I can show you the truth of how your world is dying but you wanna keep the rosey shades on. it your own blood tinting your glasses you asses. you wont wake up so, ill go to more intelligent life forms.

 

[haissem123]

if you morons had a brain, you would have fear in your hearts for the evil in men's hearts has control of this dying world. you better come to some for of common sense and work together to defend all of yourselves from this evil in some men, because it's gonna be the end of mankind if you don't. look around you. do you see things beside video games, violent tv and games , distractionary violent sports, pornographic music making the world better? better really take a hard look at which way you think we are going or how it's gonna end up, and if you think you can sit it out looking out for yourselves you better get a really big and well supplied rock to hide under.

What I'm not going to just sit around and accept is your doom and gloom rhetoric. The world isn't perfect and there are people out there that could potentially harm it a great deal but on the whole, the developed world is much more moral and much better than it was in the day when religion ruled supreme and religion played little to no part in its improvement. The third world is just as bad as it's always been possibly worse even and that is in large part due to religion.

USA = THE ONE TRUE SUPERPOWER ON EARTH and in GOD we trust.

Speak for yourself. This American trusts in no one, least of all your dictatorial deity.

how do you expect his world to run with no trust? lol. that's why it's failing. nobody can trust and therefore nobody can unite and divided we fall. you brave tough americans are fools. go turn on family guy or modern family

 

[haissem123]

if you morons had a brain, you would have fear in your hearts for the evil in men's hearts has control of this dying world. you better come to some for of common sense and work together to defend all of yourselves from this evil in some men, because it's gonna be the end of mankind if you don't. look around you. do you see things beside video games, violent tv and games , distractionary violent sports, pornographic music making the world better? better really take a hard look at which way you think we are going or how it's gonna end up, and if you think you can sit it out looking out for yourselves you better get a really big and well supplied rock to hide under.

What I'm not going to just sit around and accept is your doom and gloom rhetoric. The world isn't perfect and there are people out there that could potentially harm it a great deal but on the whole, the developed world is much more moral and much better than it was in the day when religion ruled supreme and religion played little to no part in its improvement. The third world is just as bad as it's always been possibly worse even and that is in large part due to religion.

USA = THE ONE TRUE SUPERPOWER ON EARTH and in GOD we trust.

Speak for yourself. This American trusts in no one, least of all your dictatorial deity.

how do you expect his world to run with no trust? lol. that's why it's failing. nobody can trust and therefore nobody can unite and divided we fall. you brave tough americans are fools. go turn on family guy or modern family

IN THE USA =in GOD we trust one nation under GOD with liberty and justice for all. PTL.

what justice for all? are you serious? you, who have little money compared to those that do you most wrong or harm, have sold your justice to the highest bidder. now private jails are gonna lock you all up like gestopo but you don't know history and your are all destined to keep repeating it.