Loving and Fearing God

Perry Winkle · 01-10-2012, 05:10 PM

Some religions dictate that God is to be feared. The people I know who follow these religions claim to both fear and love God.

It seems to me that unconditionally loving someone you fear indicates a dysfunctional relationship.

Why wouldn't you cast down, or leave, a God you were compelled to fear?

Is it learned helplessness?

DanaC · 01-10-2012, 05:17 PM

I think in this context the words 'fear' and 'love' have slightly different connotations. They're drawing on older meanings, in which the two sit together more comfortably.

Perry Winkle · 01-10-2012, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaC

I think in this context the words 'fear' and 'love' have slightly different connotations. They're drawing on older meanings, in which the two sit together more comfortably.

Perhaps "respect" and "devotion"?

DanaC · 01-10-2012, 05:24 PM

I suspect those would be more accurate than the more common current usage of love and fear yes. Adoration as well, again in its original usage.

Perry Winkle · 01-10-2012, 05:34 PM

I was raised Catholic and I've always misunderstood this. I wonder how many people put up with abusive relationships because of a similar misunderstanding.

Probably a crack-pot theory. But this is the Internet and I don't feel too stupid postulating all sorts of garbage.

DanaC · 01-10-2012, 05:39 PM

Well, there's also the fact that we have changed what we mean by love nowadays to be something much softer and less about power and authority. Love of a father for example would have been expected to include fear of that father as the source of discipline and authority. A loving parent would be expected to instill fear in their children. Not fear of the person so much as fear of the punishments that parent could and should inflict as a way of teaching the child to fear properly.

It was, don't forget, the opinion of most people for a very very long time that children were born with an inherent tendency towards going bad. It had to be beaten out of them and good character beaten in.

Griff · 01-10-2012, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaC

I suspect those would be more accurate than the more common current usage of love and fear yes. Adoration as well, again in its original usage.

Yeah, I think awe would be close, but I was a Vatican II guy so who knows?

Happy Monkey · 01-10-2012, 08:12 PM

Old Testament God works with the modern definition of fear. But the New Testament God invented hell, which is worse than anything that Old Testament God ever did, so the modern definition of fear works there, too. Not too lovable, except that He demands love, so if you fear him you'd damn well better love Him!

sexobon · 01-11-2012, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perry Winkle

.. Why wouldn't you cast down, or leave, a God you were compelled to fear?

Is it learned helplessness?

Para Stockholm Syndrome involving fear of something powerful enough to not only deprive one of this life; but, an afterlife ... eternal life. It also enables the imposition of one's beliefs on others which we routinely see an example of here with one user.

Flint · 01-11-2012, 09:24 AM

What about those bumper stickers that say "Fear This" and "Ain't Skeered" ...?

Those guys are having the philosophical debate of the century, right?

infinite monkey · 01-11-2012, 09:38 AM

What if God were one of us?

sexobon · 01-11-2012, 12:47 PM

What if God were a hobo?

Perry Winkle · 01-11-2012, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sexobon

What if God were a hobo?

IM would have killed him already, and none of us (except the hobos) would ever have to be scared.

Pete Zicato · 01-11-2012, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

Old Testament God works with the modern definition of fear. But the New Testament God invented hell, which is worse than anything that Old Testament God ever did, so the modern definition of fear works there, too. Not too lovable, except that He demands love, so if you fear him you'd damn well better love Him!

Not sure what you mean, HM. Lots of references to Hell in the OT.

JBKlyde · 01-11-2012, 03:43 PM

Quote:

The fear of the lord is the begining of wisdom.

Quote:

Perfect love drives out all fear.

Two quotes from the bible that will do you well. Look to the sun for your answers on this subject. It makes the earth warm, gives energy and drives out darkness. Get too close and it will melt you like a Popsicle. The closer you get the more you fear. The more you fear the more respect. The More respect the more you begin love. The more you love the less you fear.

It may start with fear but it ends in love. Fear is not the end of this.

01-10-2012, 05:10 PM	#1
Perry Winkle Esnohplad Semaj Ton Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: A little south of sanity Posts: 2,259	Loving and Fearing God Some religions dictate that God is to be feared. The people I know who follow these religions claim to both fear and love God. It seems to me that unconditionally loving someone you fear indicates a dysfunctional relationship. Why wouldn't you cast down, or leave, a God you were compelled to fear? Is it learned helplessness?

01-10-2012, 08:12 PM	#8
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	Old Testament God works with the modern definition of fear. But the New Testament God invented hell, which is worse than anything that Old Testament God ever did, so the modern definition of fear works there, too. Not too lovable, except that He demands love, so if you fear him you'd damn well better love Him! __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

01-11-2012, 09:24 AM	#10
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	What about those bumper stickers that say "Fear This" and "Ain't Skeered" ...? Those guys are having the philosophical debate of the century, right? __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

01-10-2012, 05:34 PM	#5
Perry Winkle Esnohplad Semaj Ton Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: A little south of sanity Posts: 2,259	I was raised Catholic and I've always misunderstood this. I wonder how many people put up with abusive relationships because of a similar misunderstanding. Probably a crack-pot theory. But this is the Internet and I don't feel too stupid postulating all sorts of garbage.

01-11-2012, 09:38 AM	#11
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002	What if God were one of us?

01-11-2012, 12:47 PM	#12
sexobon I love it when a plan comes together. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 9,793	What if God were a hobo?

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