Does Religion Drown Us in Guilt and Fear?

[beryllium]

Why???

[naomi24]

Christianity does.

[beryllium]

I want to know why pleaseeeee.... on the Christianity front from Naomi. And why you don't think it does Mani.

[Llamatron]

Fear is way of control.

[Llamatron]

Damn it I missed out 'a'. I'll try again:

Fear is a way of control.

Just look at what Bush and Blair are getting away with in the name of protecting us against so called terrorism.

[wizard69]

christianity not only seeks to control you with guilt while you are alive but it pursues you into the grave as well with its teaching of hell fire for the unbeliever.
Its a pernicious and cruel belief system.Iv'e known christians that have fallen away from their faith but retain the notion that because they are no longer christians they are destined for hell.Its sick

[beryllium]

Who's the author then? if God is without sin? then gods humans are without sin too yes? therefore no guilt, no fear....
what's the problem? who has made people feel like this?

[Lonnie]

In reference to the question, al three major religions do, Judaism, Christianity, Islam.

Fear is the base of all of them, I don't think you can single any one out, from all three, they are all guilty.

[Theland]

beryllium - There is a difference between Bbile based Christianity, and man made religion.
As wizard quite rightly points out, and echos Llamatron, control is through fear.
Lots of man made religions do this, adding or subtracting their own little bits from the Bible to serve their own purposes.
The trouble is, what is true for them, gives the whole of Christianity a bad name.
Personally, I find Biblical Christianity liberating, and not controlling at all.

[naomi24]

Mani, are you saying you're not afraid of your god, or that you don't feel guilt when you think you've done wrong?

Beryllium, sin, or the idea of sin, is the key thing that produces feelings of guilt in Christians. This dreadful, evil, notion that people are sinners from the moment they are born - and I'm talking little babies here - and 'god help you' if you don't repent your sins through Jesus Christ - eternal hell fire and damnation await. The Born Again brigade are bent (I would say hell-bent, but perhaps not!) bent on saving their own souls, their imaginary god has, according to the bible, done some terrible things, and possesses the very worst attibutes of man - and this is what they worship. So yes, Christianity does drown them in guilt and fear.

[wizard69]

couldnt have put it better myself naomi...

[Theland]

If you read the New Testament letters from Saint Paul, one of the first Christians, you see a man whose life was hard and dangerous, yet he constantly celebrates his freedom in Christ, and there is no hint of fear.
He was allied to Christ, not to a man made religion, with men at the head of it.
So, no fear.

[wizard69]

Theland, just curious here but are you saying that you wouldnt feel guilty about fantasizeing about having sex with women other than your wife? Because according to jesus, you should.And if you say that you dont fantasize about other women I would consider you to be a liar.As I said, just curious

[Theland]

Let me satisfy your curiosity then. No, I don't fantasise about that. That is the truth. But what a strange question?

[wizard69]

if you dont fantasise about women then I think you a strange person

[wizard69]

or a homosexual

[beryllium]

Now, please correct me if I am wrong.... I was always of the belief that allreligions were man made. How can they not be?

[Theland]

wizard69 - Is this a wind up? Must be!

beryllium - If you compare the basic teaching of the Bible with what some of the major religions teach, you will see varying degrees of differences.
You don't have to believe in God to be able to detect this, a simple comparison will suffice.

[beryllium]

oh Naomi, the born again peops lol.... I only found out the other day what that little fish sign was on the back of peoples cars lol ;-)
I honestly thought it was a fish!!!

http://www.mattjonesblog.com/img/fish/gefilte. gif

[wizard69]

Theland, I'm perfectly serious.The church places a lot of emphasis on sex and jesus went further by suggesting that if you even think about a woman lustfully then you have commited adultary.Now, given the fact that red blooded males think about sex a lot, there should be a lot of guilt goin' around.Its quiet normal to think about sex, both men and women do it.