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NoHall

hmmmm......can't remember
May 28, 2007
9,032
996
Northern Hall County, GA
In my attempt to understand how religion and politics became so entangled, I keep coming across "God fearing" people. My God is a loving, forgiving and compassionate God.

Can someone explain "God fearing" to me? :dunno:

In my studies, the original "fear" term (in this sense) did not purport to mean scared, anxious, etc, but to mean reverence. Similar to gay=happy or gay=homosexual. Different meanings of the word.

I didn't have time to read this whole thread just now (I'm running in and out) but Big Blue gave you the definition I learned first as a child, then later in college, and then as an adult.

The King James Version of the Bible has translations that are strange to us, kind of like reading Shakespeare doesn't translate into modern-day English very well. Fear of God is healthy, trusting respect (or reverence,) but it's also about love. A lot of SoWallers "fear" the sea--they understand how powerful and mysterious it is to the extent that they cannot live away from it.

Great question...
 

kathydwells

Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
Dec 20, 2004
13,303
420
64
Lacey's Spring, Alabama
I'm just stating observation which is often over-looked by many. Personally, I think it is silly that people in Alabama cannot own a vibrator used for sexual pleasure.

I know isn't that just silly? Some people in Alabama didn't get the memo though. ;-)

I was brought up in the hellfire and damnation Southern Baptist Church. I was told every Sunday that I was going the hell and burn in all eternity if I was not saved. As young as ten I had a preacher come and "visit" with me. He told me that if I did not accept Christ that day as my Lord and Saviour and I died that night I was going to hell, to burn for all eternity. I was TEN years old. Well, what do you think I did? I said the save me prayer and was baptised the very next Sunday. I had no idea what he was talking about, but I knew he put the "fear of God in me".

So, I went to church every Sunday and I sat there will all the deacons, preachers, and God fearing Christians. As I got older and watched these same people, get arrested for DUI, for child molestation, I watched them tear families apart because of affairs with each other. I watched a beautiful church secretary have an affair with the pastor of my church who's wife was my Sunday School teacher that I dearly loved. The church secretary had a beautiful loving family. When the affair was made public, she shot herself in the head. These were the same people who were telling me I was going to Hell. These were my role models in the church. Family members who were God fearing Christians, making passes at there sister-in-laws, and others. Uncles who sang in the church choir, and was at the church everytime the door opened, make passes at their nieces who were 40 years younger than them. The Jimmy Swaggerts, the Jim Bakkers, the list goes on. It was sickening to me.

I know, I am sure they all asked for forgiveness and were forgiven, but my faith was shattered long ago as far "organized religion" goes. Now my religion is the sea, the sky, the beautiful things in my life. Yes, I pray to a "Higher Being" who I know loves me and watches over me. A higher being that gives me Peace. I do not need the Hellfire and Damnation sermons to assure my faith. I do not condem those that do though, to each his own.

So to answer your question Kitty....God fearing to me, is what that preacher told me long ago. Something I do not buy into.
 
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