Religious Buzzwords

[Miss Kitty]

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?

 

[Rudyjohn]

those who are guilty of something tend to be "God-fearing."

 

[scooterbug44]

I believe it has more to do w/ fearing the final judgment than God's immediate wrath.

Typically I hear it used when people use religion as a way to punish others for free thought and compassion.

 

[GoodWitch58]

because fear is such a great motivator for some...it has been used through the centuries to keep the masses in line....

 

[full time]

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?

Yes. When Obama saw the latest polls, it put the "fear of God" in him. Hope this helps.

 

[Alicia Leonard]

Yes. When Obama saw the latest polls, it put the "fear of God" in him. Hope this helps.

No, it does not help answer the question.

 

[InletBchDweller]

wow, I understand it to be a completely different meaning. I don't think it means to scare someone into trusting God/Bible at all.

Men and brethern, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you the word of this salvation sent. Acts 20:26

The book of St. Matthew, Chapter 10 is a good read. It is Jesus talking to his disciples. Verse 28 sums it up for me. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell.

 

[Smiling JOe]

I was brought up in a church (Southern Baptist) which taught to fear God -- pressure tactics of guilt and shame to convert people. I think there are a few Southern Baptist churches in the deep south which were more about converting people to Christianity than teaching people about Christianity. Once you converted, everyone left you alone and accepted you, but until you were converted, they thought the Devil was the biggest role-model in your life.

I will add that I don't think that my small-town experience is true for most Southern Baptists churches.

I do believe the term, "God-fearing," comes from scripture pointed out by IBD, and but into layman's terms noted by scooterbug.

 

[Miss Critter]

Miss K, my views of God are in alignment with those within the teachings of A Course in Miracles. Marianne Williamson wrote a book based on these principles called A Return to Love. If God is Love - not loving, but love itself in the fullest, most ego-less sense of the word - as I believe He is, then what is there to fear? An entitiy that is only love is not to be feared, is not wrathful, nor judgmental. All that is God is good. It is very difficult to make meaningful progress from a position of fear. Belief in a wrathful God also makes the peace process difficult, IMO.

Great question, by the way.

 

[Bob]

fear is the bedrock of control