The fear of God

[blazeofglory]

All of us have a variety of fear in life. And we do not sin or at least refrain from doing acts of sins from the fear of God. If we have no fear of God and if we hold the idea that everything ends up with this life and there is nothing after this life we will not be afraid of committing all kinds of sins, and all mortals no matter how much they are of the atheist bent will have a guilt-conscience if they happen to involve in profanity.

There are systems in the universe, and there are bigger laws and codes of conducts. Nature is not without laws or systems. Even in the jungle there are so many rules and regulations.

Of course the fear of God has saved us the acts of violence being committed in the name of God in the world notwithstanding in point of fact.

Of course people may have different ideas and I for one feel that the fear of God has bettered us morally in this world.

[librarius_qui]

Whenever there lacks "fear of the divine/unseen/unknown" (putting it in a philosophical way of seeing it, and less theological (...)), there's still fear of the law, and fear of the comunity judgement.

I go back to the ancient Romans. They had laws. They learned that even a great empire should have laws that could be applied to all men ...

Scientists observe and try to describe laws in the universe (mundus/kosmos).

Whenever things are out of order, theologically speaking, there's punishment from above. Sodom, might be one case to be mentioned. Maybe Pompeii?

As for an atheist, even atheists have father and mother, and hence, notion of limits.

To fear a god (some ... one above even human laws) is to have a sense of limits (greater than the one given by the limits of human laws ...), I gather.

[beroq]

God is both loved and feared and our actions might be children of one of these two or both. This is the world of dimensions and our feelings have dimensions. Afterlife shall carry us into the realm of no-dimension where Hell represents only fear and Paradise, love.

[Big Al]

Human beings have evolved into a social animal -- we are dependent on one another for survival. The reason most people do not commit violent or harmful acts is that it decreases our ability to cohabitate and live together in a harmonious social structure. Human beings "sin," in a biblical sense -- tell white lies, eat shellfish, lie naked with members of our own gender, etc. -- all the time with no fear of retribution, because these things do not disturb the balance and harmony we strive to attain in order to live and prosper as a connected unit.

[beroq]

Human beings have evolved into a social animal -- we are dependent on one another for survival. The reason most people do not commit violent or harmful acts is that it decreases our ability to cohabitate and live together in a harmonious social structure. Human beings "sin," in a biblical sense -- tell white lies, eat shellfish, lie naked with members of our own gender, etc. -- all the time with no fear of retribution, because these things do not disturb the balance and harmony we strive to attain in order to live and prosper as a connected unit.

I guess you are right in pointing out that 'sins' that have little or no direct impact on the harmony and peace in the society are easily and gladly committed. This is mostly due to the fact that people more believe in the worldly retribution than heavenly punishment, the reason of which is that the former looks to have a more immediate consequence.

[kristian]

Most people dont fear God, they fear the punishment.
Most people dont love God, they love the gifts.

[grotto]

And most validate the existence of God by their perceived version of good and denounce a God by a world in misery.