Why do people worship their favorite imaginary deity out of fear?

The Bible has lots of stories where people were forced to worship the God character out of fear. They were frightened that he would kill them if they didn't comply with his demands to be worshiped. He did kill hordes of people who rejected his demands and he is always threatening to kill all of humanity unless people cater to his every whim.

Are you fearful of incurring his wrath?

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DeluxedEdition · 26-30, F

I’m going to share a story

I lived a very hard life. My entire life was a struggle. When I was growing up my step dad was physically and verbally abusive. My mom was an alcoholic whose temper tantrums were so extreme I was always house hopping from my grandmothers to my moms. I remember crying because I felt like I had no one. When I was a child I started acting out at school so much that my parents sent me to a private Christian school.

I grew up in a “Christian” household but I never truly understood what it meant to be a Christian. Not only did I find god but I found hope. I had hope that my life was going to get better and it did. It always did. As a child the notion of hell is terrifying but I am a Christian because I love god and appreciate him for always being there for me when I needed him the most and for never abandoning me

The day i was saved I felt like the darkness inside me disappeared and was replaced with an eternal burning candle of a comforting happiness

When I got older I struggled with mental illness and eating disorders. I actually got ran over by a car during a purging episode. Purging can manifest as heavy exercise as well. When I got hit by that car I got in the ambulance and this perfect haze took over my field of view. And I saw visions of bills coming in and out of view. I saw money being printed in factories. And I also saw people gathering cotton in a field.

I cried and asked god to spare my life not because I deserves or wanted to live but to be with my 5 month old baby that my husband was too incompetent to raise himself with his incompetent family

I heard a voice say “ you place so much importance on money and bills. there’s so much more to your life than that” I felt a sensation of calm come over me and I knew I was going to survive my car accident

It was the greatest day of my life. I’m pretty sure god talked to me.

I am a believer out of love not fear. To fear god is to respect god which I do also

Diotrephes · 70-79, M

@DeluxedEdition Thanks for sharing such an intimate story. I'm glad that you were able to overcome such large difficulties. May you continue to find peace and happiness all the days of your life. Sometimes the burden can get awfully heavy but always have faith that you will overcome your difficulties.

DeluxedEdition · 26-30, F

@Diotrephes yes, absolutely ❤️

Carazaa · F

@Diotrephes ❤️ 🙏 Finally a positive comment coming from you 😘 Thank you!

Carazaa · F

@DeluxedEdition Thank you so much for sharing! May God richly bless you! ❤️🙏🤗

LadyGrace

@DeluxedEdition Exactly. That was a lovely testimony and I really enjoyed it. Thank you for that.

LadyGrace

@Diotrephes wow did your personality change all the sudden! Here you just were over at my post trolling me and now you have a gentle heart? Very funny.

Diotrephes · 70-79, M

@LadyGrace I try to look at all angles.

LadyGrace

@Diotrephes Really. You haven't fooled me, the way I see you troll Christians.

Diotrephes · 70-79, M

@LadyGrace I support my opinions by citing passages right out of the Bible. The problem you have may be that you have never analyzed the Bible in a critical way. You may read it but it's obvious that you don't make a habit of really thinking about it.

If you have any questions about any passage or idea expressed in the Bible ask me and I will gladly give you my analysis. You may or may not find it useful but I won't BS you.

Are you willing to engage?

LadyGrace

@Diotrephes I think over the last 50 years of knowing and loving God, and studying all those years, I've delved pretty deep.

There's a lot of people that read and take verses right out of the Bible, but some still remain false teachers and some don't even know God. They do it out of habit. Even the devil knows the Word of God backwards and forwards, but he's not saved. He can even quote scripture, probably anyone we want right off the top of his head, but he's still not saved and he's still not going to heaven. Any follower of Christ, knows that it is the Holy Spirit that interprets the Bible for us. These are not our own "ideas" and I have no reason to doubt God's Word, because he's no liar. He is incapable of sinning. I have no idea how you can quote bible verses to me and then claim in your headline that God is an imaginary diety. You may read it, but it's obvious, you don't make a habit of really thinking about it. 😉 You want to tell me why you read the Bible, again? You contradict yourself.

Diotrephes · 70-79, M

@LadyGrace I read the Bible because it is very good literature. The storytellers and writers did a very good job. They based all of their stories in the Old and New testaments on one or more of the real Ten Commandments found in Exodus 34:11-28. The biblical miracles are based on Exodus 34:10.

They also included countless clues that it was all an elaborate hoax and just a fancy prank. Since no one outside of the committee knew any better and there was nothing written to contradict their story, people still believe it 1,300 years later. Very few people actually bother to read the Bible and even fewer analyze it. It is very hard to read a paper copy because because you can't see how it all relates. Most of what you read just goes over your head without a second thought. It is much better to read it on a computer where you can find an idea in all of the verses and compare it in all of the different versions.

But, most people rely on silly Hollywood movies and ignorant lying preachers for their information about what the Bible says. So, they remain clueless.

Peterpaul17 · 36-40, M

@DeluxedEdition I vote it to marked as the Best Comment.

DeluxedEdition · 26-30, F

@DeluxedEdition people will ask you why you believe in god and then downvote you for it 😂😂😂

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Carazaa · F

@DeluxedEdition Thank you for your witness, beautiful story! God puts us through fire to refine us just like Gold. How can we love people if we have never been through hard times? Or understand what other people are going through? God has strengthened you! And he has equipped you for service. Our lives are about serving others. God will take care of your bills if you put him first. "My own will never beg for bread he says"
God bless you!