In a quick count of the Old Testament, I see 74 times that fear is mentioned as the key to worshiping the Lord. I will just list one " the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge"(proverbs 1:7). Any religion based on fear as it's basis for knowledge, is a religion not worth following. If we are to do good only because we fear punishment, it is a sorry thing indeed. Rather, we should do good for the sake of good alone.
But you say that's the Old testament, what about the new? Only twice in the new testament is the fear of the lord mentioned, ( Acts 9:31 and 19:17) reinforcing the old message of fear, but instead the eternal punishment of hell is mentioned at least 19 times. The fear of God is still there except his punishment has been moved from this life to the next. The message of Jesus was love, not fear, and as Jesus said outside of love there is no law.
Consider what a early church father St. Augustine said;
" The first step to wisdom is fear. We should be led by the fear of God. This fear will of necessity excite in us the thought of our own morality and of the death that is before us." That my friend is exactly what the teachings about hell are; stories to excite in us our own fears. Instead, listen to what Kierkegaard has to say on this;
"Wouldst thou learn to fear, learn then to fear not the severity of justice but the greatness of love, for love pierces far more deeply then justice."
Christianity is based on fear and is a false religion.
-the Students.
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