Figured this would be a good place to put this since it would ruffle a feather or two and well,who cares at this moment!

I was flipping thru the channels a bit ago and ran across Joyce Meyers doing her morning thing, no prob, but what was a prob was the sentence I heard.

''The purpose of our lives is to fear, revere and obey God.''

BULLSHIT

At what pioint in what time would any 'loving Father' wish for his children to fear him? To Revere him? let alone  thoughtless, mindless obey him?

IMHO if we are created of Divinve essence then would we not then be living a life fearing our own Self?

Not enough time to rant any longer, but feel free to chime in, one way or another.

Toodles!

Long time I do not come in, really in trouble with a new life project (Laundry), since hubby lost his plant....oh well.
Sure enough I do not agree with the sentence! Although my english is not the best, guess everybody should teach children that love is around and they do not have to fear anything but their own attitudes.
Mecia

I was lead to believe we were all created equal in gods image.  If thats the case what the hell is going on in the world. If created as equal there would be no need to fear,  etc.

I agree Novia no truly loving father would want his child to Fear, Revere him.  

No it is a very confusing thing.

Kath

I am of the theory that we live in a "power through" not a "power over" state. I believe we should live in harmony with our Lord and Lady in balance as to favor Both not just one. I have known too many that embraces just the Lady and not the Lord or vice-versy. The catholics believe that if they can control things through fear and guilt, but I personally dont agree with that. I believe in balance and harmony. But that is just my humble opinion.

Way back, a long time ago, I heard a sermon where the priest tried to explain that "fearing the Lord" did not mean to be afraid of something, but .......how did he put it?..........something about loving someone so much that you didn't want to ........ever oppose or contradict.......what the heck was it?........anyway, it was so convoluted and pedantic and it didn't make any sense!  But the understanding I came away with was that you give away your personal power to question (much less disagree) and obey completely and you'll be ok!        I am leary of any religion where they have to explain their dogma in such a complicated way that you don't know what the heck they're talking about......kinda sounds like a sketchy used car salesman    

Its the dregs of a church run society of old...(did I say "of old?").  Back when the Church was large and in charge, they had to make sure the peasantry feared the lord because, of course, it was the same as fearing the church, and what better way to keep the peons in control than to make sure they were all shakin' in their boots.  Nowadays, the xstians have no idea that that is what its all about, and they do follow blindly.  They are even told that it is sinful to question it.

Novia, you are so right. Nothing But Straight up BULLSHIT  (Shitfan)
we call them  "Chase ya down,tie ya up,and slap you around until you believe their way people"
I think it's really quiet sad. I'm really thankful I know my truth it took a long time but for me the glimmer of light came from the BULLSHIT

Have a Blessed Day
Bri

I'm not sure I will get this completely correct.  I do, however, still have some church-going friends.   From what I understand (and remember)  For them,  what saves them from going to hell, is the "grace" of their God.  His compassion and forgiveness.  because to them everyone is bad and does evil things.  there's no way to avoid that.  or to stop from doing it completely. So, everyone is to "fear" what God could do...take away his grace.  It doesn't sound like such a big thing to me, but I am sure that If you are caught up in their system of beliefs then you understand that Fear is what keeps in you in line and keeps you Christian.  Fear of hell, eternal damnation, being away from your God.  Oh, what else have I heard.. after you die you wouldn't see your family again because you weren't "Saved".
  As long as Christianity can get people to believe everything bad in this world that people do comes from that first act of sin (you know, the apple thing with adam and eve that carries sin down through generations to every man and woman )  then they have a way to keep you God-fearing.

so...anyone around here watch the news? how much do you fear and obey? (clue)

I am leary of a faith that says that they are the true path and turns around and says it is a sin to be vain. Isnt thinking that you have the only truth and everyone else is evil, a vain concept? When pointed out to most christians they just say it is a matter of perspective. I dont think so it is just a matter of arrogence and self imposed pride. To turn a blind eye to the crimes invoked in the name of your faith and labeling your victims as "sinners" is Vanity and Arrogence in the extreme...

— corum wrote

When pointed out to most christians they just say it is a matter of perspective.

Yep...THEIR perspective!!

That is one thing I love about the pagan community in general. We all can have a differant perspective on differant paths and we can learn from each other. Now, I have met some extremists in our community, but they are few and inbetween. We embrace each other and have a true kinship. Some may say we are unorganized and lack structure but faith ultimately is a personal thing. You can have a group of like mind people to strenghen that spiritual connection but ultimately it is up to the individual on how they fit in The Great Circle. Unfortunately certain religious factions dictate you have to worship a certain way and if you dont you are evil and deserve to die. Heck Christians fight among themselves and kill each other over little details in their cermonies. If they would stop and listen to us they just might find we have a few ideals in common. For instence, we believe in love and peace, well they supposedly support that theory. We do have a judgement of sorts when comes to our actions, ie. the threefold rule. I personally believe in karma as well. Yes, I know it is an Eastern belief but that is the beauty of our faith, we can interconnect other aspects of other faiths and work with our own. Thus making our faith a personal journey and we can share and exchange our ideas and learn from them thus making us stronger...

but they will not learn from us, because they have been taught that we are their devil, literally, that nature worship is the gateway to some horrific eternal hell (show a christian a pentagram...), and looking within for answers will compromise your soul and mental state.

I know the idea of fearing and obeying "God" seems old and outdated to us walking the pagan path, but the idea of control through fear mongering and limited information is still alive and strong. The media really is a "medium" for communication, and as the receiver it is our responsibility to be aware that the sender is not just some obscure entity. Advertising, for example, is a deliberate association (often through fear) of human basic needs with consumerism (if your breath smells the girl won't date you, buy this toothpaste. losing your youthful look and therefore your youth? not ok with that? buy this face smear...). Buy buy buy, consume consume consume, keep em scared and keep em in check. Like Seamonster said, "Back when the Church [govt] was large and in charge, they had to make sure the peasantry [lower-middle class] feared the lord [or whatever] because, of course, it was the same as fearing the church [or whatever], and what better way to keep the peons in control than to make sure they were all shakin' in their boots". As a service to all humanity, DO NOT FORGET THIS!!

It's nothing knew to us who look for truth in nature, but this thread seems to have been born out of a big finger point (in "out of bounds", so i knew what to expect, and mean nothing bad natured towards you, Novia      ) and I wonder if we could learn the obvious lesson (the three fingers pointing back at ourselves)  at hand here. If obeying, fearing, and revering a higher power gets our feathers ruffled, why? How much does it play out in our own daily lives?

It makes me very glad that I am no longer living in that condemnation and fear that Xtianity brought me.