the emotion motivating fundamentalists of all stripes . . .

[OneBlueSky]

is fear . . .

secular or religious . . . Christian or Muslim . . . doesn't matter, it's all the same . . .

some theology suggests that humans are capable of only two emotions: love, and fear . . . all other positive emotions are merely subsidiary to the former, all negative emotions (including hate) to the latter . . .

and the bottom line is . . .

where one exists, the other cannot . . .

fundamentalists are afraid, mainly of deprivation . . . of their prejudices, of their "place" in society, of their cultural heritage, of their religious beliefs, of their material possessions . . .

but most of all, they are afraid of those different from themselves . . . the "others" . . . anyone motivated by love rather than fear is a threat to them, and therefore the enemy . . .

those motivated by love, on the other hand, believe that we live in an abundant Universe, with enough to meet the needs of everyone . . . if only our abundance were evenly -- or even fairly -- distributed . . . and not hoarded by those living in fear and controlling vast amounts that abundance . . .

those who let fear rule their lives are, by definition, cowards . . . but, afraid of being identified as cowards, they tell themselves (and others) that THEY are the ones operating out of love . . . they are GOOD Christians! . . . or GOOD Muslims! . . . or GOOD Americans! . . . or GOOD whatevers . . .

and to whom do they turn for leadership? . . . why, to the biggest cowards of them all . . . the ones with the least love in their hearts, and the most fear in their souls . . .

[ThoughtCriminal]

1. Heck - mostly they're afraid of death

They want to live forever in a that Big Vacation Resort in the Sky.

[applegrove]

2. I agree there is alot of fear. I don't agree that all religious vote

for the wrong reasons. Some vote because they really do want people to find god. Some really do have a problem with abortion - which is okay. In my world - you have a choice on how you see that. Some really do feel that they can do great stuff for people - especially the ones who work every day to help others and don't give up and walk away as soon as the crisis is over.

I just wish they would see that poverty was never fought so well or reduced so much as when governments finally took some of that bible teaching and set an agenda to help the sick or the vulnerable and give them the basics.

You cannot lump everyone the same.

But I agree that with Bush - a certain portion of their following is about hate & fear. Not love.

[FM Arouet666]

3. Amen

But I would add that fear is not a necessary component of secular thinking, but is always an integral component of religious thought.

Without the fear of punishment, would anyone believe?

Mankind realized very early that fear is probably the strongest emotions, so tactfully utilized through history, by the framers of the Bible and the Koran to Hitler, Stalin and yes, our very own G.W. Bush.

[Qibing Zero]

5. Without the fear, would anyone believe? Very few.

Anyone who actually takes the religion into perspective would most likely reject it. Remove the fear of punishment and you're left with a god or gods whom you are supposed to worship simply because they exist. Considering most religions describe a higher power that is not exactly the epitome of human enlightenment, there would be little reason for most to worship.

[FlemingsGhost]

4. Wise words, OBS.

For what its worth, I'd like to add:

Anger is fear

Denial is suffering

Acceptance is love

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. A Course in MIracles

goes into the love/fear concept, and it, along with other mystical schools of thought, goes beyond it to say that fear really doesn't exist-it is a shadow of love. That doesn't mean that it doesn't feel real, that it can't be very very scary, that it is easy to dismiss fear from one's life.

[The Kicker]

10. Here is a relevant quote.

A Course in Miracles:

For there is but one mistake; the whole idea that loss is possible, and could result in gain for anyone.

If God is just, then can there be no problems that justice cannot solve. But you believe that some injustices are fair and good, and necessary to preserve yourself. It is these problems that you think are great and cannot be resolved. For there are those you want to suffer loss, and no one whom you wish to be preserved from sacrifice entirely. Consider once again your special function. One is given you to see in him his perfect sinlessness. And you will ask no sacrifice of him because you could not will he suffer loss.

ACIM Chapter 26 section II pgs. 544 545

[Kailassa]

7. big daddy

A belief in god does not have to entail fear. Any god worth believing in would be a sort of parent, and common sense tells you that a half-way decent parent will be more concerned with how you treat your brothers and sisters than whether you believe that parent really exists.

And as for believing in a god who'd send someone to hell for eternity ... well I look at Bush asking "what went wrong", and Babs laughing about how much better off the drome-dwellers are now, and can only hope.

[unless]

8. You know, I'm a fundamentalist...

Inerrancy of the Bible, creationist, Noah really rode a boat.

And yet, I came to be a liberal (or at least a moderate liberal) all on my own. So is my sister, so is my mom.

I think, rather than pigeonhole us all as mindless sheep, we take a broader look at the draw of conservativism.

I have to say I have met my share of liberal kooks too.
:tinfoilhat:

[Southpaw Bookworm]

9. To quote my bumper sticker

"Religion if for people afraid of going to hell; spirituality is for those who have been there."

[The Kicker]

11. It can also be said that peace and fear cannot coexist.

The inducement of fear is critical to those who seek power and selfish financial gain. It could be said that this physical world would not seem to exist without fear. When we identify ourselves as bodies and personalities we cannot avoid thoughts of "self" preservation. It is only in seeing our interests as shared that we can move beyond fear,IMHO.