Fear of hell (which is fear of God) may be the driving force behind radicalism.
When we introduce liberalization and freedom there is often a backlash.
This backlash is motivated by fear of hell.
Usually more conservative religious people are terrified that we will all go to hell.
So they use violence and hatred to force us to return to moral purity.
But this violence and hatred betrays its origin in fear.
God does not use violence or hatred.
God loves us.
And "perfect love casts out fear" 1 John 4:18 (NRSV)
[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.]
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