Fear and Religion

Sigmund Freud wrote that religion is a delusion created by our subconscious mind in its attempt to deal with fear. He taught that humans are subject to three innate fears: the fear of death, the fear of the destructive forces of nature, and fear associated with suffering and the physical demands of life. He believed that humans sublimate these fears by repressing them and then transmuting and redirecting them through the culturally acceptable expression of religion. For Freud, God is nothing more than our subconscious desire for a father figure in the sky to protect us from harm, and heaven is simply our fantasy of a place without labor and suffering.

There is no question that fear plays a role in human social interaction, including many religious beliefs and practices. Consequently, fear has played a role in religion through the ages, but is that all there is to religion? What is the interplay between fear and religion? What role does the reality of pain, suffering and mortality play in religion, and in Christian theology particularly?

Theological Based Fears

Most religions are based on the premise that something is wrong with the world that impedes the realization of our ultimate objective, happiness, which is often viewed in temporalIs a technical term used in theology referring to this mortal physical existence in time as opposed to eternal divine existence outside of time. more terms. Religions generally strive to, 1) explain this human predicament of people aspiring to an ideal temporalIs a technical term used in theology referring to this mortal physical existence in time as opposed to eternal divine existence outside of time. more existence that is beyond their reach, and 2) explain the presence of evil and injustice that plagues every community. Theology is basically the worldview of a religious traditionThis word comes from a Latin term meaning “to hand down,” that originally referred to the teaching of the apostles as handed down in the churches they founded, which led to these churches gaining authority of other locations due to... more regarding the nature and purpose of existence and the fundamental problem that we need to overcome in order to realize our ideal existence.

Eastern religions generally assert that the real problem we deal with is Maya, the universal illusion of reality, and our need to completely reintegrate with the eternal essencethe English word generally used for the Greek term ousia, that is also translated as “being” or “substance” and refers to that which makes something what it is such as human nature is the essence of a human being. This... more to achieve mokshaA Hindu term referring to one’s release from the cycle of existence and realization of the ultimate goal for Hinduism. more or realize the blissful state of nirvanaThe ultimate goal in most Eastern religions referring to the end of the cycle of existence in the phenomenal world. This term in primarily associated with Buddhism, that teaches it is achieved through the extinction of the fire of life... more here and now. IslamIs one of the three Abrahamic religions (Christianity and Judaism the other two) that stresses the importance of the only one true God and man’s forgetfulness as source of sin. The religion was founded by Muhammad in the early 7th... more claims that human forgetfulness is the obstacle we need to conquer. According to Eastern Christianity the problem is our separation from God, while Western Christianity views the problem as sinIs violation to God’s Law, and implicitly includes disobedience to God’s the command to love God and one’s neighbor. See mortal sin, original sin. more.

Religions often relate creation stories that help explain the purpose of existence and what went wrong to cause this mortal human predicament. Traditional Christian theology teaches that an all loving omnipotent God created the universe and everything in it. Because God was good, everything he created was good. However, because humans were created in his image, he gave us a rational mind and free will, which our first parents used to disobey God and introduce sinIs violation to God’s Law, and implicitly includes disobedience to God’s the command to love God and one’s neighbor. See mortal sin, original sin. more, suffering and death into the world. So, God sent his son, Jesus(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 30-33) Also known as Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Savior of the World. He is the founding figure of Christianity and accepted by Christians as the Son of God in the flesh. He taught... more ChristDerived from a Greek term meaning anointed and is equivalent to the word “messiah” from Hebrew roots. The anointing references the act of installing a new king similar to the modern custom of crowning a king, so the term “Christ”... more, to die and save us from death and sinIs violation to God’s Law, and implicitly includes disobedience to God’s the command to love God and one’s neighbor. See mortal sin, original sin. more.

Historical Perspective

In the 5th Century, Augustine(A.D. 354-430) Bishop of Hippo in North Africa, the most influential theologian of the West, known especially for his doctrine of grace, including related doctrines of original sin and predestination. more introduced the concept of original sinThe doctrine developed by Augustine in the late 4th century that all human beings inherit the guilt of Adam’s sin and deserve damnation from birth. This is more than simply being born with a corrupt sinful nature that later leads... more that, according to Augustine(A.D. 354-430) Bishop of Hippo in North Africa, the most influential theologian of the West, known especially for his doctrine of grace, including related doctrines of original sin and predestination. more, all humanity automatically inherits from AdamAccording to Jewish, Christian and Muslim scriptures, Adam was the first human being created by God out of the dust of the earth as the last step of creation. All humans descended from Adam and his wife, Eve, after they... more at birth. Due to this inherited sinIs violation to God’s Law, and implicitly includes disobedience to God’s the command to love God and one’s neighbor. See mortal sin, original sin. more, and subsequent personal sins, everyone is damned to suffer in hell except those whom God has elected to save. We are made right with God–righteousA translation of the Latin term justitia meaning “justice.” For Luther, righteous and justice refer to exactly the same thing, being justified or right in the sight of God independent of our actions. See justification. more and justified–through the atonementA term referring to how Christ’s suffering and death on the cross expiates sin and reconciles humans with God. There are various theories regarding how the atonement of Christ functions, including, ransom theory, substitutional or satisfaction theory, the moral influence... more of ChristDerived from a Greek term meaning anointed and is equivalent to the word “messiah” from Hebrew roots. The anointing references the act of installing a new king similar to the modern custom of crowning a king, so the term “Christ”... more and his graceIs a term used to identify unmerited assistance by God primarily to redeem and transform human beings. In the early and medieval church it also referred to God’s influence throughout existence. Redemptive grace is important to Augustinian theology which has... more that is accessed through the sacraments of the Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more, prayer and good works. Augustine(A.D. 354-430) Bishop of Hippo in North Africa, the most influential theologian of the West, known especially for his doctrine of grace, including related doctrines of original sin and predestination. more taught that the purpose of God’s lawIs a fundamental concept of Luthernism and is contrasted by Luther with the Gospel. For Luther, the law consists of God’s commands regarding how one should live which no one can fully obey. Consequently, the law functions to condemn and... more (commandments) was to terrorize us so that we would seek God’s graceIs a term used to identify unmerited assistance by God primarily to redeem and transform human beings. In the early and medieval church it also referred to God’s influence throughout existence. Redemptive grace is important to Augustinian theology which has... more through prayer.

Fear of eternal torment, resulting from death while in a state of mortal sinIs the Roman Catholic doctrine that various sins are so grave that they kill the new life in Christ that was conferred at baptism, and if a person dies in this state of mortal sin he or she goes to... more, dominated medieval thought. This fear grew in the late Middle Ages to encompass fear of temporary punishment in purgatoryIs the place in Roman Catholic theology where those who die in a state of grace, but not yet clean from the stain of sin, suffer temporal punishment in a purification process. more for venial sins that were not so grievous that they would send one to hell forever. With short life expectancy during the Middle Ages, fear of punishment in the afterlife was a communal anxiety.

The Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more played a huge role in this personal drama and in the economyderived from the Greek term, oikonomia, for “steward” or “household management,” is a term used to describe a plan of salvation through Christ and is not to be confused with the current usage of this word.. In Eastern Orthodox theology,... more of medieval society. Priests were the gate-keepers of the means to escape this torment. They were the only ones who could provide access to God’s graceIs a term used to identify unmerited assistance by God primarily to redeem and transform human beings. In the early and medieval church it also referred to God’s influence throughout existence. Redemptive grace is important to Augustinian theology which has... more through the Churcha term translated from the Greek word “Ecclesia” which means an assembly called together and is sometime translated as a congregation. A church is an organized group of believers who adhere to a set of core beliefs. The Church in... more sacraments. Consequently, penanceIs an old version of the word “repentance,” and refers to: 1) the Catholic sacrament also referred to as Confession where remorseful sinner (the “penitent”) confesses sins to a priest (the “confessor:”) who grants absolution; 2) the activities stipulated by... more and mass became commodities of salvation. Economics is basically a study of societal priorities. Where we spend our money demonstrates what is important to us. In the Middle Ages, salvation was big business. For example, the inhabitants of the small town of WittenbergNorthern German town where Luther taught in its university from 1511 until his death and where the Protestant Reformation began and remained the center of Lutheran Reformation. more, with a population of just four to five thousand people, purchased nine thousand masses in 1519 – two years after Martin LutherMartin Luther (A.D. 1483–1546) German theologian, pastor, professor at the University of Wittenberg, ex-monk, and founding figure of Protestantism. He was known for his doctrine of justification by faith alone and his insistence on distinguishing between Law and Gospel. more posted his ninety-five theses on the church door of this same town. That was over two hundred masses each and every week in this small community. This was a normal practice throughout Europe at the dawn of the Protestant Reformation(A.D. 1517) The Protestant Reformation begins as Martin Luther posts his 95 Theses, largely in response to the widespread abuses caused by the aggressive commercialization of indulgences. more.

Europe was primed for a change when Martin LutherMartin Luther (A.D. 1483–1546) German theologian, pastor, professor at the University of Wittenberg, ex-monk, and founding figure of Protestantism. He was known for his doctrine of justification by faith alone and his insistence on distinguishing between Law and Gospel. more challenged the assumptions undergirding medieval society. Instead of a special ordained class of priests who, for a fee, were the sole conduit to the means of graceIs a term used to identify unmerited assistance by God primarily to redeem and transform human beings. In the early and medieval church it also referred to God’s influence throughout existence. Redemptive grace is important to Augustinian theology which has... more, LutherMartin Luther (A.D. 1483–1546) German theologian, pastor, professor at the University of Wittenberg, ex-monk, and founding figure of Protestantism. He was known for his doctrine of justification by faith alone and his insistence on distinguishing between Law and Gospel. more insisted on a priesthood of all believers. He asserted that God’s graceIs a term used to identify unmerited assistance by God primarily to redeem and transform human beings. In the early and medieval church it also referred to God’s influence throughout existence. Redemptive grace is important to Augustinian theology which has... more alone is what saves us. So, we need to have faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more and confidence in that free gift of graceIs a term used to identify unmerited assistance by God primarily to redeem and transform human beings. In the early and medieval church it also referred to God’s influence throughout existence. Redemptive grace is important to Augustinian theology which has... more. Faith alone, not good works, saves us from the torment of hell, and once a personDerived from the Latin term persona and the Greek term prosopon. It is a technical term in Christian theology for the concept that the Trinity consist of three separate persons united as one essence with one of the persons (the... more is baptized a Christian, doubt becomes his enemy. The challenge we face is anfechtungGerman word for “assault” and is the word Luther used in translating the Latin term tentatio, meaning “temptation.” Luther viewed temptations as an assault by the devil on a person’s soul in an attempt to undermine their faith in Christ.... more, which literally means “attack,” but LutherMartin Luther (A.D. 1483–1546) German theologian, pastor, professor at the University of Wittenberg, ex-monk, and founding figure of Protestantism. He was known for his doctrine of justification by faith alone and his insistence on distinguishing between Law and Gospel. more used it more to mean “temptation” or an assault from the devil raising doubts in our mind regarding our saved status. He insisted that we will be saved if we simply trust in God’s promise of salvation that he extended to us when we were baptized, even as an infant.

LutherMartin Luther (A.D. 1483–1546) German theologian, pastor, professor at the University of Wittenberg, ex-monk, and founding figure of Protestantism. He was known for his doctrine of justification by faith alone and his insistence on distinguishing between Law and Gospel. more adopted Augustine’s idea that the purpose of God’s commandments is to make us realize how impossible it was to keep them, so we would become terrified of hell fire and flee to God’s graceIs a term used to identify unmerited assistance by God primarily to redeem and transform human beings. In the early and medieval church it also referred to God’s influence throughout existence. Redemptive grace is important to Augustinian theology which has... more. Unfortunately, instead of increasing universal piety among his followers, LutherMartin Luther (A.D. 1483–1546) German theologian, pastor, professor at the University of Wittenberg, ex-monk, and founding figure of Protestantism. He was known for his doctrine of justification by faith alone and his insistence on distinguishing between Law and Gospel. more was shocked to discover that many took his teachings to be a license to sinIs violation to God’s Law, and implicitly includes disobedience to God’s the command to love God and one’s neighbor. See mortal sin, original sin. more. This dichotomy did not escape other Christian leaders who liked many of Luther’s ideas, including JohnJohn (c. A.D. 6–100) was a Jewish fisherman, chosen by Jesus to be one of his 12 Apostles, and appears to have developed an especially close bond with Jesus. John outlived the other Apostles and heavily influenced early Christian thinkers... more CalvinJohn Calvin (A.D. 1509-1564) French Protestant theologian who lived most of his adult life in Geneva. He was the most influential figure in Reformed theology and author of the Institutes, the most important systematic theology text of Protestantism. more.

CalvinJohn Calvin (A.D. 1509-1564) French Protestant theologian who lived most of his adult life in Geneva. He was the most influential figure in Reformed theology and author of the Institutes, the most important systematic theology text of Protestantism. more helped form the beliefs of the Reformed traditionThis word comes from a Latin term meaning “to hand down,” that originally referred to the teaching of the apostles as handed down in the churches they founded, which led to these churches gaining authority of other locations due to... more that emphasized the doctrineis derived from the Latin word for teaching, doctrina, and is an important aspect of Christianity more so than other world religions because Christianity focuses on the teachings and nature of Christ. more of predestinationThe Augustinian doctrine that God bestows the grace of salvation on some individuals while assigning others to hell, independent of human choice or actions. This concept was shared by Aquinas, Luther, and John Calvin, with Calvin emphasizing and expanding it... more. According to CalvinJohn Calvin (A.D. 1509-1564) French Protestant theologian who lived most of his adult life in Geneva. He was the most influential figure in Reformed theology and author of the Institutes, the most important systematic theology text of Protestantism. more, some persons were chosen by God to be saved–the elect–while all the rest of humanity is condemned to hell. Free will has nothing to do with one’s salvation. But, even under this theology, fear plays a major role. Were you one of God’s electcomes from the Latin word “to choose” and is used to identify those chosen by God. In the Old Testament, the twelve tribes of Israel are the elect people of God; in many Protestant traditions the elect refers to those... more? How could you know? Calvin taught that one could know if you were saved by experiencing an inner or effectual callis a Calvinist teaching, based on Romans 8:28–30, that God calls his elect and through His grace the Holy Spirit creates true saving faith that perseveres to the end of the elect’s life qualifying the believer for eternal salvation. The... more that changes your heart so that you have saving faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more. Many refer to this born-again experience as conversionThis term is derived from the Latin word for “turning,” and is a theological term that refers to one turning his will from evil to good and is generally used to denote one becoming a Christian and/or joining a particular... more. But, even then, some people who think that they were born again, fall away and lose their faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more. Hence, he taught that they did not receive the gift of perseverance. So, how can one be sure that your conversionThis term is derived from the Latin word for “turning,” and is a theological term that refers to one turning his will from evil to good and is generally used to denote one becoming a Christian and/or joining a particular... more experience produced enduring saving faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more, and not just false temporary faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more? Anxiety regarding the assurance of salvation became a major issue among many Calvinists, particularly the Puritans. They believed that if one had truly been born again, then one would experience the Holy Spirit working in them to produce works of righteousness as fruits of the Spirit. So, they were constantly examining their life, and unfortunately other’s lives as well, to see evidence of these fruits of the Spirit.

This fear of damnation became the major theme of America’s First Great Awakening(A.D. 1740) The influential revival movement known as the First Great Awakening begins to spread throughout New England and endures in various forms for decades. more before the Revolutionary War. Charismatic preachers like George Whitefield(A.D. 16 Dec 1714–30 Sep 1770) George Whitefield was an ordained Anglican clergy who became one of the most popular Evangelist preachers during the 18th Century in both England and America. He often preached outside to thousands of listeners and... more attracted crowds of thousands as they terrified their listeners of the horrors of hell. Jonathan EdwardsJonathan Edwards (A.D. 1703-1758) Puritan minister, Calvinist theologian, the first American theorist of revival, and leader of the Great Awakening in New England. more grabbed peoples’ attention with his allusion of them being a disgusting spider dangling over a fire. Sermons of hellfire and damnation also played a central role in the Second Great awakening a generation later, and continues to influence much of the evangelicalComes from the Greek term, evangelion, and means good news or the Gospel. This term was use in the 16th century to refer to Protestants and is still used this way in Germany to this day. In England and the... more movement today. This influence was is so strong that even some Mormons, who reject the concept of predestinationThe Augustinian doctrine that God bestows the grace of salvation on some individuals while assigning others to hell, independent of human choice or actions. This concept was shared by Aquinas, Luther, and John Calvin, with Calvin emphasizing and expanding it... more, view life primarily as a test to prove our worthiness in order to go the highest degree of heaven.

Fear, Faith and Love

Through the centuries, untold millions have turned to God when faced with the reality of their fallen state. However, Western Christianity’s focus on sinIs violation to God’s Law, and implicitly includes disobedience to God’s the command to love God and one’s neighbor. See mortal sin, original sin. more, justification, and salvation seems to have generated a religious culture based on fear. Each traditionThis word comes from a Latin term meaning “to hand down,” that originally referred to the teaching of the apostles as handed down in the churches they founded, which led to these churches gaining authority of other locations due to... more seems to foster its own particular anxiety. Catholics often are concerned about dying in a state of mortal sinIs the Roman Catholic doctrine that various sins are so grave that they kill the new life in Christ that was conferred at baptism, and if a person dies in this state of mortal sin he or she goes to... more. Lutherans wonder if they truly trust God, and Calvinists question if they have really been born again and have enduring, saving faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more, while many Mormons wonder if they are good enough. Each is concerned about something different, but each is often worried none the less.

This is perplexing because faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more, hope and charitycomes from the Latin word “caritus” that was a translation of the Greek term “agape.”, which refers to a pure love of god and neighbor. It should not be confused with the modern usage of this term which is equivalent... more are the antithesis of fear. As Paul(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 64) Apostle and early Christian missionary, whose letters are the earliest documents contained in the New Testament and thus the first extant writings in Christian theology. more told the Galatians, the fruits of the Spirit include love, joy, faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more and peace (Gal 5:22), which are incompatible with fear. John wrote, “perfect love casteth out fear” (1 JohnJohn (c. A.D. 6–100) was a Jewish fisherman, chosen by Jesus to be one of his 12 Apostles, and appears to have developed an especially close bond with Jesus. John outlived the other Apostles and heavily influenced early Christian thinkers... more 4:18). To some extent, the good news of the gospel is not finding a home in the hearts and minds of many Christians, even some of its most devoted adherents. In all their scurrying about, they have missed the boat. Consequently, they limit the blessings God offers them. This dearth of spiritual blessings gave rise to the charismatic movement in the 20th Century. It is based on the premise that all Christian denominations have the GospelEnglish translation of the Greek term evangelion, used in the New Testament meaning “good news.” This is a central term in Luther’s theology that emphasized the contrast between Law and Gospel. The Law condemn while the Gospel justifies believers through... more, but many followers fail to grasps the full gospel and the blessings it offers. This movement cut across denominational lines, including both Catholics and Protestants, and has now become mainstreamed into evangelicalComes from the Greek term, evangelion, and means good news or the Gospel. This term was use in the 16th century to refer to Protestants and is still used this way in Germany to this day. In England and the... more Protestantism.

The paradox of anxious Christians stems from an over emphasis on sinIs violation to God’s Law, and implicitly includes disobedience to God’s the command to love God and one’s neighbor. See mortal sin, original sin. more, that shifts our focus from ChristDerived from a Greek term meaning anointed and is equivalent to the word “messiah” from Hebrew roots. The anointing references the act of installing a new king similar to the modern custom of crowning a king, so the term “Christ”... more to ourselves. We are all imperfect, so no wonder uncertainty and fear increase. This comes from mistaking an essential concept of Christianity for its central or most important element. Some Christians are blinded by a flash of light in our dark world shrouded by ignorance of eternal truth, and then fail to realize that this ray of truth heralds the dawn of an even brighter day illuminated by a fuller understanding and appreciation of God and his glory. Gleaning truth from all of our Christian traditions can broaden our perspective, increase our understanding, and eliminate fear. Even though it is easy to identify doctrines we disagree with in Christian traditions different from our own, each traditionThis word comes from a Latin term meaning “to hand down,” that originally referred to the teaching of the apostles as handed down in the churches they founded, which led to these churches gaining authority of other locations due to... more still includes ideas that have merit which may increase our understanding and improve our relationship with God. Consider the following concepts.

The Eastern Orthodox traditionThis word comes from a Latin term meaning “to hand down,” that originally referred to the teaching of the apostles as handed down in the churches they founded, which led to these churches gaining authority of other locations due to... more, that predates Augustine(A.D. 354-430) Bishop of Hippo in North Africa, the most influential theologian of the West, known especially for his doctrine of grace, including related doctrines of original sin and predestination. more and his concept of original sinThe doctrine developed by Augustine in the late 4th century that all human beings inherit the guilt of Adam’s sin and deserve damnation from birth. This is more than simply being born with a corrupt sinful nature that later leads... more, teaches redemption centered on unification with God instead of justificationThis term comes from the root Latin word “jus” meaning law or right and “Justus” meaning justice. The words “justification” and “righteous” are different translation of the same Latin word and literally means “becoming just.” The central issue of the... more from sinIs violation to God’s Law, and implicitly includes disobedience to God’s the command to love God and one’s neighbor. See mortal sin, original sin. more. This approach emphasizes one’s spiritual and emotional relationship with deity, even mystical, instead of a rational approach. According to Eastern Orthodox doctrineis derived from the Latin word for teaching, doctrina, and is an important aspect of Christianity more so than other world religions because Christianity focuses on the teachings and nature of Christ. more, the purpose of human existence is theosis (a form of human deification), that is realized through the synergy (or cooperation) of human activity and God’s operations. We become whole, complete, and sanctified through God’s atonementA term referring to how Christ’s suffering and death on the cross expiates sin and reconciles humans with God. There are various theories regarding how the atonement of Christ functions, including, ransom theory, substitutional or satisfaction theory, the moral influence... more which enables us to become unified with God. Under this approach, the focus shifts from sinIs violation to God’s Law, and implicitly includes disobedience to God’s the command to love God and one’s neighbor. See mortal sin, original sin. more and fear to one’s personal connection and relationship with God and feeling his loveIn a theological discussion “love” refers to one’s love for God and neighbor and is often referred to as “charity” or the pure love of God. It does not mean giving alms to the poor. more.

Catholic emphasis on their sacraments as means of graceIs a term used to identify unmerited assistance by God primarily to redeem and transform human beings. In the early and medieval church it also referred to God’s influence throughout existence. Redemptive grace is important to Augustinian theology which has... more provides confidence regarding one’s status with God. Fear is a biproduct of uncertainty, so reliance on the efficacy of the redemptive power of baptismFrom a Greek word meaning “to immerse;” and is an initiatory ritual washing whereby one becomes a member of the Christian community. It involves various symbolic meanings including, cleansing, the death and resurrection of Christ, and a sinners death and... more, penanceIs an old version of the word “repentance,” and refers to: 1) the Catholic sacrament also referred to as Confession where remorseful sinner (the “penitent”) confesses sins to a priest (the “confessor:”) who grants absolution; 2) the activities stipulated by... more, and the Eucharist more is reassuring. Most Protestants don’t realize that Luther’s doctrineis derived from the Latin word for teaching, doctrina, and is an important aspect of Christianity more so than other world religions because Christianity focuses on the teachings and nature of Christ. more is based on this sacramental reliance. Luther’s foundational doctrineis derived from the Latin word for teaching, doctrina, and is an important aspect of Christianity more so than other world religions because Christianity focuses on the teachings and nature of Christ. more is that we can trust God’s promise of absolutionDerived from a Latin word meaning “to loose” and is related to dissolve. Broadly this word is equivalent to forgiveness of sins, but used specifically it it means the priest’s announcement in the Catholic sacrament of Penance that the penitent’s... more which is expressed in these sacraments, in spite of our folly.

However, as children of the Great Lawgiver, we each have an innate sense of justice, so we naturally doubt the efficacy of the promise of these sacraments unless it is accompanied with a knowing and sincere offer of faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more by the participant. This highlights the value of Calvin’s teachings regarding the assurance of salvation realized through the experience of being spiritually born again and feeling the Spirit of God working within you.

Each of these traditions teach unique Christian concepts that, when combined, can lead to a life of peace and confidence instead of doubt and fear. We may not agree with all of the tenets of these divergent faiths, but they each can broaden our understanding and our appreciation of the foundations of our own faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more. This increased faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more helps individuals to feel God’s love which diminishes the fear one feels in this world of uncertainty. How does this approach affect Freud’s innate fears?

Freud’s Three Physical/Temporal Based Fears

Death–The End.

… Or is it? We need to know, for “if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die.” (1 Cor 15:32). “[I]f ChristDerived from a Greek term meaning anointed and is equivalent to the word “messiah” from Hebrew roots. The anointing references the act of installing a new king similar to the modern custom of crowning a king, so the term “Christ”... more be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more is also vain.” (1 Cor 15:14). Not only is the resurrectionThe doctrine that Jesus’ spiritual essence was reunited with his physical body and that other humans will likewise live again with their spirit or soul reunited with their material body. This term does not refer to the doctrine of the... more the foundation of Christian doctrineis derived from the Latin word for teaching, doctrina, and is an important aspect of Christianity more so than other world religions because Christianity focuses on the teachings and nature of Christ. more, it provides a basis for a moral society. If this life is all there is to our personal existence, then nothing else matters except what we each individually want. Established morals no longer exist. If life does not have a purpose but is meaningless, then Paul(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 64) Apostle and early Christian missionary, whose letters are the earliest documents contained in the New Testament and thus the first extant writings in Christian theology. more was right, let’s enjoy what we can get out of life right here and now because tomorrow we die and that is all there is. But, if death is not the end, and we were created for some greater purpose than carnal pleasure, then there are eternal consequences to our actions. If the universe was created then everything is subject to laws set by its creator, the Great Lawgiver.

Moral Relativism

Western society was founded on Judeo-Christian principles of morality which continues to be the foundation of our civil lawIs a fundamental concept of Luthernism and is contrasted by Luther with the Gospel. For Luther, the law consists of God’s commands regarding how one should live which no one can fully obey. Consequently, the law functions to condemn and... more. Arguably, much of the advancement of society can be attributed to this underpinning Christian influence. However, moral relativism has steadily increased and currently is accepted as the primary moral philosophy of modern society. Currently, 75% of America’s college professors teach that there is no such thing as right and wrong. Today, many if not most people believe that right and wrong are not absolutes, but are decided by each personDerived from the Latin term persona and the Greek term prosopon. It is a technical term in Christian theology for the concept that the Trinity consist of three separate persons united as one essence with one of the persons (the... more individually, i.e., morals are relative. This idea of moral relativism is the concept that ethical standards, morality, and views of right and wrong are culturally based and therefore are subject to a person’s individual choice. We can each decide what is right or wrong for ourselves. You decide what’s right for you, and I’ll decide what’s right for me. Consequently, morals vary from one situation or personDerived from the Latin term persona and the Greek term prosopon. It is a technical term in Christian theology for the concept that the Trinity consist of three separate persons united as one essence with one of the persons (the... more to the next. Essentially, moral relativism stands for the proposition that anything goes, because life is ultimately without meaning.

How did our culture transform from a Judeo-Christian morality-based society to an amoral society? It started with the Age of EnlightenmentA broad term for 18th century European intellectual developments, including deism and other movements critical of orthodox Christianity, that are characteristically modern, emphasizing reason against tradition and authority. Refers to the period of intellectual and cultural development in Europe and... more where intellectuals began to question all accepted truth, which is not bad in and of itself. But, through this process they abandoned faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more and replaced it with an assumption that God did not exist and that death was the end. During this time, the philosopher Baruch SpinozaBaruch Spinoza (A.D. 1632–1677) was a Jewish-Dutch philosopher. Spinoza employed many of the concepts of Medieval scholastics with the Cartesian method of reasoning to present a radically reformed concept of God and humanity’s relation to God. more (1632-1677), who I greatly admire in many other respects, taught that nothing was inherently good or bad. Later, the philosopher Friedrich NietzscheFriedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900), declared that God is dead, and the intellectuals of his day had killed him. With the death of God, nihilism was born. more (1844-1900) declared that “God is dead,” and that moral values are relative to each individual’s goals. American anthropologist William Sumner (1840-1910) argued in his 1906 work Folkways that what people consider right and wrong is shaped completely by the traditions, customs, and practices of their culture. Anthropologist Ruth Benedict(c. A.D. 2 Mar 480–21 Mar 547) also known as Saint Benedict of Nurcia. He is credited with founding modern monasticism through his written rule for life in a monastery called the Benedictine Rule, which became a model for other monastic orders. more (1887–1948) cautioned social scientists against using the standards of their own culture to evaluate their subjects. She insisted that universal morals do not exist but that each society constructs their own customs and morals. Then, Finnish philosopher-anthropologist Edward Westermarck (1862–1939) articulated a detailed theory of moral relativism. He viewed all moral ideas as subjective judgments that reflect one’s upbringing. He claimed that the differences in beliefs among societies proved that there was no innate, intuitive moral compass. To him, moral judgments can only be deemed correct when viewed relative to some particular point of view (for instance, that of a culture or an historical period) and that no standpoint is uniquely privileged over any other, so no trans-cultural judgment regarding the correctness of a culture’s morals could possibly be justified. Any appeal to any standard would always be merely personal or at most societal. All of these ideas are based on Nietzsche’s premise, God is dead and there is no personal existence after death.

But, are standards of right and wrong mere products of time and culture? Is morality really just a neutral concept? Certainly, if there is life after death then there is more to our existence than the transitory desires of mortal life. An afterlife presupposes a creator or some universal force that brings meaning to life. Purpose creates priorities from which morality is established. If the only purpose in life is simply to satisfy individual desires then morality is subjective and relative to individual and cultural perspectives. But, if there is a God and life serves his greater purpose then there are objective moral standards that apply across cultures and individual positions, whether people accept these standards or not.

Contrary to Westermarck’s proposition that varying beliefs prove that there can be no universal moral standard, each of us has a conscious and knows what is right and wrong regarding basic moral issues. We each know that it is better to hug a child than to torture a child for some sick hedonistic pleasure. Of course, some priorities are simply preferences based on time, culture, and individual tastes and really have nothing to do with moral standards. Additionally, every culture corrupts the inner moral voice of its citizens in various ways. Yet, there still exists a universal God-given moral compass inside each of us that guides us when dealing with eternal ethical issues. This is one of the major arguments C.S. Lewis makes regarding religion and why he converted from atheism to Christianity. The very concept of morality would not even exist unless we had a moral compass. It would not mean anything to us just as we would have no idea of darkness unless there were light. He further argues that we each become annoyed with others when they ignore this innate moral code and concept of fairness. We demand, “How would you like it if someone did that to you?”

On the other hand, moral relativists are moral nihilists, otherwise they are incoherent. Moral relativists either have to reject any discussion regarding normative morality or concede that all disagreeing parties to the argument are correct. In order to attempt to maintain a coherent argument, moral relativists either have to deny the existence of morality or redefine morality. Interestingly, often the very people who dispute the existence of God and moral absolutes are the ones who feel the most entitled and demand that others give them their “fair share” of what life has to offer. On one hand they deny any restrictive application of morality on themselves while they appeal to our innate moral compass to demand benefits from society. They just can’t really ignore the reality of our innate moral sense of justice we all inherit from our Father-in-Heaven, the Great Lawgiver.

Societal Ills

All fear is based on uncertainty and loss. So, when you combine moral relativism with Freud’s remaining two fears, 1) the destructive forces of nature, and 2) the fear caused by the physical demands of life, you are left with a society ruled by selfishness, which destroys civility, the essencethe English word generally used for the Greek term ousia, that is also translated as “being” or “substance” and refers to that which makes something what it is such as human nature is the essence of a human being. This... more of civilization.

A significant aspect of this temporalIs a technical term used in theology referring to this mortal physical existence in time as opposed to eternal divine existence outside of time. more world is the introduction or emphasis of limited resources. Because our memory is limited to our experiences from birth until death, time appears finite and becomes extremely valuable. Likewise, material seems finite so we value material things. Even art that is primarily tied to our emotions becomes more valuable if it is part of a limited edition. This perception of a finite world creates the setting for our selfish tendencies to have greater sway than in a purely spiritual eternal realm. Thus, this temporalIs a technical term used in theology referring to this mortal physical existence in time as opposed to eternal divine existence outside of time. more existence naturally creates a situation where we are enticed by both good and evil, loveIn a theological discussion “love” refers to one’s love for God and neighbor and is often referred to as “charity” or the pure love of God. It does not mean giving alms to the poor. more and selfishness. This physical environment enables us to make choices and exercise our agency. Through this process of making decisions and learning from our actions, we have an opportunity to grow and become more like God or become carnal and selfish.

Western society has generally accepted the idea of moral relativism and consequently has abandoned many traditional Judeo-Christian values and replaced them with ever changing politically correct rules. And, in the process, traditional moral values fall and people begin to “call good evil, and evil good.” Throughout Europe churches have become museums; around the world families are disintegrating while casual sex runs rampant; inter-cities in the United States have become war zones between rival gangs and the police; and “The United States is experiencing an epidemic of drug overdose (poisoning) deaths.” When we abandon a principle-based society we end up with competing groups of self-interested individuals wrestling over what benefits they can grab from each other. In many regards, society is disintegrating as it abandons religion in fulfillment of William McGuffe statement in his textbook that was a mainstay of America’s public-school system for nearly 100 years from the early 1800’s until the 1920’s:

“Erase all thought and fear of God from a community, and selfishness and sensuality would absorb the whole man. Appetite, knowing no restraint, and suffering, having no solace or hope, would trample in scorn on the restraints of human laws. Virtue, duty, principle, would be mocked and spurned as unmeaning sounds. A sordid self-interest would supplant every feeling; and man would become, in fact, what the theory in atheism declares him to be–a companion for brutes.”

The finality of death is a reality we all face and most fear. The lack of faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more in an afterlife creates the great natural fear, death, which leads to moral relativism, a root cause of many societal ills. We are eye witnesses of the truth that without the counter-balancing influence of faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more, society devolves and people become carnal, sensual, selfish, full of greed, avarice and violence. On top of the individual pain and suffering inflicted on humanity when people abandon their moral moorings, immoral behavior is a drain on society. Just think of all of the expense incurred to secure property with locks, bars, fences, alarms and security guards. Imagine the blessing to society if more of the bright minds of attorneys, accountants and engineers were spent creating wealth instead of dealing with disputes, exploring tax loopholes and conducting audits to verify the truth of statements, or implementing cyber-security measures to repel thieves. The more a society abandons morality the more it needs to spend to protect its citizens and their assets.

Even so, individuals still try to placate their moral compass by pretending that moral relativism is “more fair” than our traditional stance on morality. In a 2002 column, FoxGeorge Fox (A.D. Jul 1624–13 Jan 1691) Founder of the Religious Society of Friends, more commonly known as Quakers. more News commentator Bill O’Reilly asked, “Why is it wrong to be right?” O’Reilly states the problem with moral relativists is that “they see the world not as it is, but as they want it to be.” They fail to live in reality. Pilate’s rhetorical question, “What is truth?” reverberates down through the ages causing earthquakes in the lives of those who ignore it or fail to answer it correctly. Truth is what actually was and how things actually are. Unfortunately, individuals and society suffer as they abandon the time-tested mores of history.

Religion is the Cure to Our Communal Disease

Freud was correct in identifying the existence of these three natural fears and that many religions are vain attempts to deal with them. But Freud failed to recognize that our neurosisIn psychoanalysis developed by Freud, it refers to the expression of an unconscious psychic conflict through mental or physical disturbances. more, created by these primal fears, is the geneses of many societal ills, and that religion provides the cure to this communal disease.

Paradoxically, Sears, that was the largest retailer in the world at the time of the advent of internet commerce because it was built on the legacy of catalog sales, missed the impact of on-line shopping. Today Sears is bankrupt. Similarly, Freud, missed three innate psychological fears identified by David Viscott: the fear of loss of loveIn a theological discussion “love” refers to one’s love for God and neighbor and is often referred to as “charity” or the pure love of God. It does not mean giving alms to the poor. more, loss of esteem, and loss of control. These three psychological fears of dealing with rejection, abandonment, loss of personal value, and the of lack of control over one’s world and destiny probably play a greater role in our human dynamic than Freud’s three temporalIs a technical term used in theology referring to this mortal physical existence in time as opposed to eternal divine existence outside of time. more fears. Regardless, all of these fears combine to create a societal neurosisIn psychoanalysis developed by Freud, it refers to the expression of an unconscious psychic conflict through mental or physical disturbances. more that leads to destructive behavior of greed and selfishness. Religion is the cure to this negative behavior because it offers an eternal perspective that eliminates fear based on the uncertainty created by the limitations of a temporalIs a technical term used in theology referring to this mortal physical existence in time as opposed to eternal divine existence outside of time. more world, while it simultaneously connects individuals with the loveIn a theological discussion “love” refers to one’s love for God and neighbor and is often referred to as “charity” or the pure love of God. It does not mean giving alms to the poor. more of God to shrink or eliminate the psychological fears created by a loss of love while being raised in this imperfect world. Much of the stability and desirability of Western culture stems from its Christian heritage. It is worth our time, energy and resources to understand the historical Judeo-Christian moorings of civil modern society.

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