Scripture says: "the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom".
Literal fear, NOT the sugar-coated responses above. They are equivocating. Interpretive relativism. I don't like 'fear' so I'll call it something a little less scary.
Nowhere does scripture support those ideas.
A deity that runs a personal torture chamber? That's scary. Neverending torture for a finite lifetime of finite crimes? That's scary. People growing up believing they have no future because 'its the end times'? That's scary.
A 'holy book' that advocates genocide, rape, slavery, homicide, incest, child murder, brutality toward women? VERY scary.
Scaring children? If you are bad you will roast for all eternity? Scary.
Knocking down towers in the name of (a god)? Bombing abortion clinics? Bombing a protestant pub in Northern Ireland because you're a catholic? Global Jihad? The establishment of a one-world enforced religion? Constant war between Christendom and Islam?
Why be afraid of (a god)? There's plenty enough to be scared about right here on earth; all being done in the name of (a god).
