> > Fear is a terrible and scarring thing, a violence upon the mind, and it is difficult for me to see anything done solely out of fear of obliteration as anything but a traumatic experience. Consider a woman who accepts her husband's touch because it brings them both joy, but accepts a rapist's touch because she is terrified to resist. That, to me, is the difference.
> >
> > -Cynthia
>
> I don't really have anything to say about deism or religion in general or the quotation in question. However, I would like to make a comment about fear, as it is currently understood. I think fear is one of the most valuable "emotions" one can possess. However, in our society it seems that fear has been trivialized to the point that, far too often, one who possesses it for reasons other than recreation is looked down upon as weak or squeamish. However, we have a fear response for a reason. Fear is a defense mechanism. To cite the previous example, one would be afraid of a rapist because they pose a threat of physical harm. The fear response is there to warn us of impending danger, and to cause us to react as quickly as possible. Fear is good. Now, that is not to say that those things of which one may be afraid are not scarring. Certainly, should a woman not be able to overcome the attack of a rapist, she would suffer emotional and physical scarring. However, her fear response is in place, not to cause her harm, but to prevent it if possible. Had there been no fear of the man or the situation it could have made it easier for the attack to be successful. Which is why we think of people putting themselves in harms way without reason as stupid, not brave. In short, although the cause of fear may not be, fear itself is a good thing.
>
> Shan-how this relates to the previous topic, I don't know-dar

Even *what* causes fear within us is culturally constructed. There are cultures (the Yanomamo (sp?) in Brazil, for instance) in which rape does not even exist, not because nobody does it, but because it doesn't mean the same thing. It's actually quite commonplace, but nobody really thinks it's all that bad of an occurence. It doesn't inspire fear.

Even death doesn't inspire fear within everyone. Triggers for emotional responses are in large part culturally constructed. I have yet to really see an example presented in which "love" is proven to be inherently better than "fear", and not because a culture/society/morality system says so. I just think that it's a personal value judgment as to whether fear or love is a better means of attaining a specified end.

And before it looks as though I'm arguing in *favor* of fear, or spouting off as though a convert to relativism, I think there *is*, of course, an absolute standard by which we can answer that question, that being God, of course. And He seems to be a big fan of love.

TOM