Quote Originally Posted by thir View Post
Historicallly speaking the fear of Hell has been a great factor through Medieval times in many countries. The fear of being involved in someone else's sins (and go to Hell by that route) could make for persecution and cruelty. Also later, during Puritan rule.

In this day and age, all I can say is that in the programs I have seen here (in UK) about Christians, fear of Hell has loomed large. Hence 'god-fearing'.

One program about coporal punishments for children down to 2 years old was explained by the families that it was better to beat them severely now, than risk them going to Hell if their behavior displeased god.

Other programs were likewise based on FEAR. To my great surprise, actually.

Of course not all Christianity or Christians think like this, but that was what the ones interviewed chose to focus on.
No surprises here...the idea of being punnished in the afterlife for miss-deeds done today or the use of negative reinforcment as a means of political control over a populace is nothing new and was preveleant in allmost every corner of the globe long before monotheism and christianity rose to the stage, predating even agriculture.