Does Human Nature Need to "Fear God"?

[_sock puppet]

Are the golden rule and the basic notions of empathy and charity so unattractive in their own rights to humans, that we need 'fear of God' to keep civil, to keep from killing, raping, maiming, etc. each other at levels significantly higher than with 'fear of God'?

Fear of God seemed to work just that effect on mankind in Old Testament times.

In New Testament times, 'do unto others' and grace and mercy were introduced.

Mormonism harkens more, in my opinion, to Old Testament theology than New Testament. Mormonism has a strong dose of 'fear of God', 'wrath of God', etc than the general U.S.A. population, and the Mormon subpopulation seems to have lower rates of violent crimes (I could be wrong, but that is how it seems). If the Mormon subpopulation does have a lower violent crime rate, how much of that lower rate is due to a stronger 'fear of God' notion in the Mormon thought processes?

[_Quasimodo]

Are the golden rule and the basic notions of empathy and charity so unattractive in their own rights to humans, that we need 'fear of God' to keep civil, to keep from killing, raping, maiming, etc. each other at levels significantly higher than with 'fear of God'?

Fear of God seemed to work just that effect on mankind in Old Testament times.

In New Testament times, 'do unto others' and grace and mercy were introduced.

Mormonism harkens more, in my opinion, to Old Testament theology than New Testament. Mormonism has a strong dose of 'fear of God', 'wrath of God', etc than the general U.S.A. population, and the Mormon subpopulation seems to have lower rates of violent crimes (I could be wrong, but that is how it seems). If the Mormon subpopulation does have a lower violent crime rate, how much of that lower rate is due to a stronger 'fear of God' notion in the Mormon thought processes?

"God Fearing". That term seems to have always had a positive connotation, especially in western movies. As in "Good, God fearing people". I never understood it. Why should we fear God? Why does that make us good?

[_sock puppet]

Are the golden rule and the basic notions of empathy and charity so unattractive in their own rights to humans, that we need 'fear of God' to keep civil, to keep from killing, raping, maiming, etc. each other at levels significantly higher than with 'fear of God'?

Fear of God seemed to work just that effect on mankind in Old Testament times.

In New Testament times, 'do unto others' and grace and mercy were introduced.

Mormonism harkens more, in my opinion, to Old Testament theology than New Testament. Mormonism has a strong dose of 'fear of God', 'wrath of God', etc than the general U.S.A. population, and the Mormon subpopulation seems to have lower rates of violent crimes (I could be wrong, but that is how it seems). If the Mormon subpopulation does have a lower violent crime rate, how much of that lower rate is due to a stronger 'fear of God' notion in the Mormon thought processes?

"God Fearing". That term seems to have always had a positive connotation, especially in western movies. As in "Good, God fearing people". I never understood it. Why should we fear God? Why does that make us good?

I think it has more 'good' effect on behavior than on motivations.