There are many references to fear in the New Testament. I have picked out seven applicable texts. The Greek word translated fear in each case is phobeo. It is a strong word which could perhaps be better translated 'terrify'. "Do not fear those who kill the body.... Rather fear (be terrified of) him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matt. 10:28 ), "His mercy is for those who fear (are terrified of) him from generation to generation." (Luke 1:50 ), "I warn you whom to fear; fear (he terrified of) him, who after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell." (Luke 12:5), " Samaria had peace and was built up, living in the fear (terror) of the Lord." (Acts 9:31 ), "God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears (is terrified of) him and does what is right is acceptable to him." (Acts 10:34 -5), "Do not become proud but stand in awe (in terror) of God...perhaps he will not spare you." (Rom. 11:20 ), "Making holiness perfect in the fear( terror) of God." (2 Corin.7:1).

Please note that Mark, the first Gospel written, does not try to frighten its readers into a belief in an eternal hell. There are two words in the New Testament which have been translated as Hell. The first is hades which means the unseen world but this word was not used in Mark. The second word is Gehenna which is the name of a valley near Jerusalem where the city rubbish was burned. (Mark 9:43-47) The rubbish included the bodies of animals, criminals and those who had no one to bury them. This adds a different light to the illustration that Jesus was supposed to be teaching.

Fear of hell plays a strong part in influencing those who have been taught as children or believe in the Judgment Seat of God.

Fear is a negative destructive force. What a poor and irrational basis on which to build a religion. Take fear out of religion and religion would soon disappear.

The Bible story of Jesus is said to be a story of love. But the story is backed up with a Christian threat of a never ending punishment in hell for not believing in Jesus. It is difficult to know which idea has the more power in winning followers, the love of Jesus or the fear of Hell! Science has taught us that doubt is a good and necessary activity in seeking truth. Religion discards the need for proof and asks us to just believe without proof. We were taught that the Bible was the inerrant word of God, now we find that at least some of it, is a copy of ancient myths of Mesopotamia .

Today, the many pagan gods have been reduced to one God. The Christian idea of a triune Godhead of Father, Son and Holy Ghost is ridiculous. It first became church doctrine in 325 A.D. at an assembly of over 200 bishops, chaired by the Roman Emperor Constantine. There are also many agencies such as angels, devils, priests, evangelists, nuns and many more.

As J.M. Robertson says in 'Pagan Christs* "Fear made the gods. In primitive times fear of the unknown was normal... .Magic and religion are interconnected because both have evolved from an animistic (latin; life force) view of nature." There is no proof of God or another life after death. There is no proof that there is a Heaven or a Hell.

Professor lan Plimer, Chair of Geology,

University of Melbourne , in correspondence with me states, "There is such an overwhelming volume of verifiable information from history, archaeology and even geology to show that Christianity is just another superstition clinging onto myths stolen from other cultures."

There are associations of Christian and other religions, which provide a comfortable group attraction and family feelings. The singing of hymns and friendliness of an inner group is attractive to many. If you withdraw from some churches, it is usual that you will be cut off and treated like an enemy as indeed I was. James Baldwin, an influential American Negro author of many books, brought up with a Pentecostal Church background had this to say, "There is no love in the church. It was a mask for self-hatred and despair .....Salvation stopped at the church door. When we were told to love everybody I thought it meant everybody. But no. It applied only to those who believed as we did."

The Bible tells us that God is love. But it can never explains how the innocent millions who have never heard the name of Jesus yet suffer from what is usually called 'Acts of God'. They suffer famines, plagues and calamities of all kinds. How can one love such an unloving God who can destroy the innocent indiscriminately? Something is seriously wrong with religion.

I hear you say "what about Christian ethics and loving one's neighbour as oneself." There is a misconception that good ethics belong to the Christian religion. Not so, no one has a monopoly of good or bad. Today and for the past two thousand years, land may be the purpose of war. But religion has been the rallying flag of friend or enemy leading to tremendous discord, quarreling and even slaughter as in Ireland , East Timor, Israel and Kosovo. All these people, Jewish, Christian and Moslem worship the same God yet they have no tolerance, they hate each other. Even among the Bible-believing 'born again' Christians there is intolerance. Just look at the different brands of churches serving the same community and often standing within a stone's throw of each other. They are like exclusive clubs, fully tolerant only to those within their own group. True moral integrity and personal maturity cannot be found as a result of religion.