Fear

The following is from a lecture by Bertrand Russell March 6, 1927 at Battersea Town Hall under the auspices of the South London Branch of the National Secular Society.

Fear, the Foundation of Religion
"Religion is based, i think, primarily and mainly upon fear. It is partly terror of the unknown and partly, as I have said the wish to feel that you have a kind of elder brother who will stand by you in all your troubles and disputes. Fear is the basis of the whole thing-fear of the mysterious, fear of defeat, fear of death. Fear is the parent of cruelty, and therefore it is no wonder if cruelty and religion have gone hand in hand. It is because fear is at the basis of those two things. In this world we can now begin a little to understand things, and a little to master them by help of science, which has forced its way step by step against christian religion, against the churches, and against the opposition of all the old precepts. Science can help us to get over this craven fear in which mankind has lived for so many generations. Science can teach us, and i think our own hearts can teach us, no longer to look around for imaginary supports, no longer to invent allies in the sky, but rather to look to our own efforts here below to make this world a fit place to live in, instead of the sort of place that the churches in all these centuries have made it."

I agree with most of this statement I would say however that progress for progress sake in science can also be a disasterous ambition-so, obviously checks on science are needed as well.

When I dig deep into myself I know that fear has driven me away from myself and others that have attempted to get close to me for my entire life. Fear.
And isn't it true that to be a good Christian its been said you must be a God fearing Christian.
Fear the man behind the curtain, get in line keep your head down and maybe you'll be spared from the gnashing of teeth and hellfire that await those who are 'fearless'.
If there is a grand source of life that has created everything on this planet I don't fear it, instead I acknowledge its place and accept my place wherever I land in the grand scheme of things.
I am flooded with a sense of tranquilty knowing that I don't have to fear the world, I just need to get by in it.