Fear/Afraid - Essay Sample

Introduction

At some point in life, every individual becomes frightened (Eliade, 2009). The fright can be a result of unique happenings or thoughts that build up in an individual's life. The feelings of fear are often an outcome of a series of events that someone fails to find the accurate facts about it or perception about a game. In fathoming about the theme of fright and using the psychologist Freud's theory, we incorporate religion which makes individuals ponder on what right or wrong is based on their unique understanding. We have to establish the factors that will necessarily, though not on all individuals, make them question their stay while here on earth (Freud, 2012). Religion is the main element of life that makes many people worried about their actions. The fear of the unknown on whether there is life after death troubles many souls as no one has ever experienced life and death and then resurrected from death to tell the needed facts about the possibility of life after death in the current generation (Eliade, 2009). This term paper seeks to establish the factors that lead to fear in human beings using the theories of two renowned authors namely psychologist Freud Sigmund and phenomenologist Eliade Mircea. Even though the two differ in the view of using religion as an entity and institution to create fear among the disciples of faith in their history, they agree on the aspect of a person being powerless in the critical scheme of things. Freud holds that religion is being used as a tool of coping against the eminent forces of nature. On the other side, Eliade recognizes the originality of lilo tempore as the truth every man longs for in his entire life.

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Religion

Throughout the discussion between Freud and Eliade, they both create a belief that human beings are powerless in the eyes of God. In his book, The Sacred and the Profane, Eliade demonstrates that the most helpless and fearful person is the religious man. He argues that some brainwash using the Holy books has been done unto him until he fails to withstand any forces of nature anymore, unlike the modernized men who are rarely swayed by the power of the unknown life (Freud, 2012). Eliade argues that religion is authoritative, that it is meant to control individual thinking and action. It dictates his work by use of future promises if a person acts accordingly and issues threats in case an individual goes out of the way as prescribed. Eliade says that the "all-powerful Creator" to mean God has the final say on the last day as believed by the religious people (Eliade, 2009). Contrarily, Freud degrades a believer to have faith in "illusions". He aligns fear of power. He argues that if a man has created religion as a tool of hierarchical survival, then he has a lot of potentials to generate concern among his followers (Freud, 2012). Although Freud admits that religion is an unavoidable force, he insists that the majority of people use it to gain power and threaten followers are basing on their understanding. Faith makes people vulnerable to fear the unknown future happenings (Eliade, 2009).

Death and Life after Death

The second element that trouble many people globally is the fear of death. Religious teachings often incorporate the issue of death while educating believers (Eliade, 2009). Freud notes that the idea of death has threatened men to believe in religion. Desperate hope of being in a better place, as described in the Holy books is what drives men to fear religion and death. The religious teachings on death have made a large mass of people naive, hence unable to question if indeed there is life behind death (Freud, 2012). The fear of death basing on religion confines an individual with the decision of believing and hoping in any idea that promises a better desirable life after. "People are like a sheep in a heard". Freud uses this phrase to indicate that the majority of Pepe have lost control power hence only follows due to fear of getting lost alone (Freud, 2012). Eliade uses a countering model in which the opposing forces coexist which therefore dependent on each other. Without religion teachings, the fear witnessed among people would be significantly reduced as it is primarily hinged on religious beliefs (Eliade, 2009).

Conclusion

The two primary causes of fear among human beings are religious teachings and death. The fear of the future after death has deprived happiness among many people as they are often contemplating on what will happen next when they die. Eliade persistently argues in his theory that a religious man is generally weak compared to other people. His ability to question the happenings and find the reality is limited as he is confined to the spiritual teachings. Freud on his side criticizes religion to be a hierarchical element being used to create fear among people. He describes faith as an aspect that can empower an individual or create rifts among them. He concludes by adding that spirituality and its teachings should be used effectively and not as a tool to manipulate masses' psychology hence creating fear.

References

Eliade, M., (2009). The sacred and the profane: The nature of religion (Vol. 144). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://monoskop.org/images/b/b1/Eliade_Mircea_The_Sacred_and_The_profane_1963.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjTqJLLl-viAhVMXBoKHcI-BJoQFjAAegQIAhAB&usg=AOvVaw2EFYjTEY4ouRdoMm6pgDy4

Freud, S., (2012). The future of an illusion. Broadview Press. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Future_of_an_Illusion.html%3Fid%3DttL5PtIY9PMC&ved=2ahUKEwi2gvPbluviAhVlxYUKHVN4D-sQFjACegQIBRAB&usg=AOvVaw15ClRCoFHvdZgWPZK3xMM8