EjuraM, "Fear of God" can be traced to the Western emphasis on the fatherhood of God. E.g "Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be thy Name" etc. Personally, I consider "Fear or God", a healthy fear as I had for my own Father. A fear out of respect, awe and love rather than someone who punished me for making mistakes E.g after being caught smoking at the age of 10-12, my father lined up my friends and I and gave us wack on our hands. He did it out of concern than spite. To balance out this paternal trait, "merternal " aspect of faith I.e Mother- love, which is unconditional, accepting the child no matter waht, regardless of behaviour. Christ fulfilled this by saving the marginalized (prostitutes, leppers, disabled deformed, sick and the needy etc) by grace. P.s I am no authority on Bible nor a spokesperson of Christianity. Much of my embryonic understaning has come from Bible and books by Phillip Yancey. I am on a journey in Christ. I hope to share what I know with you, but please understand I do not have all the answers, YET ;o)