You ask him about the fear of God: perhaps the friends do
not realize that the majority of human beings need the element of fear in order
to discipline their conduct? Only a relatively very highly evolved soul would
always be disciplined by love alone. Fear of punishment, fear of the anger of
God if we do evil, are needed to keep people's feet on the right path. Of
course we should love God -- but we must fear Him in the sense of a child
fearing the righteous anger and chastisement of a parent; not cringe before Him
as before a tyrant, but know His mercy exceeds His justice!
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter
dated 26 July 1946 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual
believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Baha’i Education)
