I see this a lot too and it makes me sad. How can we say we are the people of love if we are a people of fear, when "there is no fear in love, for perfect love drives out fear"? How can we understand and communicate with--let alone love--those who aren't like us/aren't believers if we are afraid to even listen to them? Or maybe some are afraid that we will begin to truly love them, and love makes you do all kinds of crazy things, like listening instead of doing all the talking, and admitting when you're wrong, and giving things up for the good of others . . . and danger! danger! that might even start changing our lifestyles and our perspectives (though I would argue for the better).

I don't think my religion or politics are rooted in fear, but it's still a good question for me to consider: "What am I afraid of?" I think we all have many deep fears which do too often rule our lives: fear of losing people, things, control; fear of the unknown; fear of being known and not accepted; fear that oh, we are not as strong as we think we are (see the wonderful lyrics of this Rich Mullins song: http://www.kidbrothers.net/s.html#wanasawtwa).