Michael Knowles believes that fear of the Lord, properly understood as awe and a recognition of the reality of divine judgment, is a component of faith.

“Isn't fear of the Lord the beginning of wisdom?”

Brian Recker argues that an emphasis on the fear of hell as a central religious motivator is harmful and prevents Christians from developing a spirituality centered on love.

“I think one of the thesis is would be that I think hell is a bad theology because it robs us of a true loving spirituality.”