I reside in Chicago, USA. Over time I kept hearing the words "Fear of God", which never made sense to me since as a Hindu growing up in India, I never heard any of my elders echoing similar thoughts. I also hear words like King, Master, Sin, Punishment etc.

Slowly it has dawned on me that maybe we view God differently, we view God as a Parent, a Mother or Father or both while abrahamic faiths view God as King or Master! Viewing God as a King or Master makes me a Subject or Servant even a Slave! Only such persons would view their King or Master with fear. Now we understand why they talk about sin all the time and of course punishment. This King they keep calling God runs a members-only heaven. For xtians if you are not xtian, this God won't let you into his heaven, the same for muslims. Again that is not God like. A King showers benefits on "his" people while keeping others at a distance. Finally there is the day of judgement. If you don't accept their version of God, you are killed. Billions of people put to death, that's sick. That thought aside, again you realize you are talking about a king, who kills those that do not follow him. A King cannot have democracy, his kingdom is for his people only.

Hindus view God correctly, as a parent not a King. A parent accepts all of her children even the wayward ones. There are no threats, no abuse. Even atheists are welcome in God Rama's heaven. We are God's children not his slaves or servants. We should never refer to God as King or Master. Maybe we should not refer to God as Lord either. Sin and punishment are for slaves and servants. A parent does not punish her children, she guides them with love. God should be viewed with Love and Respect not Fear and Obedience!

But we do need to behave in such a fashion. Most hindus who go to the temple are either standing up or sitting down. This is the correct position. Some prostrate themselves. That is the position of a servant or slave. A hindu should not prostrate not kneel before God. We lower ourselves when we do that. We should behave like a child of God, we are in a higher position than a slave or servant. Let muslims and christians kneel before their autocratic King, let them be slaves and servants.