This non-theist doesn't fear that God exists any more than I fear the Tooth Fairy exists. Neither eventuality has much impact on my life.

I think the biggest human fear is death. Once we accept the reality of death we no longer need gods to provide the belief that we'll live forever. Religion provides the hope of eternal life much like a drug offers the hope of eternal bliss. Theists can become "hooked" on the notion of eternal life and can't imagine that everyone else isn't hooked too.

Don't get me wrong. I fear death too but I find accepting the groundlessness of life is more tolerable than pretending groundlessness and death don't exist.

You can have egoistic and altruistic fear of God.
Heres a couple of examples.

An egoistic fear is when we are only thinking of our self benefit, for example, when we believe in reward and punishment from the Creator so we carry out the will of the Creator in fear of the punishment.

An Altruistic fear is based on love for the Creator and is a result of us fearing that were not able to do something that could have been done for the Creator and a fear of being pushed away from the Creator.

Love and hugs to everyone of you.

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"Kabbalah does not let us live our lives in the dust, but elevates our mind to the height of knowledge." Johannes Reuchlin

Interesting OP.

I think there is some truth in what you say about atheists' fears. I would suggest that the fear extends to themselves: fear of their own significance (or insignificance) in the cosmos, fear of accountability, and fear of committing to something they can't wrap their minds around.

I just finished reading a book (Quantum Enigma)that on its last page had this to say:
Not only atheists, but religionists are afraid of that possibility. They are afraid of the responsibility it implies and afraid of being unworthy. The authors go on to quote from Erin Schrödinger:
They end the book with a quote from Shakespeare:

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"Esse est percipii."

"I have talked with many atheists and agnostics in my online journeys, and I think the most terrifying thought of all for them is that God DOES exist because they are not too happy with God's handiwork."

All?

the thought that there might actually be a god isn't exactly frightening. It's the thought that so many people blindly believe that there is one and is thus responsible for everything. And everything must be done according to its will and women are evil and dirty and I have to saved and blah blah blah blah. Ugh.

Lemmings. That is what I am afraid of.

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Good point. Saying "all" is too broad. Perhaps substituting "many" for "all" in my original post would be more appropriate.

And I agree that the number of lemmings in the world is indeed astounding. But some of the lemmings are waking up...

In peace,
BridgeBuilder

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To build a bridge, it is not enough just to have an understanding of both sides of the river, although that is a challenge indeed. Only with the guidance of Love can one master the chasm in between.

I'm still trying to figure out how "of all" became "for all." And remember: some "lemmings" are atheists.

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"Esse est percipii."