Through the ages, fear has been used to control both adults and children. Fear of torture, fear of execution, fear of shunning or banishment, fear of eternal punishment and, yes, fear of God – all have been used to force people into submission to the will of whoever is in power whether in the government, the church or the family.
Fear has been used through much of church history to drive people to believe in God, or maybe rather to drive people to obey God`s will – which really was the will of whoever held religious power at the time. Don`t obey what I say and you will go to hell and suffer for eternity in the fires of punishment awaiting you there. Only by following what I say (and sometimes by paying me money) will you have a chance to enjoy the eternal happiness of heaven in the afterlife.
It is a perversion of the gospel, a misuse of the good news shared by Jesus. Bits and pieces of the Bible have been used to serve human greed and desire for power. Hellfire and brimstone preaching does not serve God.