Culture of Fear

In his book, The Culture of Fear, Barry Glassner explains why Americans are afraid of the wrong things. This is a book worth reading, even if you don’t agree with everything he says. At least it should make you think twice about what you see on TV or read in the newspaper, if it doesn’t make you avoid the mass media all together.

Politicians, news media, and special interest groups use fear to sell their products, ideas and influence. Often they manipulate statistics, misuse studies or lie to create a sense of impending doom in order to get a large segment of the population to act in a way they want the public to act. “The short answer to why Americans harbor so many misbegotten fears is that immense power and money await those who tap into our moral insecurities and supply us with symbolic substitutes.”

These peddlers of damage our nation in several ways. First, they cause us to spend money to prevent dangers that are either not real or remote. For example, airlines are forced to spend more money for airline safety when air travel is the safest mode of transportation already. Second, they divert money and attention away from the real problem. Instead of wasting money on more air safety, money should be spent to reduce drunk driving, the number one cause of transportation fatalities. Third, it creates needless stress and turmoil, reducing the quality of life in our country.

There is no epidemic of kidnapping, child pornography, air disasters, road rage, postal shootings, or husband abuse. Instead, we should focus on poverty, education, guns and other more pertinent issues that are the real source of our nation’s problems. Time, energy and money should be spent on the real problems, not on these fantasy issues.

Think twice before buying into a fear campaign. Limit your exposure to news programs. Evaluate every message that uses statistics to create a sense that things are going from bad to worse and your money or support is needed to stem the tide. Fear is a powerful motivator, and the media, the government, religious organizations, corporations and special interests groups are using it on you to manipulate you.


For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15)

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)