I first handedly don't see why people would make such strong arguements against it like that - and like Romeyo07 said - things were misqouted and taken out of context

for one thing - maybe southern baptists are raised in fear or something. I dunno if they still do it today. I know back in the olden day ( think 13 colonies ) when it was like God holds you over a fiery pits of hell on a silver string and he can glady cut it and let you fall ( some poem by some pastor dude - junior hs english is failing my memory hear, my apologies )

but in todays modern society its a very rare sight indeed to see anyone of any christian based ( or other as far as I'm aware of, but dont qoute me on this ) religion to be brought up in fear - I know there are the sayings to "fear God" but I never took it as the " omg he's gonna smite me dead if i dont do this" - more like just hold a respect for what I believe that He is capable of