>Cynthia is stating that joy (or love, or whatever) is preferable to fear as a motivation; frum agrees. frum's question was if one of them was _better_ than the other. Nobody (not even frum) has even attempted to answer that question yet (at least not in this thread). I'm not completely sure that it _is_ answerable.

In that form, it isn't answerable. Before it can be aswered, it needs a standard by which it might be better. 'Better' is relative to the scale by which you measure, although once the scale is chosen the answer is not relative. That's why "Is it absolutely better?" makes your head spin, while the answers below scarcely require explanation.

So here's some standards, and some answers.

Better based on desirability: Love
" " " marginal utility: Love
" " " the law of equal freedom: Love
" " " speed of employment: Fear
" " " effectiveness in conquering the world: Fear
" " " preventing war: Fear

Gabe