【Insight】Reverence and Fear

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After every safety accident, witnesses are filled with fear; even when they see a cat or dog crushed by a vehicle on the road from time to time, it shakes them deeply. This is all due to the fear of accidents – it is our passive reaction to unexpected incidents that are beyond our control, namely a reaction born of fear. Regarding life, people often say that one should have a sense of reverence; without such reverence, the human heart becomes inflated, greedy, and wanders down a path with no destination. This is precisely the positive meaning of religion. With the advancement of technology to what it is today, the devout belief held by religions shows the importance of reverence for humanity; whereas a faith that lacks reverence and seeks only utilitarian benefits must be imperfect. 　　The same is true for safety: what we need is reverence, not fear. Although these two words seem to have similar meanings, they represent entirely different attitudes. Fear is the state of helplessness and confusion that people experience in the face of disasters, forcing them to endure passively. And out of reverence, I will try to understand you, pay attention to you, and respect you. 　　We revere safety because we revere life. Do no harm to oneself, do no harm to others, and avoid being harmed by others. We revere human life as well as all living beings in nature; \"Fearing that sweeping might harm the ants, we protect moths with a lamp cover\" – this is true reverence. Source: Work Safety Network