Fear is a powerful motivational tool. That's why some use a form of mind control to gain and keep their members. Islam uses heaven and hell, the concept of sin, a corrupted nature no one can escape, the requirement of a savior to ameliorate the gap between gods and men. The religion cloaks itself under dynamics which affects commercial life (tithing for instance), educational (teaching the doctrine of the religion is inerrant even in the face of overwhelming proof contrary to the religious doctrine), and psychological (gods with a vested interest in the behaviors of men, who can see their sins, who are able to mete out justice -- all of these are severe and inescapable mental leveragings that dictate human behavior-- i.e., psychologies).
Let me start by saying that any religion is composed of two major principles.
1)Beliefs
2) Laws
In this respect even atheism is a religion of it's own whether you like it or not as even the atheists have their set of beliefs such as the denial of the existance of God, implying that there was never a messenger sent, inexistance of divine scriptures, inexistance of angels and so on. Also they too have a set of rules which in their view represent the fundamental basics to be followed whether they are derived from themselves or borrowed. So no one escapes following a religion whether they accept it or not and whether they call it a religion or a way of life or whatever it is.
You say that: "Fear is a powerful motivational tool.That's why some use a form of mind control to gain and keep their members".
I say, true and false at the same time. As far as the true part, then you will not fail to see such a motivation at everyone whether a believer or not as in it's broad sense fear is of two types:1) Fear of what you hate to befall to you 2) Fear of loosing what you have of what you like and appreciate. In these premises fear is indeed a motivation tool.
However, this notion is false when it is taken in it's absolute sense as you have put it when it comes and relates to muslims. This is because this kind of fear is fatalism, and fatalism is prohibited in Islam. Indeed it is one of the major sins that a muslim fears God to the point of desparing of His mercy. Therefore if fear was what was sought in and of itself then this is not the fear that God wants you to have towards Him. This is well explained throughout the Qur'an and I will only mention here two verses that explain the reality of the mater.
The first is the very first verse in the Qur'an which says: "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful". The other verse I will mention is the verse that does encompass all people, believers and disbelievers, it says: "Say: "O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful" (39:53).
You said: "Islam uses heaven and hell, the concept of sin, a corrupted nature no one can escape, the requirement of a savior to ameliorate the gap between gods and men".
I say: As for the heaven and hell, it is a piece of information regarding the final abodes of people. It is not as you put it as if it was such, then what was explained by the Prophet would not mention that the transgressing sining believers will not abide eternally in hell. At one point they will come out of hell provided that they did not fall into idolatory.
as for: "the concept of sin, a corrupted nature no one can escape", it is not true when it comes to Islam as God and His Prophet indeed have told us that Islam does not deny the fact that man was created weak and that it can fall into temptation, and this is one of the reasons why repentance is accepted from all, indeed from the disbelievrs too. Our Prophet said: "If you did not sin at all, Allah would remove all of you and would bring other people in your place who would sin and would repent from sin".
Now as to what constitutes sin, not only the textual proofs but also the unadulterated thinking and mind agree. I know that you will take the position to say that disbelieving is not a sin in you view and as I am not trying to make you accept my oppinion I will not delve into this matter (perhaps if you like we can open another thread where we can talk about this, later on).
However, you will not fail to agree with me transgression in relation to the other fellow beings is wrong whether you like to call it sin or something else. Now if you were to dissagree with this too (and I do not believe that) then a question is raised for you: "What is right, and what is wrong. Where does the right begin and where it stops. Where does the wrong begins and where it stops. What is the criterion to distinguish between the two?!".
as for: "the requirement of a savior to ameliorate the gap between gods and men", this is the wrong concept towards Islam and muslims as such does not constitute what we believe and what we take as our religion. If you want we can elaborate on that in another thread.
You said: "The religion cloaks itself under dynamics which affects commercial life (tithing for instance), educational (teaching the doctrine of the religion is inerrant even in the face of overwhelming proof contrary to the religious doctrine), and psychological (gods with a vested interest in the behaviors of men, who can see their sins, who are able to mete out justice -- all of these are severe and inescapable mental leveragings that dictate human behavior-- i.e., psychologies)".
I say: First this is confirmation of what I said as to what constitutes a religion and this principle is valid also on the way you have chosen to follow upon the principles and beliefs that you have chosen to follow.
Second: This is completely wrong when you apply them to islam and if you want to take examples of your chosing we can show to you that indeed this principle does not characterise islam. (I only mentioned islam as I am a muslim and speak from a muslim's point of view).
I hope that you really reflect on this issue with a balanced view and indeed your intelect will not fail to see that the understanding that you have toward islam is not accurate. I do not blame you as media and other than them do play a major role in distorting and missinterpreting islam whether by design or accident.
Thankyou.