Would religion be popular if there was no promise of Heaven

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This question is mostly for theists.

Do you think religion would be popular without the promise of eternity in Heaven with God ?

Imagine if instead of promising Heaven, a wonderful reunion with God, God simply rewarded you for a lifetime of virtue with a simple "Well done", before vanishing you into nothingness.

Would you still believe and practice your religion?

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The lack of a heaven doesn't seem to be a problem for the Hindus, Buddhists and Taoists of the world. (Hindus comprise the 3rd largest religion in the world.)

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It would cull out most politicians and ALL Catholics

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Not true.

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In the Christian and Muslim religions there is a God that demands something and in return he will give you a reward.

You do as I say, let me be the boss and I'll let you live with me.

If not then you can go to hell.

So yes, Christians do need a heaven. They want something on the cheap.

Take away their heaven and they'll tell their God to go to hell.

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Why only Catholics? I think the born-again/evangelicals wouldn't be hanging around. I am Catholic and I have been taught that faith is about pleasing God, not about the end result. But I think lots of people wouldn't practice in the same way. I probably wouldn't. Fear of Hell (or simply loss of heaven) is a big motivator.

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Interesting that Adam and Eve were given the prospect of living forever on earth. No mention was made of heaven.

The punishment for their disobedience was death. No mention was made of hell. No roasting, toasting, baking or broiling.

Life on earth is attractive enough that many angels reportedly left their heavenly places to participate - at the cost of their own relationship with God.

That a few humans have been promised a heavenly reward does not change God's purpose to have the earth inhabited by humans. As to the question of whether or not heaven would be desirable,

you do have to die to get there.

Bummer!

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I think heaven is just one of the carrots that religion offers, and then there are sticks too.....so it would still sell but maybe not quite so easily and cheaply.

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I'm quite satisfied knowing I will not go to heaven.

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Are you that bad?

Shame, shame

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neologist wrote:

I'm quite satisfied knowing I will not go to heaven.

Then enjoy your enternal life in hell; you make it seem like a joke?

"In front of such a one is Hell, and he is given, for drink, boiling fetid water. In gulps he will sip it, but never will he be near swallowing it: death will come to him from every quarter, yet will he not die. Harrowing torment awaits him." (Ibrahim, 16-17)

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Eorl wrote:

I think heaven is just one of the carrots that religion offers, and then there are sticks too.....so it would still sell but maybe not quite so easily and cheaply.

Don't forget the 73 virgins ...

Anon

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If heaven disappeared on Saturday the church would be empty on Sunday.

Thats an Amigo original.

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LOL Amigo

Honestly I don't think it would matter. I can only speak for myself. Yeah it's nice to think that we would go to some heavenly place and meet our maker, and so on. But I still stand that it all boils down to living a good life. To being true to yourself and others. That in itself is satisfaction enough for me. If that includes God, great. That is what has made me happy for 17 years. But if God weren't true. Heaven weren't true. I've really lost nothing because I did my best to be a good person, and to treat others right, regardless of the beliefs that caused me to live that way.

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Anon, you're in America. Here the ideal is 72 porn stars, not virgins.

Seriously, I am like Neologist. I have no regrets assuming that upon my death I will become what I was before I was born--JLNothing.

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JLNobody wrote:

Anon, you're in America. Here the ideal is 72 porn stars, not virgins.

Seriously, I am like Neologist. I have no regrets assuming that upon my death I will become what I was before I was born--JLNothing.

Porn Stars ?? Even Better !!!!!

Anon

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hephzibah wrote:

LOL Amigo Honestly I don't think it would matter. I can only speak for myself. Yeah it's nice to think that we would go to some heavenly place and meet our maker, and so on. But I still stand that it all boils down to living a good life. To being true to yourself and others. That in itself is satisfaction enough for me. If that includes God, great. That is what has made me happy for 17 years. But if God weren't true. Heaven weren't true. I've really lost nothing because I did my best to be a good person, and to treat others right, regardless of the beliefs that caused me to live that way.

I'm right with you hephzibah. I agree totally. You give christianity a good name. If I ever offend you it is to my own embarrassment.

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hephzibah wrote:

LOL Amigo Honestly I don't think it would matter. I can only speak for myself. Yeah it's nice to think that we would go to some heavenly place and meet our maker, and so on. But I still stand that it all boils down to living a good life. To being true to yourself and others. That in itself is satisfaction enough for me. If that includes God, great. That is what has made me happy for 17 years. But if God weren't true. Heaven weren't true. I've really lost nothing because I did my best to be a good person, and to treat others right, regardless of the beliefs that caused me to live that way.

Just curious Hep, if you found out today that there were no gods or heavens....would you suddenly want to be a bad person and treat others badly tomorrow? (I'm asking if it really is those beliefs that cause you to live that way)

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Eorl wrote:

hephzibah wrote:
LOL Amigo Honestly I don't think it would matter. I can only speak for myself. Yeah it's nice to think that we would go to some heavenly place and meet our maker, and so on. But I still stand that it all boils down to living a good life. To being true to yourself and others. That in itself is satisfaction enough for me. If that includes God, great. That is what has made me happy for 17 years. But if God weren't true. Heaven weren't true. I've really lost nothing because I did my best to be a good person, and to treat others right, regardless of the beliefs that caused me to live that way.

Just curious Hep, if you found out today that there were no gods or heavens....would you suddenly want to be a bad person and treat others badly tomorrow? (I'm asking if it really is those beliefs that cause you to live that way)

Anon, you are sweet. Thank you. Embarrassed

Eorl, No I wouldn't suddenly want to treat others badly, because I've seen the benefits of treating people good. Yes it is those beliefs that have caused me to live that way. To see people the way I have believed that God sees me. Imperfect, but not beyond hope. Priceless. Without that factor in my life I don't believe I would treat people the way I do today because of the way I was treated growing up. That's all I knew, so naturally that is the way I was "taught" (whether willingly or not) that others were to be treated. Believing in God is what broke me out of that cycle. It taught me that I am more than what I display on the outside. It taught me that people are more than what they show you on the outside, and it's worth checking into.

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Thanks hepzibah, nice answer. Smile

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Would religion be popular if there was no promise of Heaven

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