mysticwolf said:
I think one of the reasons Christianity is so appealing is because it gives people this incentive; Heaven. You know, what's in it for me if I believe in this Jesus guy? Oh, I get eternal life in Heaven, well that sounds pretty good. It appeals to our selfish nature. Heaven wasn't meant to be used as a means to control people, but that's what it's come to. I'm saying if there wasn't Heaven it wouldn't be the same religion, I do not think it would be as appealing in general. In a sense, Heaven can be used as an incentive for morality. If you do or do not do things because you are afraid of going to Hell, that is the wrong reason. Let's be clear that I did not say that my religion is dependent upon me going to Heaven. I was merely answering the original question. But I think Christians would behave differently if they did not think Heaven existed. The idea of Heaven appeals to our greedy feelings. Having this list of criteria you must meet in order to go into Heaven seems to me misleading and wrong, because it can make people's moral actions derived from fear of going to Hell, which is the wrong reason to behave morally. Doing the right thing in order to get into Heaven is also the wrong reason for doing the right thing. What we should be doing is the right thing regardless of whether or not Heaven exists, but I fear that the majority of people do not do that. |
Great post.
As I see it, all true Christians should not care for the reward that is heaven. True Christians should follow God's word regardless if there is a reward waiting for them, knowing that what they are doing is the right thing.
However, again, as I see it, a true God should also be aware of this and not make the reward available in the first place. If applying to people's greed is necessary for the religion to spread, and for God's Word to be followed and taken seriously, then his Word is, in fact, not appealing.
God should not need to bribe humanity in order for Christianity to spread and become appealing, being my point.
