HigHurtenflurst on 22 December 2013
I'm sure the idea behind heaven and hell are a motivator to many in sticking with the doctrine and practicing the religion. People fear what they can't understand, and death is one of the biggest mysteries in terms of what happens to your conciousness. So no it (and other religions) would not be as successful without the carrot and the stick, in particular I think there would not be much conversion (forced or not).
Ignoring most of religion and focsing on theism though, I don't think it makes a differnce to those with a true faith in God/Gods... As someone else mentioned the basis of religion is to find an answer (to the question of life, the universe, and everything) or at least question the origins and future of life.
