What's so great about a religion in which all of the members are waiting for (and eagerly anticipating) death?
610905
IIIIII'll fly awaaaaay OH GLORY IIIII'll fly awaaaaayy.\n\nWhen I die halelujah byyy and byyy...IIII'l fly awaaaaaay.\n\nBreaks my heart......\n\nChristians should be more concerned about bringing heaven down, then getting up.\n\nThen again, to live is Christ, to die is gain.
280575
This is evident, as you have pointed out in most of human behaviour. This concept is similar to ancestor worship. Ancient man had a deeper belief of the after life than present day man. They believe that no one actually died but simply moved on to another existence. Therefore, it was an honor and glory to join ones ancestors in the after-life while making oneself worthy to join them with a glorified death.
890855
No human ever considered living in heaven until Jesus mentioned that yet-future possibility just hours before he was impaled.\n\nJehovah's Witnesses understand the Scriptures to teach that exactly 144,000 humans will join Christ Jesus as kings and priests to administer God's Kingdom (which will soon replace all earthly governments) after Armageddon.\n(Daniel 2:44) God of heaven will set up a kingdom... It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will stand to times indefinite\n(Revelation 14:1) Lamb [Jesus] standing upon the Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand\n(Revelation 20:6) they will be priests of God and of the Christ, and will rule as kings with him\n\nOver whom will they rule? Over the vast majority of mankind, most of whom will have been raised from the dead after Armageddon.\n(John 11:23,24) Jesus said to her: “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him: “I know he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.”\n(Acts 24:15) There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.\n\nUntil that resurrection, there is no suffering in "hell", or the grave. Sometime after the resurrection, death and "hell" will themselves be destroyed.\n(Ecclesiastes 9:5) For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all\n(Ecclesiastes 9:10) there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol ["hell"]\n(Revelation 20:14) And death and Hades ["hell"] were hurled into the lake of fire\n\nAlmighty Jehovah God selects those few who have the heavenly calling from among godfearing worshippers, including many who were never Jehovah's Witnesses. Today, each true worshipper "feels" his own hope and each person's hope remains unquestioned by his fellow Christians. Still the vast majority (literally more than 99.9%*) of Jehovah's Witnesses expect an EARTHLY hope, the same hope given to Adam and Eve.\n(Genesis 1:28) God blessed them and God said to them: “Be fruitful and become many and fill THE EARTH and subdue it [caps added]\n(Genesis 2:17) You must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will positively die [so never eating from that tree means never dying]\n\nInterestingly, the Scriptures are full of references to this earthly hope.\n(Psalms 37:11) 'the meek will possess the earth'\n(Proverbs 2:21) 'upright will reside in the earth'\n(Isaiah 45:18) 'God formed the earth to be inhabited'\n(Matthew 5:5) 'the mild will inherit the earth'\n(Revelation 21:3) The tent of God is with mankind\n\nLearn more:\nhttp://watchtower.org/e/20001001/article_02.htm\nhttp://watchtower.org/library/w/2003/11/15/article_02.htm\nhttp://watchtower.org/e/20031115/article_02.htm
243357
What is death? No - I mean really - people always sell you this line about, "people got that them thar relijymon cuz they dun 'fraid of dyin!" I've always found that a ridiculous argument.\n\nIf the nihilist view of death is correct, then death is a completely painless state of non-conciousness and unawareness. Only the transition to it is an anxiety causing thing, and religion does not even posit the idea that it can make that aspect of it go away. (For that matter, not all religion even posits an afterlife - the Sadduccee variant of Judaism never did.)\n\n"This book" as you put it is only a part of the religions that follow it. Judaism is as much the Mishnah and Talmud as it is Torah and Tanakh. Christianity is singularly focused on Jesus, and even the Bible itself plays only a secondary role to that simple tautology. \n\nWhat is followed is God. The book? Its interpreted, often in ways that make the many and varied individual things in it each important (contextually) but only part of the teleological whole that is existence - where we "have our being in him."\n\nWhat religion is truly about is hope, love,  and faith. Faith that existence is more than what can be seen with five senses, hope that all this wonder will one day be fully revealed to us, and love: love for others, and love for the one that is the source of it all.
18057
The existance of an afterlife is something I am so not qualified to answer, since I have only known this one.  I'd hate to burst peoples' bubbles, but i doubt there is a heaven or hell.  So call me a heathen, whatever, I surely believe in some divine creator... But the reason humans invented such ornate tales is to firstly keep people in line.  People do good and hope for reward.  Secondly, they believe so that the loss of a loved one can be comforted.  I feel that people should find their comforts in other ways.  Death is not a tragety really.  People want something to look forward to.  Thirdly, some might say arrogance; that humans are somehow above all other lifeforms and part of them lives for all eternity.  The forth reason people believe in an afterlife is fear.  Death is one of the most feared things, along with pain and failure.  Why is it feared?  Because no one truly knows what happens.  That's why people might cling to religious descriptions, which are also rather vague and hold few actual details.  So, believe whatever you wish my friend, but there's my two cents.
314158
If you study religeon, most of them believe in a time of "tribulation" where all souls who follow said religeon will be "saved" and wisked off to a brand newe beautiful world full of all things nice and cozy. THIS world is irrelevant. They focus on abeyance to thjeir writs. Nothing else matters to them, really. In their view its a distraction from grace. :)
60541
Well for a Christian this simply means that the Long awaited Days of Total Peace and Joy and the end of all sorrows is comming soon. They will get to be with Jesus their savior. The one who they live their lives here on earth for. Kinda like Stepping out of a Filthy nasty sewer that they have been trapped in forever and into clean fresh running water never to see or smell the sewer again.
1183068
Their culture is one of death - so being a martyr is glorified.  life is a transient time and everything is for paradise in the world to come.\nThey kill they're sister if they think she is dihonorable\nthey kill a landowner that will sell his property to an infidel\nthey kill you if you marry an infidel.  everything for them is black or white with know higher understanding of the gray areas
610094
I agree with you. Think of how many millions would live full lives without religious problems placed on them. Think of how many people will suddenly have a high quality of life since they are no longer sending their hard earned money to mega-church bank-accounts. The issue is so clear to me. Right my brother right on. The world could live in such perfect harmony. Right and wrong could be the new laws to follow, withouth the intervention of mythical persons watching over you waiting to punish you for not accepting them as the truth.
541238
I like the way they used to do sacrifices before Judeo/Christian Religions were born. In Ancient America tribes used to rip the victims heart out while it was still beating. \n\nMaybe this "God" will be pleased with us, if we do it in this manner. I mean if this "God" forgave people by killing his own son, then he would be even more pleased if we kill Jesus as cruelly as possible.
1022733
The Almighty God has patiently put up with rebellious mankind. Why? “Jehovah is not slow respecting his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with you because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance.” (2 Pet. 3:9) Note that God’s patience has been for the benefit of Christians, for the apostle Peter addressed fellow believers with the words, “he is patient with you.” Just what does this mean?\nThe apostle was showing that what some people interpreted as slowness on God’s part should be viewed in an entirely different light. The fact that Jehovah’s day of vengeance has not yet come proves that he loves mankind, that he wants people to live, not to die. So God’s patience has worked to the salvation of Christians, even as it opens up to all the opportunity for salvation. Should we not be grateful that this has been the case?\nOf course, the time is fast approaching for Jehovah God to bring to a close the present ‘day of opportunity’ for those now living to come into an approved relationship with him. (2 Cor. 6:2) \nBible prophecy and Bible chronology point to the time since 1914 C.E., with its increasing crime and violence, wars, food shortages, earthquakes, fear and unrest, as the “last days” for this ungodly world. (Mark 13:3-37; Luke 21:7-36; 2 Tim. 3:1-5) \nAs long as this system continues in its “last days,” Christians must keep on exercising patience, confidently looking to Jehovah God to bring relief through his Son Jesus Christ. (2 Thess. 1:6-9) This is so because these “last days” will continue to be “critical times hard to deal with.”—2 Tim. 3:1.
22776
This Life is temporary. 60,70,even 100 years at the most. Time flies by everyday. One thing everyone can agree on is that One day we will all Die. But the differences come on what will happen after Death or if anything will. From the Islamic view we beleive this life is a Test to see who will enter Heaven and who will enter Hell. The way to Heaven is to Obey and worship God. By following God's rules and restrictions. Since God is PERFECT we should expect that the path to Him would be from a Perfect Source. That would be the Quran and God challenges any one to find any doubt in it or produce a single chapter like it.\n"1 Alif. Lam. Mim. \n2 This is the Scripture whereof there is no doubt, a guidance unto those who ward off (evil).  \n3 Who believe in the Unseen, and establish worship, and spend of that We have bestowed upon them;  \n4 And who believe in that which is revealed unto thee (Muhammad) and that which was revealed before thee, and are certain of the Hereafter.  \n5 These depend on guidance from their Lord. These are the successful."  (Ch.2, Verses 1-5)\n"Or do they say: "He (Muhammad SAW) has forged it?" Say: "Bring then a Soorah (chapter) like unto it, and call upon whomsoever you can, besides Allah, if you are truthful!"  (Chapter #10, Verse #38)\n\nAs Muslims we beleive that after Death everybody who everlived will be Ressurrected Again For The Day Of Judgement. In which we will find out who is going to Heaven or HEll. As stated in the Quran.\n"48 And they say: "When will this promise (i.e. Resurrection) be fulfilled, if you are truthful?"  \n49 They await only but a single Saihah (shout, etc.), which will seize them while they are disputing!  \n50 Then they will not be able to make bequest, nor they will return to their family.  \n51 And the Trumpet will be blown (i.e. the second blowing) and behold! From the graves they will come out quickly to their Lord.  \n52 They will say: "Woe to us! Who has raised us up from our place of sleep." (It will be said to them): "This is what the Most Beneficent (Allah) had promised, and the Messengers spoke truth!"  \n53 It will be but a single Saihah (shout, etc.), so behold! They will all be brought up before Us!  \n54 This Day (Day of Resurrection), none will be wronged in anything, nor will you be requited anything except that which you used to do.  \n55 Verily, the dwellers of the Paradise, that Day, will be busy in joyful things.  \n56 They and their wives will be in pleasant shade, reclining on thrones.  \n57 They will have therein fruits (of all kinds) and all that they ask for.  \n58 (It will be said to them): Salamun (peace be on you), a Word from the Lord (Allah), Most Merciful.  \n59 (It will be said): "And O you Al-Mujrimoon (criminals, polytheists, sinners, disbelievers in the Islamic Monotheism, wicked evil ones, etc.)! Get you apart this Day (from the believers).  \n60 Did I not ordain for you, O Children of Adam, that you should not worship Shaitan (Satan). Verily, he is a plain enemy to you.  \n61 And that you should worship Me (Alone Islamic Monotheism, and set up not rivals, associate-gods with Me). That is a Straight Path.  \n62 And indeed he (Satan) did lead astray a great multitude of you. Did you not, then, understand?  \n63 This is Hell which you were promised!  \n64 Burn therein this Day, for that you used to disbelieve.  \n65 This Day, We shall seal up their mouths, and their hands will speak to Us, and their legs will bear witness to what they used to earn. (It is said that ones left thigh will be the first to bear the witness). (Tafsir At-Tabaree, Vol. 22, Page 24)  \n66 And if it had been Our Will, We would surely have wiped out (blinded) their eyes, so that they would struggle for the Path, how then would they see?  \n67 And if it had been Our Will, We could have transformed them (into animals or lifeless objects) in their places. Then they should have been unable to go f
622588
I wouldn't use the blanket statement that 'all' organized forms of religion use 'mortality' to promote a 'herd' mentality among their followers, but I would say that 'most' do...\n\nTake Christianity at its base.  For 2000 years this religion has taken the mundane assurance of 'death' and has morphed it into a supernatural 'non-death'; an 'afterlife'.\n\nImagine the freedom the pre-Christians had when the only options were 'life' and 'oblivion'; no make-believe trappings of Heaven or Hell, no Pearly Gates or Lake of Fire, no absolution or damnation,... just 'on' and 'off'.\n\n"The Christian conception of God…- is one of the most corrupt conceptions of God arrived at on earth.: perhaps it even represents the low-water mark in the descending development of the God type.  God degenerated to the contradiction of life, instead of being its transfiguration and eternal Yes!  In God a declaration of hostility towards life, nature, the will to life!  God the formula for every calumny of ‘this world’, for every lie about ‘the next world’!  In God nothingness deified, the will to nothingness sanctified!..."  Nietzsche
1098437
They are disheartened...just as those who believe in an angry, vengeful god are disheartened. They (believers or not) may not realize it, and would probably protest loudly, but deep down, there is a sense of despair. \n\n Those who believe in oblivion after death, will not be able to say "I told you so." ; those who believe there is life "after death" will hopefully have the spiritual discipline to not say it.
349183
I don't really see a question here, but yes you are right. What better way to die than for something that you beleive gave you life and can offer you ever lasting peace. People take their God very seriously.
868372
Im an agnostic, I dont think you can prove an afterlife till you are there.  So yes, I live as if this is it and I think that is a much better way to live.  Life is precious.  It does make me sad that one day I will have to leave my children and one day they will also cease to exist, but that just makes my time with them more special.  \nIf everyone believed this though, you would be unlikely to get suicide bombers, as the selfish idiots do it thinking they will be rewarded, or people who waste their time sitting in church or various other pastimes designed to prep for the end of their life.  I feel sad when I see people waste so much time praying, but some people need to feel they have something to go onto, and if that helps them meet their end without fear, i suppose thats good.
1068627
sounds like a good religion to me.