Why are people willing to make their lives hell to get to heaven in the afterlife?

Question

What lies beyond the veil of death and does it differ much from the states of souls in life? Given that travel through this veil is only one way, people really can't know much about the other side until they arrive there, but it is reasonable to expect that the same laws which govern souls in life also govern them in the afterlife.

The most natural conclusion is that a hellish life will bring a hellish afterlife, and a heavenly life brings a heavenly afterlife. Yet a lot of people seem to think that heaven in the afterlife is attained by misery, deprivation, and sorrows in this life. They see life as a hellish state and create such a life for themselves in expectation heavenly rewards. So how can a person who desires hell in this life be expected to embrace heaven in the afterlife?

And why should they expect their natures and values to change while passing through the veil of death so that happiness and peace replaces a lifetime of pessimism, guilt, and stress?

My experience reveals that a lot of religious weeping are weeping, and "wailing and gnashing of teeth" while they yet live. Sorrow for "sins" and "gnashing of teeth" for "unrighteousness."

First, if you post scriptures please include only one or two and leave the rest as references for me/the rest of us to lookup. Please edit the long post in that fashion, because I really liked it except for that aspect of it.

Secondly, I have experienced much more sorrow than many people, most of which was foolishly brought upon myself during my earlier years when I took the doctrine seriously and allowed no discrimination with the prevalent interpretations. I have lived in very poor conditions, as a soldier, and as a student.

Now I have chosen the life of happiness, peace, success, service, and industry. I believe that I understand hell and I choose heaven, not as an aspiration for some distant future or afterlife, but as a current reality and constant goal for here and now.

Answer 1

When these religions started these people were already suffering and these rewards, no matter how far fetched they may sound, gave them strength to endure what they were going through. People will grab onto anything for hope in perilous times.

Nowadays some feel they need to suffer like the old school believers did.

A stupid concept but followed nonetheless

Answer 2

Oh goodness!

I do not consider my life "hellish" at ALL. I have a blessed life, and because God is good, and guides me the way a loving Father would... I have abstained from many of the things that would ultimatly lead to a early death.

I am married, have no sexual diseases, no addictions, and am genuinly happy because God is in my life.

If I didnt have faith in God, my life would be a lot different, and I cannot imagine it being any better than it is now.

Faith in God is very powerful, and prayer is a beautiful thing.

My faith in God, and my life here is amazing. The way the bible describes heaven makes it also seem like a beautiful place. "No suffering, no sickness, no death" and unlimited feasts, celebrations and worship... I dont know where you get hellish out of that....

Answer 3

imagine u r a student
the good student will be true to his studies and be regular and take it seriously...he will study when it is study time and play when it's play time...he will work hard and party harder...in short, he will enjoy both the present and future...in the later part of his life when he searches for job, wat will be valued is his performance in his early age when he was a student, his degrees will be seen and nothing else like sorrow etc....he may then get a hellish job or good pay and less work

in the same way life goes on
one shud be a good human being while also enjoying his life but not on the cost of odrs
after death, wat will be valued is how good he was to himself and how good he was to odrs...how much he enjoyed himself without harming odrs and how much he helped the needy...watever money or respect or sympathy u have earned will of no use

Answer 4

I can only answer your question with another question. What makes you think the person asks for a hellish life with pain and suffering? Pain and suffering are felt by all people and that is a fact of life. The difference is how you deal with it. Some people embrace the pain and suffering and offer it up to God in reparation for sin, thereby uniting themselves with the pain and suffering of Jesus. It is a way of acceptance with a heart of thanksgiving and joy in this present life. People do not necessarily seek out this pain and suffering, but when it does come (and it surely will for every single human being), it is accepted as a means of offering joy and thanksgiving to God and using that suffering to glorify Him. Some do not accept pain and suffering and curse God. Its all a matter of acceptance and our response to God in light of whatever befalls us in this life.

Answer 5

The Christian life is the best life one can ever live.

It is not that one has to seclude himself or something like that, that is false. But to the real Christians who obey the Father, God gives a great joy, even on this life, although we may have troubles from time to time (like everybody else!), God helps us to be victorious and everything finally for good.

Answer 6

Obviously you have never experienced "misery, deprivation, and sorrows in this life."

Or you would understand.

And you can't even thank God for your blessedly easy life!!! What a shame.

Answer 7

Apparently you don't understand what hell really is....

"So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth". - Jesus (Matt. 13:49)

Answer 8

I disagree, they are specifically told that the downtrodden and humble will be blessed in heaven, waht are they supposed to think? The poor suckers

Answer 9

The people who, as you say: "seem to think that heaven in the afterlife is attained by misery, deprivation, and sorrows in this life....." ARE WRONG.

There are tribulations in this life because the world is so messed up and many people on earth are selfish enough to hurt others to get their own way.

But God intends for His children (those who seek Him and become His children) to have a good and abundant life:

Take a quick look at the following few promises of God. There are hundreds more throughout the Bible. The problem is that people don't know God but are still believing the devil, as Adam and Eve did, who said that God was trying to cheat them and that they would be better off following his (the devil's )advice to "do your own thing in spite of what God said".

Gen 1:28-31

28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground--everything that has the breath of life in it--I give every green plant for food." And it was so.
31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning--the sixth day.
(from New International Version)


Gen 13:15-18
15 All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. 17 Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you."

18 So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD.
(from New International Version)


Gen 48:3-4

3 Jacob said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there he blessed me 4 and said to me, 'I am going to make you fruitful and will increase your numbers. I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.'
(from New International Version)


Isa 43:1-7

But now, this is what the LORD says--he who created you, O Jacob,he who formed you, O Israel:"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters,I will be with you;and when you pass through the rivers,they will not sweep over you.When you walk through the fire,you will not be burned;the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the LORD, your God,the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;I give Egypt for your ransom,Cush and Seba in your stead. 4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,and because I love you,I will give men in exchange for you,and people in exchange for your life. 5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. 6 I will say to the north, 'Give them up!'and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.'Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-- 7 everyone who is called by my name,whom I created for my glory,whom I formed and made."
(from New International Version)


Matt 11:27-30

27 "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
(from New International Version)


Ps 126:2-3
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,our tongues with songs of joy.Then it was said among the nations,"The LORD has done great things for them." 3 The LORD has done great things for us,and we are filled with joy.
(from New International Version)


Ps 144:13-15
13 Our barns will be filled
with every kind of provision.
Our sheep will increase by thousands,
by tens of thousands in our fields;
14 our oxen will draw heavy loads.
There will be no breaching of walls,
no going into captivity,
no cry of distress in our streets.

15 Blessed are the people of whom this is true;
blessed are the people whose God is the LORD.
(from New International Version)