Why is there so much death in religion? What about financial prosperity??

Question

Death, sacrifice, martyrdom, repent....
Many religious literature seem to focus on these words.

Why not instead of killing yourself, or beating your wife, or sacrificing your first born child, you volunteer at a homeless shelter?! Or become a Big Brother or Big Sister? Start an after-school youth program? Maybe go to college, get a degree, and start working on a cure for AIDS? Or how about just simply busting your @ss in school and college, get a good, well-paying job and provide for your family while teaching your children to do the same?? Stop counting on religion, and count on yourself!

Answer 1

Death is one of the few things that we can count on in this life (unless you are in the rapture).

We may gain wealth, but it is not our first priority. The destination of our eternal soul is the most important thing.