what does this mean?

Question

Taken to an extreme, a doctrine that prizes faith over good works may mean that, in terms of everyday life, the pursuit of a transcendent heaven results in a hell on earth. - this is from an analysis of the scarlet letter what does this mean? i dont understand it

Answer 1

We get saved by grace of God, but of course we need to help each other out. This is not our final home, that is why we feel that nothing really give to us the satisfaction the way helping others give.

Answer 2

It may be referring to the chastening of the Lord, because believing that faith is all that is necessary for salvation leads to lasciviousness for many, and God chastens those he loves so that they will repent.

Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Answer 3

I hope I'm not helping you cheat on your homework or something... I'd say it means that people who become so wrapped up in the idea of a 'correct faith' begin to disregard their acts and do abhorrent things in the name of their "Truth", like killing in the name of religion, thus resulting in hell on Earth for the rest of us non-believers.