It seems to be a common theme in religion that a god will promise something wonderful if you worship and follow him just right, and something awful if you don't... but if the rewards were that wonderful, why would he need the threats as well? Doesn't it just seem more like part of the man-made marketing strategy for the business of religion?
2007-05-26 02:23:46 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
These are false Gods made up by religion.
The real God love each and every one of us unconditionally.
Love and blessings Don
2007-05-26 02:27:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Not all religions are like that. In paganism, there are no promises and there are no threats. You can choose to worship or not.. the gods aren't up on some high mountaintop just waiting for you to screw up so they can pounce on you, nor are they using some reward system to get you to come to them.. however, I do see your point in the monotheistic mainstream religions of the world today.
2007-05-26 02:30:27 · answer #2 · answered by Kallan 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Heaven and hell are a reality, yet the atheists live in denial and delusion. The magma beneath the earth's surface, is it not hell of some sort? If a creator can cast one down to the magma, is it not hell? I do not agree with the carrot-stick analogy. it is preordained by God for man to live once and die and face judgment. What he has done in his lifetime will be rewarded or punished. What he has done with the Son of God is a matter of eternal consequence. Has he believed in Jesus? Jesus is the only way to God, because He is God manifest in flesh. The Bible has always been proven true; scoffers will always exist. Their lives are in peril. They live in judgment of God. Yet, God is merciful and loving and wants you to repent and turn towards Him. It is just like a child turning towards his natural father and acknowledging him. God is our Father and wants your devotion. Jesus has paid for your sins once and for all. If there is no hell, people will cast off restraint and do what they want. Crimes will shoot up sky-high. With heaven, Christians become sober and do what really matters eternally.
2016-05-18 01:53:00 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God wants to persuade us to do what is good. But we have free will to live selfishly. God does not force us to live His way. Instead, through promises that only He can make and fulfill, he gently encourages us to sacrifice now for a greater good to come.
My child wants to live selfishly and do what is wrong. To persuade him to obey us, we offer him rewards when he does the right thing and privileges are removed if he does the wrong thing. This is training in action. He is learning what is right and wrong, and learning to take control of his baser impulses to live for a higher good. God applies the same principles to us spiritually as well. He made us able to respond in this way in the first place.
2007-05-26 02:33:41 · answer #4 · answered by Steve Husting 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You've got it backwards. God's "carrot-and-stick approach," as you call it, is more like this: you're automatically going to hell for your sin. I didn't have to do anything to stop that. I would have been completely justified to let you go to your eternal condemnation. You've earned it all by yourself. You've polluted my earth with garbage and moral corruption. You rape, murder, torture, extort, abuse, lie, cheat and steal. In the very beginning, I warned you that death was the penalty for sin. You didn't believe me. Now, look at your condition. But, instead of just wiping you out, I will make a way out for you. A free pass. Here, take it. It's your only way to escape eternal damnation for the atrocities you've committed. But I won't force you to accept it. It's your choice. And I know you can't live a perfect life. I'm sending someone in your place who can. Jesus. Just accept Him as your substitutionary sacrifice, and all's forgiven.
2007-05-26 02:34:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I agree, and I also think that if such a being were really worthy of worship, it would be obvious, and wouldn't require any convincing at all.
My children don't need to do anything to get me to adore them, for example. One smile and I hand my heart right over.
2007-05-26 05:59:31 · answer #6 · answered by KC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course it is. Without the fear factor there I think there are many who would abandon it. I"ve seen a few on here saying they only worship their god because they are afraid of burning for eternity. Obviously works doesn't it.
2007-05-26 02:29:13 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you are right. Worse it betrays the fact the those men who devised these principles regard the rest of their fellows human beings as both asses and beasts of burden.
2007-05-26 10:15:48 · answer #8 · answered by cosmicvoyager 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God's inducements are real and beyond our comprehension. He just doesn't force you to choose them. If He did, your question might have some merit. As it is, it doesn't. You can't complain then about the choice you didn't make now.
And God doesn't "threaten" anybody. He tells you to live with your decision, which by your own choice is actually choosing death-both now and then.
2007-05-26 02:39:55 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Ooh, don't worry about those! In my church it is all about acceptance and love, no threats -- NONE! All Saints Pasadena, California
2007-05-26 02:27:32 · answer #10 · answered by CarlisleGirl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋