Does anyone else agree...?

Question

...that all religions have their foundation in the fear of death and retribution in the afterlife (if any)?

Answer 1

People are afraid of the unknown. Why are so many afraid of the dark? They don't know what's out there. Why are so many afraid of the water? They don't know what's under them. Why are so many afraid of death? They don't know what's beyond it, and they are afraid it may be nothing. This is why so many myths existed about the oceans and monsters that inhabit them. This is why monsters in many stories only come out after dark. And this is why religion centers around death. People are afraid of being stalked by something they can't see. If you can't see your enemy, then you are powerless against it. And in every ones case, that enemy is death. Religion tries to comfort people by saying that there is a good force controlling death, and that death is not the end. People want to believe this, so they do. The possibility of no longer existing scares people. It makes us feel less significant. We don't want to lose loved ones, so we trick ourselves into believing they continue on. Religion helps with, and capitalizes on the want for this delusion. The good thing is, more people are moving away from religion in the same way people stopped fearing sea monsters.

Answer 2

Most religions probably do, but the true religion doesn't. When a person is taught the truth from the Bible fear is thrown aside. You're no longer under the false doctrines that the churches teach.

One such doctrine is that the dead can hurt you. The belief in the immortality of the soul keeps this belief going, but the Bible shows that when you die you feel nothing and are conscious of nothing at all. Jesus even likened death to sleep,

The concept of an immortal soul came from pagan religions and Greek philosophers. The Catholic Church adopted this and other doctrines in the 3rd century and it has spread down to our day. The first century Christians never believed in the immortality of the soul.

This is what the Bible teaches. Read:
Genesis 2:7 shows Adam became a soul, not given one.
Ezekiel 18:4,20 and Revelation 16:3 show that the soul dies(not tortured or in heavenly bliss)
Numbers 31:28 shows animals are souls.
Ecclesiastes 9:5,10
John 11:11-14

Answer 3

Not all religions no, as many asian beliefs rule out the existence of a God and or afterlife.

The main religions however, like christianity and islam, are all about the fear of death and the fear of God. If you could proove beyond a shadow of a doubt that their was nothing after death (which you can by the way) those religions would dissapear very, very quickly.

Answer 4

No, as some religions welcome death as a passage. I'd say that part of their foundation is in dealing with what happens after death, not necessarily the fear of death or afterlife. Another foundation would be "why do things happen" i.e. Why does weather happen?

Answer 5

Nope. I'm a Christian and I don't fear death or retribution in the afterlife.

Answer 6

Hardly. The foundation of the Baha'i Faith is the oneness of humanity; oneness of God known by different names and understood differently through history; and the oneness of religion progressively revealed through the universal educators including Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddah, Christ, Muhammad, The Bab, and Baha'u'llah. It's aim is nothing short of the unity and prosperity of humanity. The Baha'i Faith offers itself as a working model for the world.

Answer 7

I am Inclined to totally disagree with this hypothesis.Even If there was no religion,human beings have always been afraid of "The Unknown", be It death or whatever?.I am of the Catholic faith, and have personal fear of God, as I "KNOW" he exists, and will judge me In another dimension which humans are not intelligent enough ti grasp fully, Including myself.

Answer 8

ALL religions have their foundation in hear-say, superstition, myths, supposition, fairy stories, stupid thoughts given out by others, afraid of the afterlife, and upsetting gods which do not exist.
Need I go on?

Answer 9

No. The foundation of Christianity is faith in God that He will deliver us. The foundation of all other religions is that man can deliver himself.

Death is merely a fact of life.

Answer 10

I don't fear death, I am never going to die. My body may die, but my spirit will live on through out eternity. I chose to live a good life according to the Biblical way, and I don't have to fear. Because I know where my spirit will go when this body dies.