is the only reason religous people believe because...?

Question

they just cant fathom being that good for all those years and not get rewarded for it? that's the only reason i can think of when the answers are right there

Answer 1

They are afraid of death and think that if they believe in an afterlife strongly enough it will come true.

Answer 2

yes that is actually one of the reasons. though there are people so great that they will do it only because they love God so much, therefore they will have a much great reward than us because we're kinda doing it for heaven.
Another reason we believe is that if there wasn't hell think about all those people doing so many bad stuff, just ruining the world. What would happen to them? Lie peacefully after a long life's torturing? I don't think so. They have to pay back for what they did! And don't think it's unfair because God is the most merciful, he gives EVERYONE a chance in the world to find the right path. Because you can't control whether you're born in a christain family, or a jewish one, or a muslim one, or an atheist one, or a buddhist one. and whichever you're born in God will be there to show you the right one although everyone in their own belief will think they are right. But God is powerful he can do anything so He'll show the way.
But there are people who are just so bad, God has said their eyes and ears are closed and they just won't understand no matter what. And those will be the ones in hell, and what a big relief for us believers!

Answer 3

No, I think it's more than that.
For instance, I am no longer a religious person, I don't follow any more doctrines, yet I have strong spiritual beliefs and they don't entail receiving a reward for having them. When religion is at play it seems they are out to impress others more so than God, so there are some going to church play-acting as if they believe in God yet they may not. The reward for them would be approval from others, not God himself.

Answer 4

I think people that really do good do so because they believe that is what Christ would want them to do, and they love him,
the reward is secondary.

I personally believe in God the Eternal Father, in His Son Jesus Christ and in the Holy Ghost. I know they are three distinct persons, separate but united in puropse. That purpose is the salvation, exaltation and eternal life of man.

I believe that all mankind will be punished for their own sins and not Adam's transgression. I also believe we will earn our own rewards.

I believe that through the atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. (The atonement is where Christ paid for our sins.)

I believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

I also believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; I also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

I believe that everyone who truely seeks after a knowledge of the truth of God can expect the Holy Ghost to witness to him the truth.

At the end of the Book of Mormon is found a very special promise from God. I took the challenge of this promise and I know for certain the Book of Mormon is true, that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and that God lives and Jesus is his Son.

Here is the promise.

Moroni 10:4-5. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

Contact any Latter-Day Saint for a copy of the Book of Mormon. Read and pray about it. This will be a life altering experience.

Answer 5

it is very different for every person...
in a way, i think it is a good reason why religions started in the first place: to bring immoral people a reason to be moral.... the fear of hell and the reward of heaven. But that doesn't mean all non religious persons are immoral - from the contrary, i met a lot of atheists with highest morals than some religious people i met. Also, being religious is not a guarantee of morality. Some people just follow some rituals and are proud of it, but that doesn't stop them from cheating, gossiping, being unfair to others

Answer 6

Then is the only reason you can think of for people that care for their elderly parents to do so is so that they might get a (bigger portion of an) inheritance? Or might some of them do so motivated solely by love?

I would suggest that in many cases, you have it backwards: a Christian is first saved and then, out of gratitude for the gift of salvation, tries to do what is right.

Answer 7

I'd say "no" based on the fact that I am religious, but my thoughts about what comes after death don't include any sort of "reward for being good" or "punishment for being bad".

Answer 8

Being a good person is NOT the criteria for being a Christian. In fact, goodness can't even be purely or truly achieved by anyone unless they either will it or has the Holy Spirit to guide them. That means there is a LOT of room for error and willful wrong doing because of free will. However, the GOOD NEWS comes from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The example can be seen in his disciples such as Peter who denied Jesus three times yet went on to become the first disciple to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul is also a good example, before he was interrupted on the road to Damascus by Jesus Himself, Paul used to hold the coats of the Pharisees and Sadducee’s of that day while they tortured and killed those who believed in Christ. The good news of the gospel is that God knows there is nothing purely righteous and good in the heart of man "for ALL have sinned and come short of the glory (perfect goodness) of God" (Romans 3:10). No one on the face of this earth can be good enough or even earn a place in heaven with Our Father. That is why He sent a Savior in Jesus Christ. It is the loving sacrifice of Christ that pays the debt in full for ALL sin. It is the ONLY THING that makes anyone worthy to know God for real now and to live eternally with Him after death. So, to answer your question fully, I believe because of he Saving grace of God's love through Jesus Christ and His gift of the Holy Spirit with in me that continuously gives full testimony of Gods love, grace, mercy, power, and existence.

Answer 9

"There are none righteous, no not one..."

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"

"He who says he does not sin is a liar..."

No, I am certainly not afraid I have been "good" for all these years, because I know that in my humanness, I will never be "good enough" compared to the matchless goodness and holiness of God.

This is why Jesus came to die and rise again. So we would have the opportunity to repent and have an Advocate before the Father.

I believe because Jesus made the offer and I chose to accept.

Answer 10

No, it is not the only reason.

The reward is unimportant to me.
Being good is its own reward. Being kind is its own reward.
Intrinsic rewards are better than material ones, IMO.


Try being kind just to be kind. Try being good just because.....it's worth it.

I cannot imagine only being good for a material reward. That would be sad to me.

Answer 11

I believe because I have seen God's goodness and the fullness of his miracles. You can't fault a person for believing in light of true experiences. God is Good.!