Would you be religious without a reward on offer?

[Halcyon]

Do you think you would follow your religion if there was no reward in it for you, whatever that may be in your faith - no answered prayers and no afterlife?

Would you still be Christian if Jesus had not offered eternal life?

Would you be Muslim if there were no heaven to look forward too?

Would you be Hindu if moksha and reunion with God was not a possibility?

Would you be Wiccan or pagan if your prayers were not answered and your magick had no effect?

And for Buddhists, would you follow the dharma if the Buddha had not taught about a permanent Nirvana?

Any religion not mentioned above please also post, perhaps with an explanation if you feel one would help with understanding.

 

[Aqualung]

I doubt it. I don't think anybody would ever do anything that didn't have some sort of benefit, and I don't think I am that different.

 

[Storm]

Whether or not I'm "religious" is up for debate, but...

My beliefs offer no sort of reward, but I still believe. I don't believe in heaven or hell, only growth. What happens when we finish growing, I have no idea. I don't believe there's any point to prayer.

 

[ChristineES]

I don't actually consider myself "religious" but faithful. And yes, I believe I would still be faithful with no eternal reward. But only God knows if that statement is true or if I am just fooling myself.

 

[Halcyon]

I don't actually consider myself "religious" but faithful. And yes, I believe I would still be faithful with no eternal reward. But only God knows if that statement is true or if I am just fooling myself.

May i ask why? What would be the driving force behind your spritual effort if there was nothing in it for you?

 

[Sahar]

Would you be Muslim if there were no heaven to look forward too?

I'd say what Rab'a said:
"My Lord, if I worship You from fear of Hell, burn me in Hell; and if I worship You from hope of Paradise, exclude me from Paradise. But if I worship You for Your own sake, do not withhold from me Your Eternal Beauty."
Worshiping Allah is what we are created for. As for Paradise and Hell; it is a matter of justice. Rab'a Al'adawiyya is a one who tasted sweetness of faith but not any one has reached this high level of Iman thus fear and hope are needed for some at the start of their spiritual journey after that their love for their God will be the guide.

 

[lunamoth]

May i ask why? What would be the driving force behind your spritual effort if there was nothing in it for you?

Hope Christine does not mind if I chime in too. I accept the hope of heaven (union with God) as part of my faith, but it is not the reason for my faith. 'Eternal life' (salvation) starts now and I see the effects of faith in my life every day, sometimes every moment for a stretch. For me it is actually harder to understand how someone can have faith if they do not have this everyday experience (and yes, I do have moments of doubt but in those cases I just carry on...and wait for the light again) and only have hope of a reward in the afterlife. There is not enough 'evidence' of that to sustain me.

 

[Halcyon]

Hope Christine does not mind if I chime in too. I accept the hope of heaven (union with God) as part of my faith, but it is not the reason for my faith. 'Eternal life' (salvation) starts now and I see the effects of faith in my life every day, sometimes every moment for a stretch. For me it is actually harder to understand how someone can have faith if they do not have this everyday experience (and yes, I do have moments of doubt but in those cases I just carry on...and wait for the light again) and only have hope of a reward in the afterlife. There is not enough 'evidence' of that to sustain me.

But what if you had no reward at all, no feeling of being saved everyday?

 

[Popeyesays]

Well, Baha`u'llah tells us we have an 'afterlife" whether we believe it or not. So, I cannot call it a "a reward".

Regards,
Scott

 

[lunamoth]

But what if you had no reward at all, no feeling of being saved everyday?

Then it would not make sense to have faith. I'm not sure I consider eternal life, transformation to the likeness of Christ, a 'reward.' We all get to make choices every day. The outcome of those choices effects how we get along in the world. If my choices darkened my world, instead of brightening it, is that punishment?

I think of it as choices, consequences and outcomes. Not reward or punishment.

 

[Quiddity]

I have a loving relationship with my wife and I can't remember her ever giving me any guarantee of eternal anything. People will gravitate toward relationships whether they are eternal or not.

 

[ChristineES]

Hope Christine does not mind if I chime in too. I accept the hope of heaven (union with God) as part of my faith, but it is not the reason for my faith. 'Eternal life' (salvation) starts now and I see the effects of faith in my life every day, sometimes every moment for a stretch. For me it is actually harder to understand how someone can have faith if they do not have this everyday experience (and yes, I do have moments of doubt but in those cases I just carry on...and wait for the light again) and only have hope of a reward in the afterlife. There is not enough 'evidence' of that to sustain me.

Don't mind at all, that sounds about right. :yes:

 

[cardero]

Do you think you would follow your religion if there was no reward in it for you, whatever that may be in your faith - no answered prayers and no afterlife?

Yes, I would still be studying Patrickism.

 

[Engyo]

Actually I do not practice Buddhism to attain Nirvana, I practice to attain enlightenment. Quite a bit different - it isn't a reward for good behavior, it is more like earning a doctorate in human potential.......

 

[cardero]

I'd like to change my answer to Engyo's.

 

[Todd]

Do you think you would follow your religion if there was no reward in it for you, whatever that may be in your faith - no answered prayers and no afterlife?

Would you still be Christian if Jesus had not offered eternal life?

Very good question. I had to search my heart and really think about this.

I guess that if he had no power, couldn't answer prayers, and gave no promises, then he'd be no different from me. Then, I'd probably not be a Christian, and IMO, all hope would be lost in the world for me. Fortunately, that's not the case.

 

[rojse]

Then it would not make sense to have faith. I'm not sure I consider eternal life, transformation to the likeness of Christ, a 'reward.' We all get to make choices every day. The outcome of those choices effects how we get along in the world. If my choices darkened my world, instead of brightening it, is that punishment?

I think of it as choices, consequences and outcomes. Not reward or punishment.

Although everyone may have a choice, isn't this choice heavily skewed on the basis of reward and punishment?

Let's say I ask you to choose between A and B, which are merely the first two letters of the alphabet. I add the rider that if you choose A, I will give you ten thousand dollars, and if you choose B, I will give you an electric shock, and no money. I know what you would choose, and I know what everyone else would, too.

 

[Buttons*]

Do you think you would follow your religion if there was no reward in it for you, whatever that may be in your faith - no answered prayers and no afterlife?

Yes I would. I've always been spiritual - and am continuously spiritual now, and realize that there will be no reward at the end I still follow my faith and I'm slowly understanding. That's enough of a reward for me

 

[lunamoth]

Although everyone may have a choice, isn't this choice heavily skewed on the basis of reward and punishment?

Let's say I ask you to choose between A and B, which are merely the first two letters of the alphabet. I add the rider that if you choose A, I will give you ten thousand dollars, and if you choose B, I will give you an electric shock, and no money. I know what you would choose, and I know what everyone else would, too.

That's a false dichotomy; it does not correspond to the choice I face.

 

[michel]

Yes I would. I've always been spiritual - and am continuously spiritual now, and realize that there will be no reward at the end I still follow my faith and I'm slowly understanding. That's enough of a reward for me

Todd's answer threw me for a few minutes, but I must admit I am with you on this one; there is no "carrot" to my relationship with God; I would still have that relationship because it exists even if there was "nothing in it" for me.