Quote Originally Posted by thir View Post
Why - excuse me - on earth not? It is intesting that these concepts are so closely connected in people's minds, I did not expect that at all.
Not so surprising, considering that most of us are fed those ideas from the time we're born.

Pagans have Gods, but no hell, and for many, no heaven either. You simply go back and join the source you came from.
Then what's the point of the gods? Why worship beings who, apparently, have no interest in or influence on your future?

Buddhists believe in reincarnation as you deserve, but no heaven or hell. Of course whether or not Buddha is a God is a moot point, perhaps? Theosophists believe in a spirit world as part of learning process before being sent back in reincarnation, I am told.
But isn't the point of reincarnation that eventually one achieves some sort of pure state? If it's just a case of constant reincarnation, ad infinitum, what's the point for having gods?
Some Christians are godloving rather than godfearing, and do not believe in hell. I was born in a culture like that, christianity the official religion that few people thought about, but if they did, there was no hell in it.
Sacrilege! No True ChristianŠ ... yadda yadda... etc.
Maybe you could call that a god without heaven or hell?
I suppose you can have that, but then I repeat, what's the purpose of the gods? Aren't they supposed to be the arbiters of our fate? Be good so the gods will reward you? That sort of thing?
The gods do not regulate where you end up, necessarily. The Hindus seem to believe that they cannot, karma decides where you end up in your next reincarnation.
That's simply replacing the anthropomorphic gods with ones that are not. You still wind up with some non-corporeal force determining your fate.
I know, its complicated
Most fairy tales are.