Would religions exist and thrive without claims to existence of an afterlife?

I don’t think so. After all, afterlife, and it’s promise, is the key, IMO.

Yes, the afterlife is less provable than God’s existence. Whether it’s true or not, I choose to believe for other reasons, such as help getting through this life, comfort, etc…

There are plenty of other “mysteries of the unexplained” and so many seeking answers that there will always be religions and carnivals.

Judaism has no real concept of an afterlife and it’s not a big deal.

@mazingerz88 – yes. Religion is basically a massive Ponzi scheme to keep you involved – but you never see the value of your investment because you have to die first.

@Caravanfan beat me to it.

I think certain religions with their promise of a reward in the afterlife for adherence and an unfathomably terrible punishment for lack of adherence would not have spread so far and wide without it. They simply wouldn’t have the following without appealing to people’s basest hopes and fears like that. But religions don’t need a concept of the afterlife to appeal to people, to promise a right way to live and give meaning to their lives.

Loneliness, feeling insecure, lots of things contribute to a person’s desire for a supreme being.

@Caravanfan I have several Jewish friends and they seem to relish life on a daily basis. That’s how I see it at least.

Spoke to a Rabbi once who told me she had observed both Catholic and Jewish people on their death beds and the Catholics seemed to be at peace dying while the Jews were quite the opposite.

Yes.
You just have the fear mongering pertain to life instead.
Worship my god, or he will strike you down with pestilence.
Sacrifice your firstborn, or you shall be stricken with genital warts.

@mazingerz88 Interesting comment by the Rabbi, thanks.

^^ Yes I was a bit taken aback by that.

I’ve seen a lot of people die, probably more than anybody else here, and the concept of being “at peace” is complete bunk. It has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with how much morphine you’re being given.

@Caravanfan I agree.

BTW-When are we going to legalize euthanasia for adults of sound mind in the US?

@KNOWITALL My wife asks me the same question.

@Caravanfan It’s just cruel and sick NOT to be legal. Good enough for dogs but not humans. smh

@Caravanfan Not sure if in other countries the dying has access to morphine.

Judeo-Christian religions sure have reduced people’s ideas about what religion can be, Egad…

I got stopped today while out walking my dawg (staff day off) was two american lads, dressed in suits who offered me a card to download their app about the church of latter day saints, think that’s mormons but not sure.
Now, normally i’d have laughed in their faces & threw the card away, but I was in a good mood so took the card, they asked what my dog’s name was (Buddy) stroked him & said how lovely he was. After a couple of mins or so of polite small talk, I shook their hands & moved away.

What this has to do with the question I do not know, but hey…that’s me in the corner…

Cheap fucks. They used to give out free copies of their bible.

Religion is all about fear, so no. No afterlife prize, no followers.

Fear mongering, and false promises guide the sheep well. Until the sheep get smarter, religion shall be their shepherd…

I agree the Jews don’t focus on the afterlife. Our religion is more earthly. We do what God wants, or what is right, for rewards in life. It’s not a perfect karma thing, but rather to make society better. Not just greater society, but also our immediate community and family.

I’d even go out on a limb and say the whole afterlife thing is a little annoying, because doing something for an afterlife payoff seems like reward or punishment by a parent, rather than an intrinsic reward of doing the right thing for our neighbors and then indirectly for ourselves.

Religion would still exist, but it would not thrive. Poverty, ignorance, oppression and religion feed off of one another. In first world countries, including the U .S., there has been a marked decline in religion. If you are content with your circumstances, there is less incentive to believe in a place which will eliminate your suffering.