Theoretically our life quality is measured in absolute wealth and modern medicine better than ever. Materially we live better lives than all kings from the 18th century. Of course life is way more than that. And wealth (and so poverty) is relative.
Centuries ago people had workdays of 18 hours per day 6 days a week. Many of their children died very early. Visiting the dentist was similar to a torture chamber. Women died giving birth. There was no electricity and no cars. Incest was common and more people were disabled because of this. Criminal punishments were often public torturing events for the whole family. Blasphemy got many people killed. They burnt people for being witches. Education was only accessible to a few. Not being straight and cis was a severe crime. (very often but not always in history)
And these people did not all jump off bridges?
Why? Was it solely the fear of punishment in the afterlife? Is fear the maindriver? Maybe combined with a lack of education?
I ask myself how much religion increases the level of happiness in a person. Would I be much happier if I believed in justice in my afterlife? Would I feel better if I was convinced I get rewarded for fulfiling my role in my life. Many people search for meaning and purpose. And can't find it in a modern world. This is why conspiracy theories and esotericism are so popular. If I believed evil people get punished in afterlife I might would feel better. Religion can really be like an opioid.
Religion comforts many people. But also causes a lot of misery.
Personally, being religious made everything worse for me. Especially the fear of hell. Some faiths would actually comfort me. But I think it would rather be like an actual cult for me. If I was certain a perfect afterlife is waiting for me I would probably kill myself immediately to escape the hell I am currently in.
Centuries ago people had workdays of 18 hours per day 6 days a week. Many of their children died very early. Visiting the dentist was similar to a torture chamber. Women died giving birth. There was no electricity and no cars. Incest was common and more people were disabled because of this. Criminal punishments were often public torturing events for the whole family. Blasphemy got many people killed. They burnt people for being witches. Education was only accessible to a few. Not being straight and cis was a severe crime. (very often but not always in history)
And these people did not all jump off bridges?
Why? Was it solely the fear of punishment in the afterlife? Is fear the maindriver? Maybe combined with a lack of education?
I ask myself how much religion increases the level of happiness in a person. Would I be much happier if I believed in justice in my afterlife? Would I feel better if I was convinced I get rewarded for fulfiling my role in my life. Many people search for meaning and purpose. And can't find it in a modern world. This is why conspiracy theories and esotericism are so popular. If I believed evil people get punished in afterlife I might would feel better. Religion can really be like an opioid.
Religion comforts many people. But also causes a lot of misery.
Personally, being religious made everything worse for me. Especially the fear of hell. Some faiths would actually comfort me. But I think it would rather be like an actual cult for me. If I was certain a perfect afterlife is waiting for me I would probably kill myself immediately to escape the hell I am currently in.
