A Question From Atheists

[nosferatu323]

Always with the carrot and the stick, isn't it?

I think in Buddhism carrot and stick is not the case. Although it suggests to attain Nirvana, it makes it clear that you can remain in Samsara by seeking attachments. However it also warns you that you will experience alternate peace/suffering, positive karma/negative karma due to the ever changing nature of Samsara as we are all seem to be experiencing in our life. In fact there is no "reward" for your actions in Buddhism, it suggests a seeker of Nirvana to develop positive karma (good attachments) by good conduct, since positive attachments can be easily removed compared to negative attachments which stick, but it emphasizes that Nirvana is always possible regardless of your karmic state which resembles the concept of forgiveness in Judo-Christian religions, no matter how much sin, God forgives. But the more sin one has, the less is the chance for him to ask for Lord's forgiveness. Similarly also, forgiveness or dropping the attachments is always required, in Judo-Christian religions no one can enter paradise without forgiveness, regardless of good deeds or positive Karma.

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It also appeared to me that carrot and stick is not the case with Christianity either, since all are forgiven, they just have to realize it by believing in the sacrifice of the Son, the actions are irrelevant. So in fact in Christianity, one only needs to believe in the Son. That might be the reason why Christians are not obliged to the commandments of their religions compared to Jews and Muslims, which makes Christianity a much less effective religion in my opinion in terms of controlling the mass.