[Serious] Literal and Not Literal

[Belacqua]

Except there one glaring issue.

Most religious scriptures, christians or pagan, etc..., especially in the Ancient world are not that consoling, and more often then not, don't offer any sort of rosy afterlife, and many Jews didn't believe there was one. The OT almost has nothing to say about life after death, let alone painting a comforting picture of what awaits.

The NT sure, has an idea of heaven, though it's quite vague. When folks ask Jesus about the nature of it, he's quick to be dismissive.

Generally speaking, it applies to most popular religions. Exceptions may exist, but such consoling myths do exist in most religions which include the primitive ones. Myths about death is an example, which is why "death" was preceded with "like."

Buddhism? After death you may be reincarnated as a worm, a hungry ghost, a tormented soul in hell. Is this knowledge consoling? If you did a good job before, you can get a better deal, but you don't know until you get there. In the end, after a zillion reincarnations, you may manage to disappear completely.

Christianity (many forms) you have a good chance of eternal torture, and you don't know until you go. Well, that's consoling. 

I don't know anything about Islam. 

Ancient Greek religion: the afterlife is terrible. Ancient Roman religion: depending on how you did in this life, you might get a nice neighborhood in Hades. But you don't know until you go there.