It depends what you view as a punishement: life or death.
If you are part of a religion where one is meant to suffer, then death is seen as a good thing and a "better place" is awaiting you.
If you are part of a religion where death is an empty darkness, but don't worry, one day you will be reactivated, then life is seen as the better place.
And if you don't believe in a heaven, then all you have is now, and so life is the best!
And, of course, if you believe in a heaven, then an entire mythology will be created around it. Good people get the condos, really good people get the cottages, and super good people get palaces that they disdained in real life.
Now had that couple in the garden had just eaten the fruit from that other tree that their god was ok with...
If you are part of a religion where one is meant to suffer, then death is seen as a good thing and a "better place" is awaiting you.
If you are part of a religion where death is an empty darkness, but don't worry, one day you will be reactivated, then life is seen as the better place.
And if you don't believe in a heaven, then all you have is now, and so life is the best!
And, of course, if you believe in a heaven, then an entire mythology will be created around it. Good people get the condos, really good people get the cottages, and super good people get palaces that they disdained in real life.
Now had that couple in the garden had just eaten the fruit from that other tree that their god was ok with...
“I've done everything the Bible says — even the stuff that contradicts the other stuff!"— Ned Flanders
