...adding the carrot and stick of Heaven and Hell, does take some of the work out of enforcing those rules upon people not intelligent enough to figure out for themselves that rules should be followed.
folks should note how the concept of heaven and hell changed in the Jewish faith over time, Initially 'Sheol' ( land of forgetfulness) was not so much a place of tortuous punishment and there really was no concept of reward. In fact, Ecclesiastes and Job insist that all of the dead go down to Sheol, whether good or evil, rich or poor, slave or free man.
With the introduction into Judaism of Hellenistic notions came the division of the material, perishable body and the spiritual, eternal soul.
of course christians are known to think or imagine that God can strike the wicked well before hells gates....
Norsemen raid on Lindisfarne 793 AD, Pagans wielding their battle axes and spilling the blood and brain matter of the Christian monasteries monks were perceived as the wrath of God raining down on them for their wicked errant ways. but sober fact of the matter was the nOrse were there to gather valuable material treasures. and in true Norse style swept the delusional cowering moron christians out of their way.
-Bulletproof and Waterproof don't mean Idiotproof.
