Posted by Booty Princess at syr-24-59-115-15.twcny.rr.com on March 28, 2003 at 16:55:25:
In Reply to: I'm not just saying Christianity. posted by Smalls on March 28, 2003 at 16:48:11:
and African and Native American religions. They might have some vague idea of reincarnation or energy-continuing or something, but no afterlife per se. And...
: Show me a faith that genuinely holds to no promise of an afterlife and I'll show you a faith that was less damaging to humanity and also probably not very successful.
I assume by "successful" you mean that it made a lot of money and involved a lot of power over a lot of people that it converted. In which case, yeah, you do seem to be right. It's difficult to maintain that high level of religious control without the threat of future punishment or reward.
The only exception I can think of is Judaism, which has no specific teachings about an afterlife, but I wouldn't say that Judaism's been terribly damaging. Successful, however, yes -- and that's under continuous persecution.
I think a lot of that has to do with them holding on to matriliny, though. That's a good way to keep the line going.