I think it’s less of a reward, more of a fear. How can I turn my back on god and risk eternal damnation? That’s a powerful thing right there. But true, it is also a massive part of some people’s identity.
When I deconverted, I found it to be really hard to get past the fear. The thing that finally did it for me was the idea that a truly benevolent God wouldn’t have an issue with inquiry, and a malevolent God wasn’t one I wanted to follow. Fear is definitely a factor that keeps people in the church.
I think it’s less of a reward, more of a fear. How can I turn my back on god and risk eternal damnation? That’s a powerful thing right there. But true, it is also a massive part of some people’s identity.
When I deconverted, I found it to be really hard to get past the fear. The thing that finally did it for me was the idea that a truly benevolent God wouldn’t have an issue with inquiry, and a malevolent God wasn’t one I wanted to follow. Fear is definitely a factor that keeps people in the church.