I think the point so many people miss about why belief and morality and actually following the lifestyle and teachings that religion gives us is that yes, we follow so we are set for the afterlife. But we also follow so our society may prosper. A human that has control over his primal, animalistic side, is a developed, thoughtful, logical human. One that can make decisions realistically and heuristically, not out of emotion or archaic instinct. If you are selfless, you help others. If other people are also selfless, they help you. If you do not lust, you do not prioritize base, meaningless hormonal pleasure over long term development and upbringing, leading to a more prosperous society. Our ability to ignore our animal sides is what gives us free will. We can sin, be like animals, or we can virtue, be like angels. Reflections of God's mercy upon us; we aren't mindless beasts of flesh, and we aren't robotic beings of order. We are in between. A truly divine gift.

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