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The question in your Thread Title and the question in the Opening post are totally different.
The thread title asks would people still believe... I assume you mean in god..... if there was no threat of hell. The answer to that is clearly "yes" given there are a number of religions out there with no Hell concept.
The Opening Post asks the morality question of whether people would still be good without a threat of hell. The number of very moral Atheists also shows the answer to this is "Yes."
And good deeds, aka being good, do not get one into Heaven.
Well, speaking for me, I am a non-theist, I do not believe in God, the Devul, or the afterlife of Heaven or Hell either one.
I am a good person?
DO I do my part to help my fellow man, my community, to reliev suffering and pain when I can?
DO I live within the laws of my state and country, respecting the rights and liberties of others?
DO I seek to educate and better myself, the better to provide for my family and my community?
If so, then YES I am a good person (I hope) and I do not need a religion or a heaven or hell to guide me into this direction.
My example would be the only proof I can offer.
Honestly, it kind of sounds boring. I'd rather just be a good person while I'm around and then skip the whole heaven thing.
Me too. I find that the concept of eternal after lives actually cheapens the value of life itself. Not only do I see no reason to think there is an afterlife... I am rather glad of it too.
I believe fixations on an afterlife will understandably lessen the value of being in the moment with that said I'am not afraid of an after life though I have commited what some may consider a grave sin by having myself spaded/neutered-it was best for me and I'll deal with any consequences later.
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Given I see no reason to think there even IS a heaven, I am not really able to comment.
