In my experience in a very fundamental religion during my youth, I noticed that folks seemed to use the prospect of an afterlife in "heaven" as a way of allowing themselves to live at or near the poverty level in this life. Their "reward" was in heaven. They didn't have to take personal responsibility for their present situation. Another poster made a comment similar to this and I have to agree that I think that's a big part of humanity's desire to have an omnipotent God in the picture.
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