Why does Christianity say followers should only focus on getting to Heaven and not be able to enjoy things like music, movies, food, etc?

[Anonymous]

Also, if God/Jesus/Heaven is all we ever need for eternity, then why did God have to create a whole universe with matter and physical pleasure?

[Effably]

The logical reason is of course that religions is a means of controlling the masses and that this sort of mentality makes governing easier.

The more religious interpretation? We were cast out of paradise because we could not contain our curiosity and desire for more. And so by showing our ability to restrain ourselves in life we are making up for that.

Of course at some point uncontrolled hedonism also isn't very healthy. Most religions do have a good measure of actually sound advice too.

[Asker]

Yeah, but when it comes to an afterlife, it is either one extreme or the other.

[MrCommodore]

Did Jesus Christ ever say any of that? I don't think so, his words were all about love and peace.

Christianity's new testament is based predominantly on random letters from other dudes, many of which could have been tweaked to create a cohesive story.

[Guy13]

Read Wisdom literature:
Ecclesiastes 2:24, 3:12-13, 7:14, 8:15, 9:9-10.
THEN sit down with the one or ones who said you could not live a fulfilling spiritual and physical existence in this world and share Word of God via your Bible‼️

[MrTaboo]

It doesn't. God gave us those to enjoy and to use as worship for him.

[BCRanger10]

Who said so, when, and where?