In the long term of human history, people would believe in one or several gods. We call this belief as “Religion”. The followers believe that if they insist on their religious belief, they will be rewarded by the gods they worship in the end. For example, in Hinduism, nirvana represents the release from all kinds of troubles, pains and disasters (Harris, 2024). Same scenario happens in Christianity that people will be waiting for the “Final Judgement”. God will assign the destinations of individuals according to their living behaviors and persistence to their belief. All the people want to go to the Heaven instead of the Hell as the result. This  notion of divine reward also appears in other religions, such as Judaism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Islam, and other faiths.

However, the idea of obtaining reward from God and the promising to the next life require more profound understanding and investigations. The belief on the higher or excessive power or the profits of the real returning doesn’t lie in the pledge to the next life, but lie in the spirit and emotion empowered to the believers. This essay argues that faith, no matter belongs to religion, science or normal thread of love, is a mental aegis that provides people with security, purpose, and support.

The internal rewards got from belief greatly exceed the simple anticipation of external benefits promised and expected by the people who hold this trust. Instead, belief functions as a deep psychological and emotional protection, meaning it strengthens individuals in times of turmoil and empowers them when they are in vulnerability. This refuge held inside a person’s mind is resulting from the firm confidence of the great figures, their power of change. It will influence the mind and emotion health of any individual who cherishes and sticks to it. For instance, Viktor Frankl, in his seminal work Man's Search for Meaning, discusses how belief in a higher purpose helped concentration camp prisoners survive the horrors of the Holocaust by providing them with a sense of meaning and hope (Frankl).

Belief cultivates as well an intense sense of belonging, locating people into a group where they can liaise with those who share the same ambitions and purposes, so that individuals can establish personal relationship based on their focus of creed. This liaison provides a sense of position and sense of purpose, provides comfort and consolation to people, reduce their chance of being isolated or pointed, which bothers human as always. Moreover, it acts as a guidance of morality, policy of decision, and manual of behaviors. In such a way, disciples will avoid the complexity in their life.  

Besides the profits to psychology, belief often transfers into  tangible social advantages which can be visualized by people to enhance their understanding. Religious communities offer support and help to those who are in difficult times, such as illness, bankruptcy, or personal crises. These activities greatly enhance the sense of belonging and sense of purpose. In such a way, followers even don’t have to wait till next life or final judgement to get the profits and benefits of believing. The rewarding systems shown in the religious and belief frameworks prove to be the advantage of possessing the faith.

Many people believe it is the promise to the afterlife that becomes the discipline of moral actions and perseverance to the hope. The internal rewards of belief, however, will bring the immediate wellbeing which increases the intensified benefits, such as higher appreciation of life, more gratefulness to others. This phenomenon appears in all different kind of religions, meaning the happiness brought by belief lies in more than psychological and emotional aspects. Albert Einstein’s faith in the orderliness of the universe and the rationality of its laws provided him with the intellectual framework to develop the theory of relativity, illustrating how belief in non-religious principles can also yield profound rewards (Einstein).

One of the most significant rewards of belief is that it helps to reduce the dread feeling brought from the outside influence and attack, and it strengthen people’s will and mindpower to defend themselves. A single person may be troubled by the target working on, death, and other pressure of uncertainty and existence, and will be largely comforted at the  reassuring narrative or framework offered by belief. It answers or consoles the misery and mystery in one’s life, reduces the burdens imposed onto the mind. Søren Kierkegaard, a philosopher known for his exploration of faith and anxiety, argued that belief in God provides a resolution to the existential angst that arises from the awareness of human finitude and freedom (Kierkegaard).

Moreover, belief can infuse hope and and optimism and hence enhance resilience which is a critical virtue when facing struggles in real life. Studies in positive psychology indicates that a person with strong religious or spiritual beliefs often possess stronger flexibility, lower depression, and greater satisfaction. This is much more beneficial that the welfares of afterlife, as it leads to practical advantage in real life. For instance, a study by Koenig, McCullough, and Larson (2001) found that religious involvement was associated with better mental health outcomes, including reduced rates of depression and anxiety, as well as greater life satisfaction.

When facing uncertainty, belief can help to produce sense of control and capability of handling. There is a Chinese say, “You see farther by standing higher.” With a stronger power and greater purpose, individuals might tolerate more troubles, or find better meaning and order in the chaos. This  sense of control and capability of handling help people to reduce stress and encourage them to face the challenge of life more actively and positively. Julian Rotter's concept of locus of control highlights this, suggesting that individuals who perceive control over their lives (internal locus of control) tend to have better psychological outcomes compared to those who feel controlled by external forces (external locus of control) (Rotter, 1966). Belief, with a benevolent power, can magnify people's internal center of control so that one can have a better interpretation and response to his or her life events.

In addition, belief makes a pivotal function in the development of morality and ethics. Religion provides clear guidance and direction to moral behaviors, which instructs a single person to pass through the complexities of moral environments.  This ethical guidance can stimulate a person's sense of integrity and consistency in his routine actions, contributing to a coherent and meaningful life experience. A lot of religious regulations and lessons teach people how to behave themselves, how to co-exist with others, how to contribute to the human society and human beings. Their structured approaches to ethical living can provide a universal moral compass.

Furthermore, belief can amplify interpersonal relationships by establishing and strengthening empathy, compassion, and a sense of community. Common religious beliefs and life values can strengthen social bonds and construct a supportive network of  people sharing the same ambitions and purposes. This social support is a determined element for emotional well-being and can provide a buffer against the stresses of life. Emile Durkheim's (1912) work on the social functions of religion highlights how collective belief systems contribute to social cohesion and collective consciousness, reinforcing the importance of belief in maintaining social harmony.

Belief also impacts single’s physical health through the connection between body and mind. Studies have shown that meditations in the religious practices can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve overall health outcomes. A study by Benson et al. (1996) evaluated the relationship between “the intercessory prayers with uncomplicated recovery after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery”, and demonstrated that those engaged in regular meditation experienced significant reductions in stress-related symptoms and improved cardiovascular health. This mind-body connection highlights the benefits of belief, liaise the  mental and emotional well-being to physical health.

On top of that, belief can inspire people to perform more charitable actions of altruism and generosity. Many religious and spiritual traditions focus one the importance of helping others and contributing to the society for even greater goodness. This emphasis on unselfishness can encourage believers to engage in philanthropic activities, volunteer work, and other forms of social contribution, and hence benefit not only the people who receive it but also enhance the well-being and fulfillment of those who give it. Research in positive psychology has shown that acts of kindness and generosity are associated with increased happiness and life satisfaction, and they will finally further illustrate the multifaceted rewards of belief.

Reward got from religious belief and return from God worshiped during the whole are no longer in the area of religion. As we can see from previous discussion, more and more practices in real life, no matter physical or mental profits, reflect that belief embraces the whole world, the spiritual, intellectual, and relational realms of human being.  Faith has formed a strong bond to in science, social work, family and it is involved into a belief. This belief holds critical position in people’s routine life and practice in a positive way, no matter with God or not. 

In such a case, the discussion of belief no longer lies in the  specific focus of one's faith but in his behaviors. The cognition and emotion devoted in belief, which is not only limited to religion but can also be concerned in other fields, The cognitive and emotional engagement involved in believing—whether in a deity, scientific principles, or human relationships—extracts further meaning, coherence, and resilience. The internal power of belief is not solely sourced from the god we worship, but the capability we possess and release, which connects the world in a strong and comfortable association.

People’s understanding on traditional doctrines of religions makes them believe the reward after their death, but it is believed that both psychological and emotional benefits will be granted to those possess the true essence in real life of living. The internal power and inner firmness bestow individuals what they genuinely pursue, no matter what they follow and accredit them a universal reward. In the long run, believes in religion, science, or family will provide us strength of existence, which is the crucial reward to human experience.

References:

Benson, Herbert, Margaret A. Dusek, Jane B. Sherwood, Peter Lam, Charles F. Bethea, William F. Carpenter, Sidney Levitsky, et al. "Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP) in Cardiac Bypass Patients: A Multicenter Randomized Trial of Uncertainty and Certainty of Receiving Intercessory Prayer." American Heart Journal, vol. 151, no. 4, 2006, pp. 934-942.

Durkheim, Emile. The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life. Translated by Joseph Ward Swain, George Allen & Unwin, 1915.

Einstein, Albert. The Theory of Relativity. Annalen der Physik.  1915.

Frankl, Viktor E. Man's Search for Meaning.  Beacon Press, 1946.

Harris, Tom. “How Nirvana Works,” HowStuffWorks, https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/extrasensory-perceptions/nirvana3.htm 

Kierkegaard, Søren. The Concept of Anxiety. Princeton University Press. 1844.

Koenig, Harold G., Michael E. McCullough, and David B. Larson. Handbook of Religion and Health. Oxford University Press, 2001.

Rotter, Julian B. "Generalized Expectancies for Internal Versus External Control of Reinforcement." Psychological Monographs: General and Applied, vol. 80, no. 1, 1966, pp. 1-28.

"What does Christianity say about life after death?" BBC, https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zgqjgdm/revision/2