Is Paradise for Martyrdom in the Pursuit of a Holy War really that Unbelievable?

I hear a lot of people ridicule the Muslims for their belief that if they a martyr while waging a Jihad, they will attain Paradise and be awarded 72 virgins. But is this really that incredulous a belief? I think a lot of people get hung up on the 72 virgins aspect of it. If that's the hang-up, is it really so opposed to some Christian belief of heaven as sitting on clouds with a bunch of angels sitting around with harps? Or the Viking's belief of a continuous banquet in Valhalla (their version of heaven)?

I think all these cultures are trying to explain the unexplainable. How can anyone adequately explain what Heaven will be like? Especially when being in the presence of God will probably entail joys that our defective present sense are just inadequate to understand? Heaven, or being in the presence of God, being able to see Him face to face, in all that entails, pure goodness, justice, mercy, etc. will be a paradise. I think a lot of these religions, and/or believers are just trying to explain the happiness in terms we can understand. If we get past THAT point we can really look at the belief of Martyrdom as a means of attaining heaven on its merits.

If we can get past the semantics of conflicting definitions of what 'heaven' really is, we come to the methods of attaining it. Pretty much the universal understanding is to be 'good and righteous.' But what does that mean? People are finite beings living in an infinite creation. Even the Bible says this extensively. Not all are called to the same calling. Some are called to be preachers, some generously contributing to the needs of the needy, some to heal the sick, some to clothe the naked. Now surely we can understand the necessity of prudently using the gifts we were given by God to bring His purposes into effect with the best possible return for His Graces.

I mean, say, for example, God blessed a man with a brilliant intelligence so that doors just opened for him to advance through medical school all the way to the top. Surely it would not be counted as righteousness unto him if he were to serve God by sweeping the Church floors! That would definitely be a waste of God's graces! But perhaps an ignorant man, uneducated, or with various disabilities... that same humble act of aiding in the sweeping of Church floors could be counted as righteousness. I wouldn't be the act, but the intent. Sort of like Jesus remarked on the poor widow contributing two measly copper coins out of her poverty, it was all she COULD contribute.

So we all, in our various stages of life, are endowed with different gifts. Some priests, some teachers, some businessmen, and some soldiers.

The Crusaders believed, right in my opinion, that they were doing God's will by liberating the enslaved and persecuted Christians from the Muslims. The beserkers believed they were doing God's will when they defended their people from enslavement and death, the Ksatriya caste in India believed that it they died in battle it purified them of sin as well, as do the Muslims today.

Sin corrupts souls. It changes your innermost dispositions. In time if you don't check it, it influences how you think, act, and feel. Surely we can see this effect in ourselves. I can see how bitter I've become after living a lifetime of anger and revenge.

Catholics teach that we must undergo 'purification' to undo the effects of sin in our souls. Yes, we're forgiven immediately, but we still have to iron out all the defects caused by years of sinful habits. All Christians believe that baptism cleanses us from these wayward dispositions. Catholics call this 'radical purification' because it is sure and immediate. The only other emnans of attaining radical purification is martyrdom. Even Revelation portrays the martyrs as being robed in white and having a special place before the Lord.

There are all sorts of ways to martyred. Yeah, one way is to refuse to renounce the faith. But John the Baptist was martyred for rebuking a corrupt dictator for an unlawful marriage!

Let's suppose the Communists tried to take over America against the public's will. Let's say that they were even in the majority of Americans who agreed to it, so we were outvoted... so they were banning religion, seizing children from the poison of religious parents' 'brainwashing,' which, in fact, some prominent scientists are suggesting doing right now, in America! Sad that parents should be charged with abuse for teaching their kids 'myths.'

Okay. So do you mean to tell me that to give your life fighting against and opposing such a regime would be ungodly? Or that heaven would be denied you if you did resist unto death in stopping such an abomination? Or maybe you think it would be godly to sit down and shut up, and let the wicked do anything they wanted? That's not godly, that's cowardice...

I think the Muslims have it right. I think some things are worth dying for. I just wish we had a Christian theocracy that was based on truth and justice, and religious principles, rather than a society based on profit... and I really don't think a Crusade to bring it into effect would be all that evil.