Creative Speculation

I believe Jesus was a historic individual dedicated to peace. Like every individual truly dedicated to peaceful revolution he died an untimely death. Every culture in history consistently invents Divinity in our own image. While many feel comfortable believing gods or goddesses create us in their image, it is uncomfortable to realize that a glorious afterlife we want to envision is simply a worm-ridden grave. If there is an afterlife, why aren't more people in a hurry to die and enter the "Pearly Gates" of eternity? Hey, the "streets are paved with gold!" Are we truly worshiping "pearly gates," "gold" or our own image? I can name several powerful self-proclaimed Christians I'd like to hurry along to the afterlife; but that is another story.