Ed T, when I wrote "If after our deaths we find out that our gods don't exist at all, they will forgive us", this was meant as an aperçu. Our errors are forgiven already.

Those who think in terms of return-on-investment in afterlife, notably Blaise Pascal, have quite a different idea of spirituality than my own one. In my opinion, trading with God, for Karma, indulgence, or whatever, is not a dignified way of dealing with the foundations of our existence. Many theologists (more or less secretly) agree to that, but believers often insist on business and want their priests for pimps.

Similar considerations apply to prayers, blessings, etc. about earthly matters such as Lincolnshire gritters (see that thread).