Oh, there is a hell. And if you don't lead a "good" life you will end up in hell... before you die. And if you do, you will be in hell for eternity in a manner of speaking.

(That's the catch that the clergy don't tell the sheep about until they are in that hell and that's when they tell their "flock" that they can buy their way out by giving the shepherds their money. That's not the cat out of the bag by a long shot is it? Everyone knows those cats, no? People don't actually give them money to get repentence... do they?)

Sorry for the tone but there really is a hell. Heaven could be the opposite I suppose.