How do we know that we’ve achieved anything?  Because we have an acutely calibrated internal system of weights and measures based on societal expectations.  I got to work on time.  Tick.  I finished a big project. Tick.  I threw a friend and surprise birthday party. Tick.  But the quality of the achievement can easily be diluted.  A colleague gets to work half an hour earlier.  The project i worked on wasn’t as successful as it could have been.  The venue I booked wasn’t as great as I’d hoped.  This is why people turn to religion - it offers a clear list of achievements to aspire to (follow the Ten Commandments, observe Ramadan etc) and an immutable standard of excellence - follow them, and you will reach nirvana.  I’ve often thought that if I could just pick one religion and stick to it, my life would be so much happier.  The nagging questions would all have one answer:  God.  But, in lieu of a calling, which one do you pick?