First, let me address those who believe that death is the end. For these people, immortality consists of one's genetic legacy, one's descendants. For most of human history, the awareness of posterity has been a great motivator to live a good life, and leave a good heritage, whether individually or collectively. Native Americans talk about looking out for the seventh generation hence.
We are doing horribly in this area. We are leaving our descendants a ruined planet, heating up out of control, with violent climate changes, a scarcity of clean air and water, genetically damaged organisms in many areas, a shortage of food, depleted mineral and energy resources, pollution of all sorts, and a social and economic system that is making things worse instead of better. How can we face our children?
For those who believe in an ongoing life of the spirit, we will meet our Maker and be judged. From there, we go to another incarnation, or to heaven or hell, or whatever the particular faith dictates. Again, we will have to account for how we treated the creation we were given. Did we safeguard and enhance it? Or did we participate in the "get mine now" mentality and ignore the poor, ignore the systematic impoverishment of the great majority of earth dwellers, ignore the evil killers and torturers that are destroying the planet?
Isaiah 45: 18For thus says the LORD,
The creator of the heavens,
who is God,
The designer and maker of the earth
who established it,
Not creating it to be a waste,
but designing it be lived in:
I am the LORD, and there is no other.
In the name of the Prince of Peace, Carol Wolman
