Impermanence
I think this is a universal law that governs all things that exist. By impermanence I mean everything is in a constant state of change. The world, the universe, our bodies and minds, nothing is permanent.

No permanent heaven or hell
If we accept that all things are impermanent, then there can be no such thing as a permanent heaven or hell (think of it from a practical perspective. If heaven were permanent, who would pay the electricity bills? If hell were permanent who would pay the fuel bill for all those fires? Besides thanks to GWB, oil is very expensive these days..)

As far as I know, our existence could be explained by the following scenarios:

  1. Karma: That we are beings composed of energy, that our actions create good and bad karma, and that good and bad karma affects us (positively or negatively) in this life and the next, to infinity and beyond. And that at the end of this life, our energy re-manifests in another life form, which continues to be affected by our acquired karma.
  2. God: a God created us, for 1 life, and based on our performance here will reward us with heaven or hell
  3. No God, No Karma: Evolution created us and we will exist in single (or repeated) live(s) independant of whether our actions are ‘good’ or ‘bad’.

Assuming we accept the karmic theory, then what?

  1. We could work to game the system: we could do good, while expecting positive results, and hope we don’t do to much ‘bad’ and end up experiencing too many negative results: this is called Buddhism in Sri Lanka. In theory, we could continue to do this infinitely
  2. We could choose to leave the system: go beyond Karma, both good or bad

Say we believe in a God..

Believe in Him, follow His rules, go to heaven.

What if there is no God or Karma?

Still makes sense to do good, as it helps fellow living beings.

What do you think?