Imagine you'd spend your life creating useful inventions, somehow improving this world, helping others, clean up pollution, etc. Making the lives of people currently alive and all their descendants just a little bit more fun, happy, comfortable or interesting.
Now imagine you'd spend your life doing shitty stuff that spoils the fun and makes life miserable for everyone & those that live after you.
Note that "all their descendants" could be many many billions or even trillions+ humans (if humanity manages to not go extinct 'soon'). That's ignoring other living creatures.
With that in mind, wouldn't it be a small sacrifice to put in a bit of effort to not screw things up for those that come after you?
No need to be a saint. It's about finding a balance between having some fun for yourself, while not spoiling the fun for others - presently alive or in the future.
Religion need not enter this consideration. If it helps/comforts anyone to use as guideline, power to them. But a simple "how would future humans look back on my actions?" does the job.
Imagine you'd spend your life creating useful inventions, somehow improving this world, helping others, clean up pollution, etc. Making the lives of people currently alive and all their descendants just a little bit more fun, happy, comfortable or interesting.
Now imagine you'd spend your life doing shitty stuff that spoils the fun and makes life miserable for everyone & those that live after you.
Note that "all their descendants" could be many many billions or even trillions+ humans (if humanity manages to not go extinct 'soon'). That's ignoring other living creatures.
With that in mind, wouldn't it be a small sacrifice to put in a bit of effort to not screw things up for those that come after you?
No need to be a saint. It's about finding a balance between having some fun for yourself, while not spoiling the fun for others - presently alive or in the future.
Religion need not enter this consideration. If it helps/comforts anyone to use as guideline, power to them. But a simple "how would future humans look back on my actions?" does the job.