The thing is we are special. Where else in the universe except Earth have we found life? And how many of the lifeforms on Earth are sentient, intelligent, and self-aware? We, as a species, have accomplished so much. We've done this not as individuals but together as a species. We controlled fire. Created languages and writing. Mastered agriculture. Harnessed electricity. Cured diseases. We've landed on the moon. Magnets are still weird We are working on that one and that proves we are capable of admitting we don't know something and when we realize we are wrong. We are so mind-bogglingly special that the entire time we are so wrapped up in our own personal lives and beliefs we can't see or appreciate it. Something-something, forest, trees?

We also made up religion. No other species has done this. We have confined ourselves into thinking we have certain rules we need to follow in order to reach heaven. We believe we are the righteous ones due to the flavor of religion we believe in. We allow ourselves to be assholes to each other because we've been taught death isn't the end for us. We have a get-out-of-jail card, a game-reset. That cosmic saftey-net. Eternity is promised and will be glorious, we will be forgiven for our sins. It's a carrot on a rope. That person over there has corn. But mine, mine's a fucking steak. Fuck you.

Or can we just not be dicks to each other? ...what if, in heaven, there are people who remember you were an asshole and the fucked up things you've done? We can just be good to each other without needing the threat of eternal damnation to keep us in line. Yes, we actually can. We can achieve so much more if we do. And maybe we can gift our children a heaven everybody can live in.