Home Health Aide (HHA) Training

HHA Training Requirements

Those who are interested in becoming home health aides should be at least 18 and have clean backgrounds (backgrounds checks are common). Depending on your state, formal training is not always required. However some clients and almost all health aide agencies require training. The home health aide agencies that hire you will train you themselves. You must also be willing to work varying hours. Some HHAs only work a few hours a day while others live with their patients and are on call almost all day.

The job mostly consists of taking care of individuals who can no longer look after themselves whether because of age or disability. As an HHA you will need to give medication, take temperature and perform other basic medical services. Some aides may be required to do other basic tasks like laundry, grocery shopping and helping patients bathe.

Pay can fluctuate depending on how much you work. This is good because if you are willing to work more hours, you can get paid more or if you prefer working less, you can also do that. There is a great level of flexibility and freedom in this sector.

Benefits from this line of work also include experience building. Being able to take care of others is a great resume builder. If you wish to go into other fields like nursing in the future, a background in home health aide will be very beneficial. It’ll demonstrate responsibility and commitment to helping others.

Training can also vary, even within your own city. Some agencies may offer it for free, while others may pay you to get trained and other agencies may even charge to train you. It is important you research agencies beforehand. Your pay may also depend on the agency you work for. Some agencies may start off paying minimum wage while others may pay well above minimum wage. The training process should last no more than 2-3 weeks. Most agencies (if they receive money from Medicaid/Medicare) are required to give 75 hours of training, 16 hours of supervised work and a standardized test at the end.

Your 75 hours of training will consist of both theoretical and hand’s on learning. You will learn how to deal with patients (i.e. how to effectively communicate with them, get them to open up, get them to trust you, how to phrase your questions and comments etc.). You will also learn to treat them (i.e. give medicine, treat wounds, change bandages, take temperature etc)

The final test at the end is something many people needless worry about. This competency test will basically make sure you paid attention to your teachings and will also test your basic reading and writing abilities. Here is a sample question that has been asked in the past:

1) Clients sometimes express religious beliefs with which the home health aide does not agree. In dealing with these situations, which of these understandings should the aide use as a guide?

A. Clients have a right to their own beliefs, which should be respected.

B. Clients should be told not to discuss their beliefs with aides.

C. Aides should explain their beliefs to clients.

D. Aides should pretend to have the same beliefs that clients have

(The answer is A)

Overall, HHA is one of the fastest growing jobs in America today. This means higher pay and more opportunities for anyone interested in joining this field. Although there are many sources for obtaining information and training in HHA, http://myhhatraining.org is a recommended starting point for anyone seriously interested in the field.

Some people believe the Bible has made reference to psychics

as dangerous charlatans who should be avoided. Others

believe that many of the great prophets and predictions made

throughout scripture simply arose from psychic or sensitive

citizens within these antiquated communities. So it’s not

surprising that to many Christians, psychics are not viewed

as trustworthy people. However, what happens when the

psychic him or herself is a Christian?

If their personal beliefs contradict the power that was just

always within themselves. For most psychics they did not ask

to have this ability – it just happened and usually at a

very young age. How must life be if people they attend

church with see them as wrong or even evil? Do they hide

their ability? Do they feel ashamed of it?

The Bible (as with other controversial topics) does tend to

offer mixed mesages and even contradict itself especially

when the two testaments are compared. Those who find

psychics to be evil should only look at the fact that many

of Jesus’ followers were in fact psychics or prohets by

their own admission. Now this can be easily argued that

it’s not the same thing that their foreseeing capabilites

came directly from God – whereas most Christians see psychic

abilities in today’s world as coming from a dark place.

There are most definitely psychics who use their gift in

ways that are not kind or take advantage of their clients

through selfish schemes or ulterior motivations. This does

not necessarily mean their ability itself is bad but rather

how they choose to use it. Why however, does the Bible state

that psychics need to be avoided? Maybe its to protect us

from the negative, “evil” psychics who do not believe what

the Bible teaches? Or are these ideas just representative of

reflections in the cultural and stereotypical beliefs of

yesteryear – just as our own society has evolved over even

the last few decades, certainly we shouldn’t be surprised if

the values of our biblical forefathers were a bit different

than we see today.

For those Christians who believe that having psychic

abilities is NOT a bad thing and even seek the advice of a

psychic – being able to have a reading from someone with the

same religious beliefs may be very beneficial. If you are

seeking advice on personal issues – speaking to someone who

can offer advice based on directing you on a path that your

own religious beliefs teach is a good and positive thing.

What role should religion play in bringing about world peace? Let us get it clear here. Religion is about belief, faith and creed.

Spirituality is original, from the source, universal and mystical. But, all the religions in our world today came into existence on the image and likeness of the founder.

Religion is actually an offshoot of spirituality.

There are about 7.4 billion people in our world. Christianity has 2.1 billion followers.

Islam is trailing with 1.3 billion faithful. These are the top two, while others exist. There are also atheists, who do not belief in the existence of God.

Our religious leaders preach the gospel of holiness, salvation, Godliness, humility, devotion, etc. Prayers and sermons are not lacking in our religious circles.

Yet, everyday, we read about terrorism, militancy, kidnapping, murder, robberies and other forms of man’s inhumanity to man.

This is not a peaceful world some persons out there are dreaming about.

Religions and religious leaders have to be the doer, not the preacher of the word alone.

Nobody was born a terrorist, a robber or a kidnapper. But, religion, circumstances and the society played crucial roles, directly or indirectly in encouraging or discouraging people on these vices.

Joseph Joluwaseyi is one of my many friends. He is a chaplain and is indeed the commandant-general of HARPAZO Chaplain Corps International.

Truth is that he inspired me to write this article. Prayer in this tumultuous world is only 1%. But, doing the job of bringing about world peace is 99%.

I was at his office in Lagos, Nigeria the other day. Joseph spoke on immoral and criminal vices that could lead to insurgence acts.

Dr Joluwaseyi wondered why some religious leaders engage the youths or the under-aged in rebellious activities and endanger the lives of others under the guise of religion.

Some clerics are playing God. They talk and behave as if they have the power over life and dead.

I was at a religious gathering the other day and a pastor openly boasted that he has the spiritual power to send any member of his church to hell or heaven.

Well, as far as I am concerned, this very pastor is wrong. I expect him to be telling his followers about the dare consequences of terrorism, kidnapping, militancy, robberies, on the individual and the world.

Clerics are human beings like you and I. Yes, we, human beings were created in the image and likeness of God.

But, it is better to be humble, sincere, truthful, accountable, open, and fair in our dealings with ourselves and others.

Do unto others as you will have them do unto you is a golden rule that should not be ignored. Best wishes for peace profound.

The rich traditions of energy fields in the psychic powers of seduction is held in the aura as luminous emissions composed of different colors. Most of these colors correspond to the colors of the visible light spectrum of which we experience an emotional response. Social psychologists reveal that red is associated with sexual attractions. Even older people both male and female associate the color red with love, warmth, and passion.

When you find yourself noticing someone with thoughts of sexual attraction that you normally would not give a second glance, it may not actually be your original idea but are thoughts directed to you from that person.

Frequencies of colors and thought in the state of alpha is the most powerful psychic seductions of influence. While in this state of concentration they create imagery of an erotic touch that draws you to them. The longer this energy is transmitted the greater the effects. Some people report sensations of heat on specific areas of arousal. You will notice the person and be attracted to the person as though it is from your own mind.

Seductive psychic powers are overwhelming and such occurrences happen quite frequently. We often note the event, thinking it odd, and then go about our business. Subconsciously we are gravitating to that particular individual and at times we tend to repeatedly see or speak to them within brief times of our day, week, or month. One way or another we somehow come together either on the phone, online, or physically passing one and other. The magnetic pull is powerful.

The challenge is to identify that the attraction is coming from outside of yourself. There is a defensive posture most of us take toward such odd sexual attractions. In a reflex reaction to the event, we immediately take a conscious look at the appropriateness of our own sexual energy that we project outward. Thankfully our intuitions never let us down in this respect. When we pay attention to the energy flow of the attraction we can then discern whom to open ourselves up to and whom we should stay away from.

Relating to the psychic seduction in our religious beliefs is equally as challenging as the seduction itself. Yet I think, in most cases the mystery brings us face-to-face with the deeper spiritual perceptions of our life. Is there a divine connection or purpose to what we just experienced? From a spiritual point of view, it brought us to our faith.

Who else is looking for a spiritual psychic reading? Are you a practicing Christian and feel uncomfortable with seeing or speaking to a psychic outside of your faith? Do you feel a bit guilty, or remorseful about talking to a psychic in the first place… as if it may be in some way a bad idea for those of religious conviction? In this article we are going to take a quick look at some common questions about spiritual psychic readings, and learn why REGARDLESS of what you may believe, a psychic reading CAN be amongst the most fun, insightful and transformational experiences you can have, WITHOUT needing to compromise your faith.

Curious to know more? Continue reading as we take a closer look below!

Okay… but aren’t psychic readings spiritual or religious in nature?

It depends on who you ask! I certainly don’t believe so… and I’ve had numerous readings, WAY more than half, that the topic of my religious beliefs, or convictions never entered the conversation. Most psychics are very SENSITIVE (no pun intended..:-) to the notion that religious diversity is very common amongst those of us who seek out psychic or spiritual guidance from an intuitive or clairvoyant, and are very careful to NOT thrust their own beliefs on the reading.

Aren’t psychics more likely to be religious than NOT religious?

I’m really not sure that’s true. I think almost ALL psychics believe in a higher power, and a sense of purpose to our lives, and that we have a spiritual dimension to our existence for sure. But in my experience as a client and caller, as well as a psychic enthusiast who “studies” this stuff as well, I’ve found that most psychics are incredibly tolerant and accepting of ALL faiths and beliefs, as long as they don’t infringe on the rights of others.

How can I find a Christian psychic if that is important to me?

Great question and a very simple answer! Simply browse through the listings on any psychic network and search out those who specialize in religious style readings, or who advertise themselves as not only spiritual, but with a Christian “bent” or perspective. The truth is, even some of the super famous TV style psychics, clairvoyants and mediums tend to fall into this category, and you’ll often here them interpret what they see through the framework of their religious convictions, which are often by the way, a decidedly CHRISTIAN perspective.

Parting thoughts?

I DON’T recommend you go to a network that is entirely comprised of Christian or religious psychics, simply because in my experience, they tend NOT to be as good, and they are far more likely to “preach” to you from a dogmatic perspective, rather than offer up a serious psychic reading that enlightening, and interesting and offers real value. Instead? Seek out Christian readers through the mainstream networks who WILL give you the best of both worlds, (and for a great price to boot!)

The day of the Witch has been resurrected in news feeds across the world as Witches unite in their magic of blocking the US President Donald Trump from office. Using his own words, "You're fired" in rituals carried out last month on February 24th and designated to be performed again on March 26th, April 24, and June 21st of this year. The event has awakened and stirred the masses. Igniting anti-witch Christian groups in counteracting the Witches Spells, we are now in the wake of Spiritual Warfare in the United States.

This hot-debated topic has sparked those questions most of us have asked to ourselves, "is it real?", And "will it work?". Donald Trump will leave office and soon but I see it as a result of a disruptive force exposed according to quantum mechanics, the nature and behavior of this energy on the atomic and subatomic levels is very real.

Witchcraft dates back thousands of years and has survived massive hostilities toward them throughout the ages. It is highly unlikely that they will run from those who oppose their intentions of self defense now. The results of witchcraft is relevant in their ability to connect with and manipulate energy through their skills and beliefs. Cultures around the world practice a form of this energy manipulation in variations of beliefs but the basic principles is the same.

Through this spiritual warfare and racial conflicts in America, we will see waves of inspired millennial's from the fields of science and from all religious beliefs and background taking action in doing what they can to halt the destruction and contamination of our water and air. We will see them transform the oppressions in our governments and empower its people. More and more of them are being inwardly guided by the simultaneous occurrences of events in the world.

We will hear the subtle persuasion of ethic's and peace portrayed in their music and dance. As this new spiritual awareness manifests into society we will witness an increasingly amount of self appointed, inspired millennial's ready to sound alarm whenever chemical waste is dumped into our environment. We will hear from the film makers a ploy for humanity to take a stand against their those who suppress their right for medical attention. Their right for equality of their race, education, and religious beliefs is demanding political reform.

It is all beginning and happening now in this day of the Witch 2017 and will continue to progress through 2020. Eventually our professions, religions, occupations shift to an ever more efficiency in the direction of our food, air, and water supply. During these years of changing patterns we lean toward altering our financial institutions and monies to an automated system. We will see more self-contained housing, and the re-growth of our forests.

Religion is more than simply a belief in a god or gods, a group of individuals who share a common belief, or a way of seeking and finding life's meaning. While religion does seek to provide an explanation of universal phenomenon and life's occurrences, not all religions attribute these ideas to a god concept. What then, is a substantive explanation for religion? And what role does cultural relativism play in religious indoctrination?

The family resemblance model is a philosophical ideology made popular by German philosopher, Ludwig Wittgenstein. The family resemblance model argues that things that have been traditionally thought to be connected by one singular element may instead be connected based on a series of imbricate commonalities. Based on the family resemblance model, religions tend to share some or all of the following traits.

• Belief in a god, gods, or the supernatural
• Explanations of suffering and evil
• Rituals and ceremonies that include music or dance
• Means of deliverance or salvation
• An authoritative, sacred text and or scripture
• Specialists who interpret the sacred text
• Explanations for the nature of reality

Many religious beliefs are based on tradition and cultural relativism. Cultural relativism involves the beliefs, values, and practices of a culture from an inter-cultural perspective. The study of African-American History, for example, is unique from the study of the African Diaspora although both have commonalities. Although many African-Americans can trace their ancestry to West Africa, African-Americans have carved out their own unique history within the context of American culture and society.

Traditionally, most African-Americans are Christian based on the religious customs that have been passed down to them from previous generations. While not all religions share the same beliefs, many do share the same traits. Buddhism, for example, does not believe in a higher power, but it does have a sacred text called the Sutras and a specialist priest. Individuals who practice Hinduism believe in karma and reincarnation; how we behave in this life has an impact on our next life's cycle.

Due to cultural relativism and tradition, many of us were born into the religions that we practice; therefore we are indoctrinated with the religious traditions of our cultures. Those religions traditions often include various rites of passage ceremonies such as birth dedications, coming of age ceremonies, and ceremonies for death. Cultural relativism helps to shape our perspectives in terms of acceptable and unacceptable cultural norms, but some ideas that are acceptable within one culture may not be accepted in another. Examples of some cultural but not universally accepted practices are polygamy, some rites of passage ceremonies, genital mutilation, and issues related to women's rights.

Because of the effects of cultural relativism, tradition, and indoctrination, one might pose the following types of questions:

• Are we all born atheist? An atheist is someone who lacks belief in the existence of a god or gods. Does a lack of knowledge regarding the culturally relative view of god mean that atheism comes before indoctrination?
• Agnostics are individuals who neither practice faith nor disbelief in a god; they simply are unsure. Therefore, maybe we are born agnostic?
• A culturally relative answer to these questions is no, since atheism and agnosticism are considered choices. Unlike atheism and agnosticism, religion seeks to provide an explanation for supernatural existence. But from an objective standpoint, should religion be considered a choice as well?

Cultural relativism is not only about inter-cultural perspectives, but it also requires that we are objective in how we view others as we seek to understand them. Everyone's perspective is shaped by their cultural and life experiences; the more life experiences that we have beyond our own culture, the broader our view of the world becomes. It does not mean that we will change our own beliefs, but we may become more open to the ideas of others.

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver is a fascinating novel set in the Belgian Congo around 1960. The family relating the story are the wife and children of an American Baptist missionary — a stern, authoritarian old-world missionary. His beliefs are prejudiced against anything that is not part of his own culture. He has an unshakeable belief in the superiority of his culture, ethnic race, religion, beliefs, and nation. Although this is understandable, it leads him to believe the culture, beliefs, religion, and ethics of those around him are worthless rubbish to be eradicated and replace with Christianity — as if this was the one true religion, as if there were no schisms, no dissent, no dogma, no arguments about Christianity.

These primitive people, he believes, should welcome him and his enlightenment with open arms. And yet, bit by bit his wife and children abandon his teachings, rebel against his punishments, his dogmatic beliefs, his authority invested in him by God.

He is big on judgments, punishments, and assigning blame. Jesus is his world, evangelism is his mission. As for his family, they rate little apart from what they can do to promote his religious conversions. “His” because it is his interpretation of the scripture, and social conventions.

The father is the only character who does not narrate any of the story. We see him as others see him, but not his own viewpoint. As the story moves on he gradually disappears, and it becomes the story of the mother and children, not living as missionaries, but as people struggling with their environment, society, and personal beliefs.

The children, four girls, each distinctly different, tell the story in multiple first person. None of the girls, or their mother are the least bit happy about their stint to bring enlightenment and Christianity to this “primitive Tribe of Ham.” The family struggle with the climate, the lack of conveniences, food, insects, animals, and local customs of those they are trying to help.

Each child gives their own vision and interpretation of the events that befall them, or more accurately, overwhelm them. Their mother comes to despise the whole project. She gradually distances herself from her evangelical husband, who is convinced he is doing God’s work, but to everyone else, he is losing his mind, until the point comes where they all separate.

The story continues as they go their own ways, now adults, they each settle in different countries, different conditions, different lives, largely estranged from each other. When they hold a reunion, it is a failure. Their father is still roaming obscure parts of Africa, no longer of sound mind, preaching to the lilies of the field. Their mother returns to America, tending her flower garden, trying not to think about the events of the past.

The “voices” of the girls are wonderful, each with their own brand of cynicism, irony, and idiosyncrasies; they are full of little amusing ways of looking at what they are experiencing. Along with their story, is the story of the Belgian Congo, eventually they see it become independent, only to watch the country descend into financial debt, and thus a captive of more wealthy nations who wish to continue their hegemony over a corrupt government.

It is an unusual story, not just because it is about Africa and the people of the Congo, but because it encompasses the misguided, arrogant missionaries who think that they are the only repository of truth and enlightenment. It is a really wonderful novel, that will last as a great novel for the next hundred years. It is 116 years since the publication of “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad, still widely read today. The two novels are not comparable, the only thing in common is the Congo, but for my money Poisonwood, is a far more interesting and worthy novel.

“The deluge finally stopped just before sunset. The world looked stepped on and drenched, but my sisters ran out squealing like the first free pigs off the ark, eager to see what the flood had left us.”

‘God works, as is very well known, in mysterious ways. There is just nothing you can name that He won’t do, now and then. Oh, He will send down so much rain that all his little people are drinking from one another’s sewers and dying of the kakakaka. Then he will organize a drought to scorch out the yam and manioc fields, so whoever did not die of fever will double over from hunger. What next, you might ask? Why, a mystery, that’s what!”

Lust arises from male arousal that is a physical rather than an emotional response. Men feel carnal desire, a strong sexual urge, when they are physically close to an attractive partner. Men promote how wonderful sex is but men see sex only in terms of the pleasure they enjoy. Male sex drive means that men view intercourse as an erotic act. The pleasures of the flesh refer to the gratification a man obtains from penetrating a lover's body. For men, sex is an erotic pleasure that they don't connect with reproduction.

Men are much less inclined to consider consequences than women in general. When it comes to sex, men rarely consider the consequences that women suffer from. Men don't necessarily feel that a woman's pregnancy has anything to do with them. Immediately a woman falls pregnant, it is her problem. A woman is easily identified as a mother. If the father is absent or unknown the shame falls on her and the child. Marriage laws exist to ensure that men accept responsibility for the consequences of sex.

Men are not so easily identified or put in a situation where they have to take responsibility for the consequences of unprotected intercourse. Even with the availability of reliable contraceptives, parents still tend to protect daughters more than sons. Fathers appreciate that young women do not have the same carnal instincts of young men. Most parents accept that girls are focused on a relationship and love. Girls don't want to feel 'used' after a one-night stand. For boys, a variety of lovers is part of the fun of sex.

Sex is trivial to women in the sense that they are indifferent to it. Women are not aroused by sexual activity with a lover but it is easy enough to cooperate with men's desire for intercourse. Women are not aroused with a lover so they have no reason look for physical gratification. Women enjoy platonic emotions with a lover who is admiring and affectionate.

The (contraceptive) pill, taken on a daily basis by a woman, contains hormones that stop her ovaries producing eggs. A condom, worn by the man over his penis during intercourse, prevents semen entering the vagina. A woman can wear a rubber diaphragm over her cervix (neck of the uterus). The coil is inserted by a doctor. The coil prevents sperm entering the uterus. A woman can also take a 'morning after' pill the day after having unprotected intercourse, which may prevent her becoming pregnant.

Sterilization involves rendering a person infertile (incapable of reproducing). In a woman, the fallopian tubes are cut. This prevents an egg descending into the womb and being fertilized. In a man, the tubes from the testes are cut. This prevents sperm being added to his ejaculate. In either case the surgery is irreversible so it is a serious decision to make.

Reproduction is about the creation of life. Conception is truly amazing. It's also a responsibility. To bring a new life into the world, involves a great deal of work. Many people feel that abortion is morally wrong. Religious beliefs about conception attribute a soul to a zygote just a few seconds old.

Unwanted pregnancies are common. Even though it takes two people to make a child, women are held responsible for a child's daily care. Women are often held solely responsible for abortion. Even rape is not considered sufficient reason for a woman to have an abortion in some cultures.

Abortion laws vary considerably between countries. A woman often needs both the father's and a doctor's consent. Most European countries give a woman the unconditional right to abortion within the first 15 weeks. Shame and fear of reprisal cause women to delay getting help when they fall pregnant. Others are ignorant of the symptoms of pregnancy or the cause.

The vagina (like the mouth) is a warm and moist place that easily attracts fungal infections such as thrush. Thrush causes an itchy feeling within the vagina. Women may assume that these infections arise because they have done something improper. This is unlikely. Women are advised to wash themselves between the legs thoroughly at least once a day and preferably after defecating. Cystitis, an infection of the bladder, causes a stinging feeling in the bladder and is often accompanied by urgent sense of needing to urinate. Medication can alleviate symptoms and eliminate the infection.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) are transferred between people when there is sexual activity involving body fluids. The more partners a person has (the more promiscuous they are) the more likely they are to catch one of these diseases. Treatments are available but some diseases are incurable as well as extremely inconvenient and painful for the person who has them. AIDS is usually fatal. Drug-users are also vulnerable to catching AIDS. Anyone who contracts these conditions (including prostitutes) must always ensure that condoms are used to prevent the disease spreading further.

… no matter what she says, how much she likes sex and all that jazz, if she is literally being penetrated by you … then her emotional and mental well-being will always be involved as well. Always. (Alice Carter 2014)

There are as many opinions about the potential for an afterlife as there are stars in the sky. Devoutly religious people anticipate a conventional life after death in heaven, hell or purgatory; some others believe in reincarnation. Atheists with an imagination conceptualize alternate dimensions. Agnostics assert that there is no existence after death at all. Einstein believed that no one could understand the universe, except through his or her own imperfect perspective.

Most of us agree that science gives us the opportunity to empirically confirm or refute any concept, including life after death. Many piously religious people despise science for that very fact. For example, we know through carbon dating that the earth is billions of years old. This is an empirical fact. It is as real as gravity. We can measure it. This fact disproves the biblical allegation that the earth is only a few thousand years old. But, what about other religious concepts? Might they be true? And, how can scientists reconcile their own religious beliefs, when they are in conflict with empirical evidence?

We know that our consciousness (everything we think about, all of our memories, values, loves, hates, fears and emotions) is the product of neurons firing in our cerebral cortex. When the cells of our cerebral cortex die, our consciousness perishes. This is the physical and legal concept of brain death. We can quantify and calculate it. In order to prove that an afterlife exists, we must demonstrate empirically that consciousness exits after brain cells perish and that it exists elsewhere. In all of human history, no one has been able to accomplish this. Until someone does, we cannot know that there is an afterlife. We can believe it on faith. But its certainty escapes us.

Some people use common near-death experiences to validate an afterlife. For example, people who have been revived from near-death experiences express common characteristics of the experience, such as “traveling through a dark tunnel towards a white light.” Yet, we know from empirical evidence that brains cells for visual functioning are often the first to cease execution in the absence of oxygenated blood. Brain cells can function for about six minutes after they stop receiving oxygen. It would therefore be normal for revived people to see their vision gradually disappear, mimicking a tunnel with white light at the end. This by no means suggests an afterlife; rather, it is a normal part of conscious brain death.

In the end, we do not know if there is life after death. If so, it has remained unproven (empirically) throughout time. If not, then we must accept that the sum of our existence occurs during the time that we are alive. Therefore, it is critical that we use every minute wisely. In this, religion produces a paradox. What if there is an afterlife? Would that imply that inappropriate behavior could be redeemed in the afterlife? Can we act with senseless brutality and be forgiven? Would such a truth enable humankind to be intolerant and vicious? Could the religious concept of an afterlife inadvertently allow for more hatred, mistrust and selfishness?

In the absence of science, when giant leaps of faith leave us wanting, we must turn to logic. The fact that we have doubt about an afterlife means that we should feel compelled to act in ways that benefit our descendants now. We must be tolerant and kind to each other, care wisely for our planet and deliver a world to our progeny that is better than the one we inherited. If we have only one shot at existence, let’s make certain that our actions are based upon wisdom, love and charity. If there is an afterlife, then we might have one more opportunity to act prudently. If not, we will have wisely used our only chance to create a better world.