It is funny how one of the top comment is a very long debate about how this article is good or not, completely missing the point.
The sooner you realize life is short, the more you will make smart use of your time.
The same goes for faith: the sooner you realize there is no life after death, the more you will make smart use of your time.
Your brain runs out of electricity and fluids, and poof you go.
I disagree on the point about life after death. I don't think that having faith that there's something after necessarily leads to valuing your time less now. Especially when you don't know what's in store for you next - a good existence or a bad one. With that kind of uncertainty, I'd certainly value the time I have now - at least I know what it's like now.
There are also two ways of thinking about what's "smart". For the faithful, the smart thing to do is racking up merit (or studying or whatever) for your future rebirth or heaven etc.
For the materialistic people, the smart thing to do is to enjoy the time you have right now by doing what makes you feel good.
Both groups of people think the other is being silly, foolish or something else.
For the faithful, racking up merit, studying etc are indeed noble pursuits no matter what.
But I was more speaking about all the time spent in churches, praying etc in the mislead hope of having eternal life.
The sooner you realize life is short, the more you will make smart use of your time.
The same goes for faith: the sooner you realize there is no life after death, the more you will make smart use of your time. Your brain runs out of electricity and fluids, and poof you go.