LH: I am getting the sense that I agree with you on nearly all matters religious as discussed here - e.g. I think my deity resembles yours. However, you say "...it does not strike me as healthy or even sane to have such a philosophy that would dare assert that everything is just an accident or the end result of unthinking processes..." and I do disagree with this. I see nothing wrong with all living characteristics arising as random mutations, but then "good" ones being preserved/amplified by natural selection because *they are traits that are beneficial to all (or at least one) species*. It is not the case that everything is the result of an accident. All kinds of things happen accidentally, and some die out while others are perpetuated. Mutation may be random, but natural selection is not! (Although both could be characterized as "unthinking") And I'm still talking about evolution - there may still be room for a non-accidental "initial spark" in the vast realm of human ignorance -- although I am prepared to adjust this thinking if science can someday recreate such a spark.

Wow, deep shit. My brain hurts.