Oh, I just realised I missed a bit...

<<In fact for our type of life form the Earth seems tailor made.>>

Well it would, wouldn’t it?

If it didn’t, then we wouldn’t be here to make such an observation.

Grim and AJ, I still believe we are unique even though we came from the same puddle and have the same evolutionary footprint as all other living things.

Consciousness to my mind is the ability to ponder things that have no part in our survival. Our pre occupation with the universe is a prime example. Do you believe the higher ranked mammals, who suckle and care for their young and can display reasoning, can be playful, and definitely have individual characters are taking time out to look at the sky and ask "why are we here".

All these things animals do, that we put a "human" value to are done by the animal as a hard wired activity; young animals are particularly playful because it hones their hunting skills etc.

Our consciousness is unique, and if we came from the same puddle, it should be common and it is not.

AJ Philips:>> Your claimed search for answers would look a lot more genuine and sincere if you didn’t so readily plonk god into unknowns.<<

AJ, how genuine and sincere do you want me to be, back it up with money, you’re on, fist fight in the back lane, you’re in big trouble....just joking. AJ you make me sound like Von Daniken, as if I have a theme, I express opinion based on observation and bullscheise, as we all do.

"Religion has actually convinced people that there's an invisible man -living in the sky - who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do. And if you do any of those ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever 'till the end of time ...
But He loves you!"
(George Carlin).

For many years it was widely felt that as science progressively provided rational explanations for the mysteries of the universe, religion would have less and less of a role to play and would eventually disappear, unmasked as nothing more than superstition. But there are still gaps in our understanding that science can never fill. On the ultimately important questions - of the meaning and purpose of live and the nature of morality. Few citizens of modern societies would utterly deny the possibility of some higher power in the universe, some supernatural, transcendental realm that lies beyond the boundaries of ordinary experience, and in this fundamental sense religion is probably here to stay.

Watch out! The wheel-chair activist are back, and having fun on another thread............just love the dears:)

BLUE

Lexi, "Few citizens of modern societies would utterly deny the possibility of some higher power in the universe, some supernatural, transcendental realm that lies beyond the boundaries of ordinary experience, and in this fundamental sense religion is probably here to stay."

Umm, did you write this, or do you have 'proof'?

Is this part of a Pew Global (for instance), or just made up from wishful thinking on your part?.

'Religion', as a system of rip offs and foolishness and hegemonic power may well continue, so long as there are fools in the world.

However, if you look beyond the man made crap that passes as 'religion', you might be able to mount a case for 'something', not sure what.

Is that what you mean, or do you really believe, like runer, in the mumbo-magic that passes as 'religion'?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9bMi4s_yOE ......sorry blue cross...Ive just got to play it again. I hope you don't mind:)

BLUE