"If there is a god that created the universe (Not a view I hold) then there could be no higher form of worship than to spend your life attempting to understand that creation."

This moral imperative originates in the classic Newtonian view of the clockwork universe. It has been modified for chaos theory - but then how much is really chaotic?

i.l., God creates intelligence to behold the wonders of his work. But...

If you actually look at the accretion problem, you see that in reality intelligence could be completely destroyed through the simple mechanics of planetary accretion. Consider the dinosaur, and the possibility that they could have evolved higher intelligence in about 7 million years.

Now here's the question: If there was a sentient creator, what would he do to prevent that? Would such a creator do anything?

Before commenting, please remember that at the time of European contact many Native American peoples recalled having their own prophets sent to them by a "Great Spirit", though most of this is lost today.

E.P., the heretic