<p>I agree with cgm completely, with the minor distinction that I do believe in Intelligent Design, which may have had evolution built into the system. In other words, an Intelligent Being designed and set physical laws into motion, as opposed to the theory that it all happened by accident.</p>
<p>Good point about religion being mostly subject to chance. I find the very concept of God setting up such a lottery, with such high stakes, and essentially playing with his creation to see who wins the lottery, to be a very primitive and simplistic belief system. I mean, think about it: If you or I were to design a planet and create some humans, wouldn’t we come up with a better idea than that? Honestly, would you or I devise a plan that would ensure only the LUCKY people get to be happy for the rest of eternity? Don’t you think we would have come up with some idea to help ensure that more people made it, instead of depending on chance? </p>
<p>Surely God is smarter and more merciful than WE are? If even we mere humans could have designed a more fair and reasonable system, then surely God could have!</p>
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<p>hh: It is not proselytizing to express one’s opinion.</p>