<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>Solo</b></i>
I refuse to believe that we evolved from pigeon excrement over millions of years. </end quote></div>
haha, well that would involve the presumption that pigeons existed millions of years before humans! just being ornery, i totally get what you're saying.
the problem i have with the whole higher intelligence premise is that it still necessitates that some being existed before existence. i mean, if this higher intelligence designed and built evolution into our system of life, then where did this intelligence come from?
if it in fact evolved from energies preceding life as we know it, then it kind of undermines the idea that life could not have evolved on its own. if something can evolve, everything can.
and if this being precludes life and existence, resides out of the reach of evolutionary origin, or manifested spontaneously somewhere in the celestial universe, then this concept is no less full of holes than any monotheistic point of view.
that said, i would like to state that belief in any kind celestial architect or orchestrating force does not preclude spirituality or faith. these concepts are intangible manifestations of doubt and uncertainty that we try to resolve by attaching them to objects/concepts that we think actually exist, can be felt and/or manipulated (manipulated in this sense not having the negative connotation usually attached to it, simply saying that we can touch it, see it, feel it, etc) even if only in our minds.
physical sensations, after all, are merely neuro impulses, much the same as any dream or thought.
i do not post this to hijack this thread, or to challenge or attack any person's faith. just simply wanted to point out that all religions have the same function to their adherents by providing confidence and stability to a reality that is anything but. of course finding a religion that actually makes sense to an individual is important in order to truly purge oneself of doubt.
this is certainly a challenging task. when all else fails, make one up. i think you'll find that's what most people do anyways (christians, muslims, buddhists, mormons, deists, wiccans alike), simply borrowing concepts from established doctrines and utilizing the ideas they find most useful and rejecting those they find most inconvenient.
while this quality of the average person of [any] faith is most often cited as the most annoying, i contend that these are the people best utilizing the tools of faith that any religion has to offer.
good luck in your quest khristina, faith is a powerful tool, and i wish everyone the best of luck in truly finding it.
- kswitch
