What separates mankind from the universe? For one thing, we are unique in our ability to think abstractly and formulate a worldview. And how do we wield this power? … We place ourselves into four principal, opposing, and often war-like groups. How we define ourselves is too often the result of misunderstandings about what these groups represent, emotion superceding reason. Many Atheists have insisted that they have no religious beliefs and that this is the very definition of Atheism. This is not the case. An Atheist is one who believes there is no God. The term is of Greek origin literally meaning, without God (a-, without; theos, God). Therefore, Atheists believe that there is no God. If an Atheist believes that nature created all things, then that is their religious belief. They are Atheist because of their certainty that God does not exist, not for any absence of faith. An Agnostic is literally one who has no knowledge (a-, without; gnosis, knowledge). It is fair for an Agnostic to say that they have no religious beliefs, just as it is fair for an Agnostic to claim they know nothing at all. Pantheism is a little trickier. Pantheists typically believe that gods exist as (or of) material things. A tree might be a god, or a cow might be a god, or there might be a god of the hearth, or a God-essence might be the sum of all material things to a Pantheist. Many will endeavor to complicate and cloud the definitions, but they are simple in comparison. Volumes may be written regarding detailed specifics of each of these, but in the end, specifics must satisfy the simple, defining relations: Theists believe that God exists. Pantheists believe that many gods exist. Atheists believe that neither God, nor gods exist. Agnostics don't know. We all exist in a material realm we call the universe. How the philosophies relate to the universe may be summarized according to their particular defining traits: Theists believe that there is also a non-material realm beyond the natural one, known as the supernatural realm. Pantheists believe that gods are either composed of, or associated with the material realm. They may, or may not, believe in the supernatural. Atheists believe that the material realm is all there is. Agnostics don't know. Most people seem to place themselves cleanly into one of these four groups, though some agnostics splice together bits of the other three. Because of this, I think that an individual's worldview is principally defined by their notions regarding nature, or the natural, material realm. Living in this age of scientific and technical advancement, mankind has concluded much about the workings of nature. Three renowned scientists have given their assessment: "The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at the bottom, no design, no purpose, nothing but blind, pitiless indifference." - Charles Darwin "Nature is not cruel, pitilessly, indifferent. This is one of the hardest lessons for humans to learn. We cannot admit that things might be neither good nor evil, neither cruel nor kind, but simply callous - indifferent to all suffering, lacking all purpose." - Richard Dawkins "The universe seems neither benign nor hostile, merely indifferent." - Carl Sagan I agree. The universe is indifferent. Who would expect a love letter from a rock? If I may quote from Dr. Sagan again: "The cosmos is all there is or ever was or ever will be." I like that statement for its clarity. It lets us know exactly what Carl was thinking. The cosmos, as he intended, is synonymous with the universe. The universe is, by the encyclopedia, everything that physically exists: the entirety of space and time, all forms of matter, energy and momentum, and the physical laws and constants that govern them. In other words, the universe is the material realm. It is very simple to put all of this together: If nature created you, then your life - your being, your existence - has no purpose. I don't believe that. I don't believe it for the simple reason that there is not a shred of evidence to support it. There never was an experiment or observation that demonstrated spontaneous creation at any level, at any time, at any place, for all of Man's experience from the beginning of recorded history to the present world in which we live. No experiment or observation ever came close to accomplishing this mission - not one - ever. No one has a clue as to how this might even possibly occur, except to imagine new physical laws that have never been witnessed. In addition, every related experiment ever performed has consistently, repeatedly, demonstrably, and easily shown the opposite. In short, you don't get something for nothing in the laboratory. You won't get something for nothing spontaneously. Nature, on its own, is without purpose. Only Pantheists might argue that point. The rest of us agree. If we choose to believe that Nature is our Creator, we do so on faith. Materialism, in this case, becomes our religion and nature becomes the focus of our devotion. The logical result is that there is no purpose to our being. We must believe this on faith alone, because all of experimental science rejects spontaneous creation. Allow me to quote Dr. Sagan once more: "I am often amazed at how much more capability and enthusiasm for science there is among elementary school youngsters than among college students." Think about it. Are you also amazed? Science may be presented in different ways. If it is presented as a methodical investigation that reveals the wonders of God's creation, you'll get one reaction. If, instead, it is presented as the study of a realm "lacking all purpose", I expect you'll get another, entirely different reaction. I can't imagine why Dr. Sagan would be amazed to discover that college students at Harvard or Cornell would lose their enthusiasm after hearing his lectures. I am amazed he didn't see this coming. He was intelligent, right? Did he not hear his own words? Indifference is all there is or ever was or ever will be. Now there is a line to add to your college fight song. Good news: The evidences - the physical, biological, chemical, archaeological, and historical - all point the same way. Your life does have a purpose. You were created in a special, finely tuned environment for a specific purpose by a real God, who is trying (trying! helloooo!) to get your attention. You may speak to Him and you may hear Him, but not with your simple, physical-world mouth and ears. The material world is indifferent, remember? Darwin, Sagan, and Dawkins all said so. The material world doesn't care a whit about you. You may communicate with God, on the other hand, spiritually. It's called prayer, and it is your 24-7 pipeline to your Creator. … but if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find, if thou seek with all thy heart and with all thy soul. Please open your minds and perform the experiment. I am a physicist. I have performed the experiment. I have opened my spiritual ears and heard, loud and clear. I have no doubt about what I heard and from whom I heard. I'm not asking you to take my word for it. I am asking you to honestly and critically examine the evidence for yourself. I am asking you to please perform the experiment, and do so with all your heart and soul. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.