Nate, I understand why his first paragraph may have offended you because of it's anti-religous conclusion. But I think in your disagreement your missing his main point.

What I see him as saying is that life has no purpose outside of conciousness, as much as it feels like it does. The 'hardware driver' analogy makes it clear to me that he see's purpose as something which is totally created by concious beings.

Personally I agree strongly with these points, and lately (after reading alot of Nietzsche), have been straining my brain coming to terms with 'purpose'.

All the paradox's, the uncertainties and the vagueness of this semi-digital-semi-analogue world give rise to only one 'purpose' to me - ENJOY!