So the religions, essentially, do recognize that things exist and search for the 'why's' and 'what first's.' Perhaps there is a parallel or compli- mentary 'realm in the ether' (since we've seen some evidence by and by in our daily lives), when it comes to beliefs? This is gonna take a little skill to convey, so try to bear with me:) -

What exists is so vast, that not all humans could know everything from beginning to end. It's like being in a workshop FULL of tools, woods, metals, stones, etc; a workshop the size of a million football fields. Some come across hot coals, iron and hammers and content with that, will stay and forge more and more metal. Some see section upon section and explore where they might, more deeply where it's most satisfying. Others, still, are in the workshop, can smell the wood, the fire, the water, but close their eyes and claim to see nothing; therefore, there couldn't possibly be a shopkeeper to have put all those things in their places or endowed us with any creativity on how to use them.

It's like some figure 'here's a shed'; others 'here's a shed with cool stuff in it'; or 'look what we can do with the cool stuff'. This is pretty universal to my thinking, you have a wide range of these perceptions in all the religions. But it seems to leave out a significant factor: justice. it makes a BIG difference on how people behave if they know and can TRUST that somethin's gonna happen to the bad kids when the carpenter comes home, and won't they be jealous when us good kids are taken out for ice cream for treating the tools and the shed with respect?

there's that 'more to it but hard to put my finger on it' kinda stuff that is like your analogy. Oh. I did tell you before, didn't I, that I don't claim to have any big 'finger' that IS able to be put 'on' stuff? Hope I didn't wreck YOUR good post
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