Harv, I don't doubt for a minute that science will provide us with an explanation of what caused or preceeded the Big Bang. Some say they already have.

My problem with these sort of explanations is, that they almost always make the presumption that sentience came after the matter/energy and natural laws.

To me, it seems more reasonable to propose that the universe, life, sentience etc, owes its existence to an intelligent source. The counter-arguments seem contrived in light this simple logic.

Also, the alternative view [that life, sentience etc is somehow emergent] puts natural law in the place of cosmic-magician, where matter/energy and law pulled the sentient-rabbit out of the hat, when the rabbit wasn't there to begin with.

I have found that this veiw is espoused most vigorously by those who reject the notion of a miracle-working Creator-God.

I marvel at the irony.

Brian