DAVID: You cling to an infinity of chances that energy matter can form consciousness. Monkeys typing Shakespeare! Defies logic.

dhw: Yes, it defies logic, as does the concept of an eternal consciousness that has no source but has the knowledge to design a material universe and material life out of its own immateriality. I find myself unable to “cling to” either hypothesis. That is why I am an agnostic. I should add, as usual, that this means I am wrong one way or the other, which is why I continue to ask questions and to come up with "conjectures".

Please continue.