In order to have a rational mind, one must be able to contain thoughts to a specific scope of information. If we allow ideas from outside the specific concepts to enter in, it can disrupt the thought process. That is definitely true when we think of origins, the beginning of the existence of all things.

Do your best to forget about religion, atheism, socialism, communism, social issues, etc., and just focus on the origin. It will help us come to the right conclusion. We know we exist, at least I hope you do. We also know we struggle to make sense of our existence. We want to be happy and prosperous. So there very basis for all this is where did I come from? I mean, where did the whole universe come from? This is a fundamental question that has to be settled in one's mind to build upon that foundation.

The question is, where did all of the universe and life on earth come from? Please, let us not hang all our biases on this question. We need to think of this question in the rawest sense. There are two choices.

We know the universe exists, but where did it come from? Think of all the solids, gases, and liquids our earth and the universe is made of. Where did it come from? Nobody knows. Some will say from the big bang. Well, the bang still needed matter to explode. All we know is it is here.

Secondly is life. Contrary to what some want to affirm, we do not know how life started. Evolution is the explanation of the diversity of life, but not life itself. All we can do is hypothesizes about the formation of life.

So one needs to contemplate this very basic concept about existence. We cannot let our hatred for religion or love for religion, our emotional state, or social concepts affect this. Let this foundational understanding form thoughts about those things rather than the other way around. What does this view mean for your understanding of life? It has to mean there is no ultimate purpose to it. Entropy will win out heat death will be its end.

If you look around, you will see many things that were made. You do not even question that someone made them. However, by just looking at the item, you cannot figure out who made it. You may find the manufacturer, but you will not know the person.

That is the understanding of design in the universe and life. It seems so clear that the universe is designed. The laws that hold it together. Then there is life. Self-reproducing entities that can think, love, heal, etc. There is a code that every cell must have for it to form. So much of this can be seen as design. If it is designed, then there must be a designer.

So much baggage comes with this thought of a designer, or shall we say, God. People will not like this view because they see so much wrong in the world. They say religion is a plague. The Bible is a fairytale and evil book. Again we cannot let those things interfere with this fundamental understanding.  If you accept this basic premise that the universe and life were created, then you must do your best to learn about this Creator, if that is even possible.