Do you believe in miracles?

[Thorne]

Assuming a multiverse, it's inevitable that this universe would have come into being. Assuming a universe, the chances of everything falling into place the way they did are mind-boggling (but not impossible), and it does tend to make you wonder if there's a place for a higher power.

Why? As you state, there HAS to be a universe, or we couldn't be here. But it didn't HAVE to turn out this way. If it were different, then we would be different, or at least beings in that universe would be different. And they would undoubtedly be standing around wondering how they could have gotten so lucky to have the universe turn out perfectly to suit them!

No, chance plays its part, but it is WE who are attuned to this universe, not the other way around. If it is possible for life to exist on a world without water (and that means ANY kind of life, not just life as we know it) then there is a possibility for that life to advance to a point of intelligence, or what we would recognize as intelligence. Their universe would be much different than ours, but it's still the same "multiverse."

(And I think Thorne's a perectly reasonable man when he sees things my way! But I'm sure I just alienated him.)

Alienated? Not at all! You're right: I am a perfectly reasonable man when you see things my way. I also happen to be a perfectly reasonable man when you DON'T see things my way.

By damn, that makes me perfect! Where are all the ladies?