"Heasman, David" <[log in to unmask]> quibbles:

>
>  A small cavil : -
>
> > In general, theologians have always pondered how we got here and why we
> are
> > here.  These are questions that evolution tries to answer as well.
>
>  begging the meaning of "evolution" in this sentence, surely the business
of
> theologians is "why", and the business of scientists is "how"?
>  To me, and I don't think I'm alone, the question "Why are we here?" is as
> meaningful
>  and as answerable as "Why is colour wet?"

I don't agree with your assessment.  Theology, as a facet of philosophy, has
as much business in the "how" of things as the "why".

As for "why are we here?", please see:

http://www.princeton.edu/~macauley/Anthrop.htm

which is, of course, only one of many explanations.

Besides, to pick a nit, if I may, your analogy doesn't hold up:

Why are we here = Why is colour wet

because while we are most definitely here (okay, I know I'm here, but I'm
not sure about you! :-)); that is, as Descartes put it: I think, therefore I
am;   we exist;  being is a characteristic of life; "wetness" is not a
characteristic of colour.

Jim Phillips                           Information Systems Manager
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