Just cause we (Humans) haven't found other planets "with what we call life", doesn't mean that it isn't out there. Now what happens in the future if we find that other race or species and they know only of science evolution and not of religion? Are we (as a world that mostly a religion-based society) going to force our views and beliefs on them (as we did with indians and so on)? What if this world doesn't know of this "higher power" - would that mean that God doesn't exist or would the religious leaders just say that these people are in denial?
Where you fail is that you haven't looked at science as ever-evolving. 100 years ago no one could tell you about brain patterns, 50 years ago no one could map DNA, 20 years ago 80G's in a pocket sized device was impossible. Science is catching up - your "flat Earth/round Earth" post proves this. Science has the edge b/c we haven't reached the absolute - we question it and bang on it and question and bang on it - much like a blacksmith making a sword. It's constantly being sharpened... whereas religion has arrived ALREADY (which is funny considering how young we are as a people) at the ABSOLUTE. THAT IS A SLICK ASS SLOPE TO BE ON.
Who knows in 10 years science may be able to provide solid proof there is no God... or the other way around... wouldn't that be cool? What would you do at that time J?? I think it'd be kool either way... but that'd fuck up the entire "story" for religion wouldn't it... if an explorer (satellite) "finds hell?" - LOL. EVERY person born from that moment on would believe - don't just laugh at that thought - THINK ABOUT IT. Then the entire "you're just being tested so you make the right choice to follow God" thing goes out of the window huh? But I have the feeling that science will find the opposite - that's just my honest opinion.
Either way - I will still continue to reach inside myself and accept my failures as "I didnt try hard enough or wasn't smart enough" rather than think "it wasn't in God's will." I will continue to treat people right the 1st time around rather than think "God will forgive me later." I will continue to have business of my own so I don't have time to go door to door minding every1 else's w/ a few well placed pamphlets. I will continue to enjoy THIS life as the best life that I will likely ever have which forces me to be kind, generous and nice TODAY. A weekend with my daughter - a cruise through the twisties in Blue Ridge - rocking on my front porch - playing my piano at 3:30 in the morning... a few beers w/ a few people that I call friends - this IS my heaven. I don't feel the need to ask the invisible for more.
To each his own - and as usual it's always a pleasure chatting with you Jaime.RESPECT!