This always begins a fascinating discussion involving cosmologies, life histories, logic and beliefs, but as we bridge the gap from "religion" to "specific religion" we find ourselves in the kind of discussion that should be had with good friends over beers in cherished local places.

I find that once you enter this territory, venues like HN don't support this type of discussion well, so I'm going to make the choice to lay it down here, but you sound like someone I'd like to have a beer or two with.