Floating.

Where is the universe located? Is it "located" at all, or just "is" it?
If you think about the dimensions which are involved, the issue gets beyond imagination.

Lichen -> moss -> microbes -> ants -> animals -> people (human or other) .... from afar they all show the same behaviour. They are akin.

I don't think the biological way of thinking as performed by the brain is the only way to perceive and experience the world.
Even our species is now at the threshold to construct mechanical/electronical thinking devices (computers are just a start). So there must be other ways of "thinking".

Animals aren't just "there". They comprise an entity capable of thinking (at a lower level). They have a perception of this world similar to our's because they have the same sensors. They can feel joy as well as pain.

If evolution on earth isn't wiped out by some fatality, our brains will evolve to a more and more sophisticated performance. If there should be a wipe-out, it'll start all over again. Evolution is the principle of nature.

God in Context

Levels of explaining the universe:

Ancient gods explained the features of nature as perceived by our forebears the hunters and gatherers.

Religions used a more sophisticated single god to explain features of nature as perceived by more educated people (Newton).

Science is used to explain even more mysterious features of Nature (Einstein's relativity).

Science will be able to explain the features of Nature. Holistic thinking will evolve.

A New Insight

1. Creation (Atoms -> Molecules -> Cells)
2. Evolution
3. Mutation ( caused by accident, radiation, environment )
3a. "good" mutation leads to evolution and further mutations of strain
3b. "bad" mutation leads to extinction of strain.
4. Evolution of new strain/species (previous stage = 3a)
5. Mutation
5a. ...
5b. ...

and so on.


Example for a mutation caused by environment (hypothetical):
Global warming will lead to extinction of strain or even whole species (GlobWarm-scenario comparable to impact of cosmic object (asteroid) which led to the extinction of the dinos).
A new strain will evolve which hopefully makes better use of the earth.