This is the pivot upon which all else rests! Which is the more fundamental? consciousness or matter? Where your intuition, feeling, understanding and knowledge falls on this, dictates how, to a large extent, you approach the world; It informs your concerns, favoured themes and viewpoint in general.

To conclude that matter is derived from the more fundamental ‘medium’ of consciousness is to concede there is a greater freedom and mutability in what we think of as ‘reality’. To conclude the opposite is to constrict and fix! Consciousness becomes a wasp trapped in a jar.

Dawkins’ zealousness in outgrowing God and religion seems almost religious itself. Our human idea of God though, seems to be just a placeholder for a consciousness more fundamental than our own. What else can it be? We are adept, however, at projecting our fragmented consciousness’ onto whatever process set us here. I think Dawkins is triggered by our need to be parented, looked after and saved. It does seem a bit of an abnegation of agency, I suppose.

However, pointing out the obvious inconsistencies and absurdities in a ‘holy book’ collated from various sources over the last few thousand years, casts absolutely no light on the question of the primacy of consciousness.

Science is split on this, but I think the smart money is on the idea that consciousness is the well-spring source from which matter comes into being.