If we're not going to give the snake credit for evolving and using its rattle, we can hardly give the engineer much credit for evolving and using her brain.

I'm not giving the snake credit for having a rattle, though if it uses its rattle really well, I might give it credit for that. In the same manner, I would't give the engineer credit for having a brain, but if she uses it really well, I might give her credit for that.

I mean, I'm just doing what my genes tell me to do.

First: It seems to me that the problem you are having with this is all of determinism, not just genes. Second: What is the difference between you and your genes anyway? You are the expression om your genes, it's not like they are a different entity inside you who decides on stuff.

Also: I'm not finding any references to god in this article, except the explicit statements on how this is *not * about creationism or an evolutionary fairy. What am I missing?

I agree with you about transcendence (at least in that definition): When I think enough about certain science and aspects of nature I get this standing-at-the-edge-of-the-cliff feeling, this vertigo about how strange and big and wonderful and terrifying a place we are really inhabiting... Art seldom does this to me though, except perhaps music. But I digress.

[Edit: Spelling]