Steve asked me to add the following to the transcript of the panel. I thought it would be appropriate to add it here, too:
20-20 hindsight remark: I find my closing words somewhat embarassing in that I didn't quite say things the way I intended to say them, and what I said obviously contradicts what I said in my opening remarks, where I stated that I don't necessarily believe anything. I'm not sure why that happened; perhaps I was so surprised that the interview had gone so harmoniously that I didn't want to "make waves". This is more along the lines of what I intended to say: I think that it should be clear to anyone who puts enough thought into it that there is an intelligent entity that created our universe. The fact that clumps of rock orbit happen to come into around each other, the sheer unlikeliness of our existence, are proof enough for me. Call it God, call it the Force, it doesn't matter to me. I don't think God cares what you believe. I think that what's important is that you constantly try to improve yourself, to move towards being the best person you can be, that you treat others as you would have them treat you, that you be compassionate, that you give to others, and that you make constant, daily attempts to pray, meditate, or otherwise commune with or make contact with that intelligent creative spirit.