>Now.. Starting from your axiom, "The universe prefers stable objects over non-stable ones", are you asserting any of the following:

>1) The universe is 'aware' in that it 'prefers'.

No.

>2) The universe is intelligent in that it 'knows' that order is better than chaos?

No.

>3) The universe is exhibiting morality in that the notion of order is construed as being 'better' (ie. good) than not (not good) - bad?

No.

>4) The universe is self aware in that it knows that it knows that one (order) is 'better' than the other?

No.

>5) The universe has volition, demonstrated in the choice of one (order - good) over another (non-order - not good)?

No.

>6) The universe is all-knowing in that it 'knows' that by choosing one (order) over another (non-order) that this will have beneficial results? That is, it can 'see' the future and react to this with knowledge, intelligence and will, and it knows which of these 'choices' is best out of an unlimited number of options.

No.

>7) The universe has the necessary 'power' to effect this order? It is, in effect, all powerful.

No.

>8) The universe (as a higher power than mankind or any other creatures) is greater than these creatures? IOW, which came first and is therefore, by virtue of its antecedency greater or better?

No.

>9) The universe is soverign by virtue of the power it has to effect the order you suggest is good. That is, being antecedent to man and powerful enough to effect whatever 'pieces' of itself to bring order out of chaos (intelligence).

No.

>10) Man is inferior to this universe, being the 'developed', 'evolved' or 'created' creature.

No.

>11) Rocks are more than matter. They must be if they 'know' or 'prefer'.

No.

>12) There is more than matter in the universe.

No.

>How can something 'prefer' without having an intelligence?

Lets say I have a hawk and a dove and throw them into a box. The cardboard box will most likely select the hawk to win. Does it have intelligence? No. So how did selection happen? The perfered strategy of the environment (the box) includes everything in the environment and all their strategies. Check out game theory.

>How can non-self-aware power create order when its 'natural' inclination is chaos?

It doesn't.