When I first saw your engineering statement, and comparing the engineer to God, I first thought that they engineer is sure a sneaky son of a bitch for making us reliant on him, and thus, in this matter, Guaranteeing his employment!! How about this, John, the universe is learning, starting from something akin to a Boltzmann Brain and then achieving over enormous amounts of time, real achievements. I mean,
Here's an oldie from our friend Dr. Guilio P.
Like with cryonics, maybe the Big Fix is through time, aka the procession of physical actions (my def. no body elses).
Here's an oldie from Charles Bennett which compares the BB to Wigner's Friend. Personally, I see Schrodinger's Cat alive perched atop Wigner's Friend's head, mewing out orders to his pal, Eugene.
If one is not a fundamentalist but a utilitarian who knows where one's interests lay, the what is the Big Mind is, then we have a bit o' freedom intellectually, but maybe not emotionally?
So, what does this mean for us primates? Depending, on where one wants to take this, I consider the science, math, & philosophy of science, as something essential as in important. I think it should guide research a bit, not all research, but the astrophysical stuff in considering as a joke but still useful, Shermer's Last Law.
Any sufficiently advanced extraterrestrial intelligence is indistinguishable from God
Lets consider this a working hypothesis, a very long term project, far beyond our civilizations current scope. Nobody has to pray, because according to LC, we haven't a prayer, anyways. (Obnoxious laugher insert), and just see how we'd interact with a Jupiter Matryoshka Brain. I know how I'd act. "Blame them not me! I'm the loyal insect, the others, they've been plotting against you from day one!"
I bet ya feel better already?