I think humans have crossed some sort of threshold, beyond which we can do things--think things--that other animals cannot. I think our intelligence is some sort of emergent property, more than the sum of its parts, the same way an anthill is. I don't think other animals have "spiritual" lives, since, for most of them, this would be maladaptive. I also don't think my cat ponders the origin of the universe, or understands death.

Malthus will solve the population issue. That's a good way to put it.

You mistake me. I don't think we'll reach "living standard equilibrium" until civilization collapses. I don't believe Westerners will give up their high standard of living so that people in Chad and Nicaragua can have big screen teevees and laptops.

I don't believe anything needs to "take the place of faith." It's like saying you need something to take the place of a brain tumor. The idea that we need "something" to hold on to is wrong. And if one uses science as a substitute for a religion, that's misusing science. I guess it's better than being a Scientologist, or God help you, a Mormon, but only because science is based in fact. But to say that you "put your faith in science" is really an oxymoron.