Where future events allow for more than one option, might the laws of nature be goal-oriented?

[Boojatta]

That's one possible consequence of the existence of a God who constantly intervenes in very subtle (but perhaps non-malicious) ways in the universe.

However, I imagine that what is stated in the title of this thread could be the truth even if there is no God. After all, it's not superstitious to believe that human beings have intentions. Why should we assume that we are so far more sophisticated than the basic processes of the universe that there couldn't possibly be anything analogous to intention or goal-oriented behavior in the basic functioning of the universe?

[Deep13]

1. Because we are so much more sophisticated than the basic processes of the universe.

Purpose requires intelligence. Intelligence is the result of evolution, not its cause. There is simply no mechanism for the laws of nature to intend anything. And there is no reason to project human intention into physical processes. This is an explanation in search of a problem. There is nothing we have seen so far that can only be explained by a purpose-driven universe. What you are describing is a deist god at least.