I know you don't want us to debate each other's beliefs, and that is not my intention, but my experience is essentially the opposite of GDR's.
I was "born and raised" a Christian, but as I looked at the world around me, I came to realize that it is explained much better by physical processes than by the woo-woo of the "metaphysical". To me, Occam's Razor suggests leaving the "unknown entity"
out of our explanations.
I am not saying that there is nothing beyond our consciousness - just that we can never be
conscious of anything beyond our consciousness.
(With all due respect, GDR.
)
People who think they have all the answers usually don't understand the questions.