This book serves two purposes: On one hand, it answers the question of how humans came to be and what makes them special in a way that is easily understandable. The reader is not only introduced to the development of matter from the Big Bang to the emergence of language- and thought-capable beings, but also learns how the riddle of human consciousness can be completely resolved within a naturalistic worldview. On the other hand, the book addresses the conflict between natural science, philosophy, and religion regarding the interpretation of humanity in our universe.