As an atheist, I believe that there is no supreme being as the religious-minded folk proclaim. However, this does not mean that the seat is vacant. Can a machine with infinitely greater capacity to receive and interpret information from a near-infinite amount of input sources serve as the equivalent of a godly intelligence which we as a naturally intellectually-limited humanity choose to serve?]
If this is the case, is there room for worship of a machine-god whose might and glory have yet to be realized?
2006-07-12 22:06:28 · 15 answers · asked by Mr.Samsa 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I am very much a Christian, and woriship Jesus Christ, but your question reminded me of a scifi story I read so I had to find it and now I am going to post it. I love Scifi always makes you think anyway its Answer by Fredric Brown
Technology and the Future, 7th edition
Albert H. Teich, editor
Note to Preface (updated October 8, 1996)
The story is "Answer," from Angels and Spaceships, by Fredric Brown (Dutton, 1954). Here is the original text:
Dwar Ev ceremoniously soldered the final connection with gold. The eyes of a dozen television cameras watched him and the subether bore through the universe a dozen pictures of what he was doing.
He straightened and nodded to Dwar Reyn, then moved to a position beside the switch that would complete the contact when he threw it. The switch that would connect, all at once, all of the monster computing machines of all the populated planets in the universe--ninety-six billion planets--into the supercircuit that would connect them all into the one supercalculator, one cybernetics machine that would combine all the knowledge of all the galaxies.
Dwar Reyn spoke briefly to the watching and listening trillions. Then, after a moment's silence, he said, "Now, Dwar Ev."
Dwar Ev threw the switch. There was a mighty hum, the surge of power from ninety-six billion planets. Lights flashed and quieted along the miles-long panel.
Dwar Ev stepped back and drew a deep breath. "The honor of asking the first question is yours, Dwar Reyn."
"Thank you," said Dwar Reyn. "It shall be a question that no single cybernetics machine has been able to answer."
He turned to face the machine. "Is there a God?"
The mighty voice answered without hesitation, without the clicking of single relay.
"Yes, now there is a God."
Sudden fear flashed on the face of Dwar Ev. He leaped to grab the switch.
A bolt of lightning from the cloudless sky struck him down and fused the switch shut.*
2006-07-13 03:31:39 · answer #1 · answered by anewcreation_84 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
THINK if it is possible for a machine to make itself. I am not talking about a machine that is designed to make a machine that makes itself. If there was no human intervention, even a machine would not come about.
Those who think the entire system of the universe, this beautiful balance, this turning of the globe at an angle and the emergence of day followed by night all came about by itself, then that person much show me a machine that is like one of our machines but came about naturally.
If I leave a stone under a tree in a park, the chances are in a million years it will not even more an inch, unless some agency such as a storm or a flood would move it. Everything that exists in our universe is moving according to a DIVINE PLAN. The Architect of the Universe is specifying every movement and nothing can take place without his Will.
Naive belief on my part? Perhaps. BUT it is more naive for you to believe that this stone that I put under the tree will move by itself! THINK and RISE!!!
2006-07-13 05:14:39 · answer #2 · answered by NQV 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did you ever consider that the best of man's produce was still subject to a lot of improvement and not absolute? The pathways to God may vary but not the concept or nature and machines did not in any way or form measure to that nature and concept...just a food for thought
2006-07-13 05:14:15 · answer #3 · answered by Tommy M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A machine capable of creating universes, all life within, saving the dead, infinite love, wisdom and judgement, all-knowing, all-seeing and eternal? Silly question.
And I'm also an atheist.
2006-07-13 05:13:12 · answer #4 · answered by Bad Liberal 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People worship pretty much whatever they want to. If someone beleived a tube sock possessed some infinite, guiding power....would there not be room for the tube sock?
2006-07-13 05:09:02 · answer #5 · answered by d h 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A god is someone almighty. A machine can't be that. Nothing with finite might would be praised, because we would try to defeat it.
A god with infinite power does not need a machine to substitute him/her.
2006-07-13 05:12:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
and what would be the point in that? and who would program the machine... ahem? I agree with the comment on the sock, though. Anything to do with socks gets my vote.
PS I do so love it when people proselytise to athiests. If only they could come up with something that isn't trite.
2006-07-13 05:10:41 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why not? Most ppl today worship a piece of green paper called money
2006-07-13 05:14:11 · answer #8 · answered by Anna 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like 'Deep Thought' from Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy to me?
2006-07-13 05:11:43 · answer #9 · answered by Todd's 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who would built this machine? Um... it's not about what you believe, it's what will be! I wonder how you atheist will react, please remember there's still room on the cross for you. May the Lord Jesus be your Savior some day.
2006-07-13 05:13:14 · answer #10 · answered by thisisme 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋