Is God a scientist?

Question

Apparently, in the future computers will be able to create genuine virtual reality. In other words, they will be able to build a universe atom by atom, molecule by molecule - completely indistinguishable from the "real" thing - except that it only "exists" within a computer programme. And it could create "beings" to live within this virtual universe, who would have no idea at all that they aren't "real".

If the idea of a multiverse is right, then maybe a scientist from another dimension has already created this programme, and we are it. Maybe the big bang happened when he pressed a button on his keyboard.

If this scientist does exist, then he does so in a way that we cannot understand, his motivations are beyond our comprehension and we are unable to interact with him. Who's that except God?

I am firmly agnostic by the way - I have no idea whether or not God exists and believe that, if he does, I have no hope of ever understanding him.

Haven't seen the Matrix, no. And I'm not trying to suggest that I came up with this theory all by myself - just a book that I'm reading made me ponder. Should I see The Matrix?

Kitten - how about you stick to answering questions that you actually understand, hmmm? If you think that Stephen Hawking and Roger Penrose write "fantasy books" then you are somewhat thick.

Another excellent answer Daniel. Thank you.

If our computers can do this in the future, then we could become "God" to another universe. I don't find that too extraordinary.

Alis - it may seem unlikely, I know. But in actual fact, statistically, we are far more likely to be virtual than actually real (in the way we understand real to mean).

Answer 1

if only one vitual reality computer is running, then there is a 50/50 chance that this is reality. but if there are say 100 computers running the same programme then it's 100/1 against us being real. spooky eh?

Answer 2

I would agree that this scenario is certainly possible however there is no way that I can think of to either prove or disprove it, so I doubt it can ever be more than a hypothesis. (though I would love to hear about any attempts to produce a proper theory.) It also cannot deal with the "who created the creator" issue.

What I do find interesting about it is the questions that arise from this, such as what does it mean to say something is real. Could a character from a computer game be real? Would the scientist be morally responsible for his creation? Could we become gods? Have we become gods?

It is an interesting idea in that it creates new angles to explore the big questions and is worth exploring but unless the scientist outside of the computer decides to intervene for some reason I think that is all it will remain.

I would watch the first matrix, it explores issues similar to this and is actually a decent movie. But don't waste time watching the sequels.

Answer 3

Wow Donna, I have to start reading again if this is the result. This is the best question I have seen since I started on this site !
I agree with the theory that it is evidently possible
Some questions arise though that if we exist in a programme and in turn we can create the same event as ourselves are we not limited to creating a smaller universe than our own and in turn ours is smaller than our creators.
However I suppose we can also argue that infinity means something can be infinitely large and also infinitely small. Some might argue that we are then limited by atomic weight, but not if we are only existing in a programme
Take two mirrors and stand between them. In each direction you are infinite, but infinitely smaller, yet infinitely complete
We may be turned off at any point in time too but we would never know it happened and every subsequent universe would evaporate with us
I can get the sequential concept of infinity in our linear direction quite easily. I only struggle a little with the infinite line that precedes us. It must be so but I wonder is the whole thing some kind of loop back.
Oh heck now you have me wondering for the first time in my life why the heck the whole universe is here at all.
Do you think if you suddenly lose belief in it's existence you might just disappear yourself?
I need a drink !

Answer 4

So in essence, are we all just a sophisticated game of Sims? Interesting theory, and not as daft it might seem, certainly no less plausible than a creationist theory.. however, where did the computer come from, how the scientist come into being? We'll never understand or comprehend.

Even if this is a virtual reality then I still believe that 'I think, therefore I am' holds true, and as such I'm prepared to accept my existance.

Having said that, if the scientist is monitoring any of this then please can i request a new career and the "Uncomplicated Love Life" expansion pack?

P.S. According to Faithless, God is a DJ.. but I'm not sure what evidence this is based on :-)

Answer 5

Yes, God is a scientist, fiddling about with a computer, of course. God is the word at the beginning of figuring out what it is. If i may embed questions: what could god not be? For example, could it not possibly be a pantheon, or more than one god? Could it possibly not be just one god?
Surely god cannot be ONLY what we human say it is, even if we ALL agree.
As inhabitants of such a material world, concerned with what human has made concretely, maybe we feel a guilt about inventing computing, and other sciences, and wonder if God would do the same. Would it have the time? Of course.
Anyway, the assumption that it COULD accommodate utter peace and love (and forgiveness of guilt) in its being is enough to keep the concept alive.

Answer 6

A very genuine question...
Only experience can convince, not a logical answer...
When we ask for the creator, and not merely his creation, we have to perceive the creation the way he perceives, which means we need to become 'a bit' like him.... ! Again, we are just speaking of a possibility of an experience of that spark of divinity within our being...
When the perception deepens , beyond just the sensory levels, everything becomes quite clear, the only difficulty we will be left with would be the inability to put it into words for conveying it to others !
Yes, nobody ever understood God, at the best they just experienced him, overwhelmingly,.... and the possibility (though just a possibility), is always there for every human.... just an open mind , and readiness to deepen what is already available (the self awareness), is needed.

Answer 7

God, I'm afraid, does not exist. The idea of God exists, within our heads. We have created a universe within which we feel a need for God - but if we disappear, God disappears too. So really, the multiverse is already here - there is a difference between reality and the paradigms we use to navigate it - one of the crutches we use to cope with 'the big questions' is a universal daddy, who solves all (or mummy, for god's sake - i'm trying to make a point). As soon as we grow up, and understand science, and use it to try and understand the true wonder of the world, God disappears in a little puff of smoke, just faintly re-appearing around Christmas time when everybody's brain turns to mush.

Answer 8

There was a theory kicking about that the solar system is just an atom and the galaxy just a molecule in a much larger organism. All the solar systems and all the Galaxies could be a hair on the a55 of a dog that is having a scratch.
Total bunkum though but makes you think how insignificant we are.

xxB

Answer 9

From your question and the theory that you have suggested, we will be gods if God is the one that created us.

if thats the case, then yes, God is a scientist. since we are scientists and we build computer and the computer will build a universe.

but at the last two paragraph of you question. there could be a answer to it if we ask ourselves, if we have created a universe...then what would i do..? that could be the answer of why did he created us.

or it could be just the technology is so far beyond our imagination and "God" just created us for fun.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
if you say God as in, God the all powerful, then yes, he is a scientist again, since he is all powerful, he can be anything and everthing and at the same time, nothing. so the answer can also be no. somehow...
(sorry, as i am writing wt i am thinking, this process can go on and on, so i think i better stop)

hope this help,

heartless

Answer 10

Yes, aside being the best, He is an inquisitive scientist too. Where angels cast their doubts, He believed in us when He created in us but He wanted to see and prove that His theory about human race is correct. Now, this in my view is what most scientists do. The experiment is not complete yet, is still going, all the more reasons to be in league with God; to participate in this experiment from God’s side.

Answer 11

Did this god invent the law of gravity and quantum physics? Are we like an ant farm, with this godly scientist looking down on his 'little' subjects? I could see that he experimented with us, just like a scientist, coming up with 15 or so different models of hominids before the new and improved model (homo sapiens) was created.

Let's hope he doesn't destroy us by bombarding us with comets and asteroids, the same way Enrico Fermi bombarded a Uranium isotope with neutrons, it could be a deadly situation.....lol