A variation on the test and the prize. - General Discussion

archiver · 11-07-2006, 23:08

It's a common theme used by all from parents to priests. From "Eat your tea and you can go out to play for an hour." to "Accept $Deity as the only true one and live for ever in paradise."

Yes, it's the second one which continues to bother me. 'Eating' and 'playing' are both good, but 'accepting' and 'believing' are bad and can be dangerous, both for the believer and for innocent bystanders.

There are a few things I accept and believe though, so I'm not claiming to be any better. They are:

1) The universe is very big.
2) Life is good.
3) Love is lovely.
4) This may be the only planet in this very big universe where life and love exist.
5) All of the above may be meaningless by morning. (eg: near supernova event)

I doubt 4 though. Even with only this tiny sample size (planet earth) I think it's fair to believe there's life elsewhere in this galaxy. Some galaxies may be highly populated by beings who's wisdom is way beyond ours. Perhaps they devised this test. Does it take much of a leap of faith to believe that a species, like human beings, whom have technology (and wisdom) say 5,000 years advanced from ours would be able to devise a simulated educational test experience like this one? But why?

Life in the Real universe may never have been this perfect. The distance from Earth to Sun is so precise that I could walk from one temperate extreme to the other! Perhaps a by product of perfect placement - the proliferation of species. The super fast technological advancements. The tragic history. The hidden fuel crystals. Predator absence. It's a simulation.

Also, see Nick Bostrom's 'Simulation Argument':
http://www.simulation-argument.com/

Why?

I expect the universe is big enough to accommodate both believers and non believers, but that they need to be separated. This test finds out if you'd rather fight/work for God a bit longer, or succeed to true Life.

11-07-2006, 23:08	#1
archiver Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Gender: Male Location: Sol 3 Services: Linux-Mint-8 Opera-10.10 Posts: 1,789	A variation on the test and the prize. It's a common theme used by all from parents to priests. From "Eat your tea and you can go out to play for an hour." to "Accept $Deity as the only true one and live for ever in paradise." Yes, it's the second one which continues to bother me. 'Eating' and 'playing' are both good, but 'accepting' and 'believing' are bad and can be dangerous, both for the believer and for innocent bystanders. There are a few things I accept and believe though, so I'm not claiming to be any better. They are: 1) The universe is very big. 2) Life is good. 3) Love is lovely. 4) This may be the only planet in this very big universe where life and love exist. 5) All of the above may be meaningless by morning. (eg: near supernova event) I doubt 4 though. Even with only this tiny sample size (planet earth) I think it's fair to believe there's life elsewhere in this galaxy. Some galaxies may be highly populated by beings who's wisdom is way beyond ours. Perhaps they devised this test. Does it take much of a leap of faith to believe that a species, like human beings, whom have technology (and wisdom) say 5,000 years advanced from ours would be able to devise a simulated educational test experience like this one? But why? Life in the Real universe may never have been this perfect. The distance from Earth to Sun is so precise that I could walk from one temperate extreme to the other! Perhaps a by product of perfect placement - the proliferation of species. The super fast technological advancements. The tragic history. The hidden fuel crystals. Predator absence. It's a simulation. Also, see Nick Bostrom's 'Simulation Argument': http://www.simulation-argument.com/ Why? I expect the universe is big enough to accommodate both believers and non believers, but that they need to be separated. This test finds out if you'd rather fight/work for God a bit longer, or succeed to true Life.