I’m technically some kind of theist, because I believe this world is likely to be a simulation (although I don’t believe it in my gut). I tell people I’m an atheist because telling them the more-accurate truth, that I am a theist, conveys negative information because of how they inevitably interpret it.
It’s a reasonable thing to point out: Why do LWers criticize theism so heavily when they may be theists?
There’s a confusion caused because our usage of the term doesn’t distinguish between “theist re. this universe I’m in” and “theist for the root universe”. Possibly because there may be no one in the latter category, who both believes in multiple levels of simulated universes, and that the original root universe was created by a deity.
Which definition is more usable (makes more distinctions about how you should act depending on whether you are a theist): Theist for this universe, or theist for root universe?
Considering whether your current universe was made by a god might seem to have more impact on your behavior. But considering whether the root universe was made by a god might have more impact on your philosophy and ethics.
Considering whether your current universe was made by a god might seem to have more impact on your behavior. But considering whether the root universe was made by a god might have more impact on your philosophy and ethics.
Would you like to address your point of view on what the impact is in both cases, or link to relevant discussion? Is it “be on the lookout for miracles”? Why wouldn’t we just do our business as usual being in a simulation as opposed to being in a “root universe”?
I don’t mean that it has to do with which universe we are in. A lot of people believe, for reasons which have never been clear to me, that if a God created the universe, then that God’s opinions have special moral status. I was presuming that that God does not have special moral status if it had been created by another God, or through evolution. But I don’t know what Christians would say. Possibly they would refuse to consider the scenario.
If God created the universe, then that’s some evidence that He knows a lot. Not overwhelming evidence, since some models of creation might not require of the creator to know much.
But I don’t know what Christians would say. Possibly they would refuse to consider the scenario.
They should refuse. Asking wrong questions has been a temptation by the Devil since the times of the original sin. A good Christian should know when to stop.
if a God created the universe, then that God’s opinions have special moral status
Think about it from a slightly different perspective: the claim is that the universe has morality baked into it—God created such a universe that moral laws are the same as laws of physics. In other words, the claim is that morality is objective and is embedded in reality. It’s not an “opinion” at all.
God does not have special moral status if it had been created by another God, or through evolution
In Christainity (or Judaism, or Islam) God cannot have been created (by somebody else of through evolution). In theology that’s one of the biggest differences between God and the world—one is uncreated and one is created.
I’m technically some kind of theist, because I believe this world is likely to be a simulation (although I don’t believe it in my gut). I tell people I’m an atheist because telling them the more-accurate truth, that I am a theist, conveys negative information because of how they inevitably interpret it.
It’s a reasonable thing to point out: Why do LWers criticize theism so heavily when they may be theists?
There’s a confusion caused because our usage of the term doesn’t distinguish between “theist re. this universe I’m in” and “theist for the root universe”. Possibly because there may be no one in the latter category, who both believes in multiple levels of simulated universes, and that the original root universe was created by a deity.
Which definition is more usable (makes more distinctions about how you should act depending on whether you are a theist): Theist for this universe, or theist for root universe?
Considering whether your current universe was made by a god might seem to have more impact on your behavior. But considering whether the root universe was made by a god might have more impact on your philosophy and ethics.
Would you like to address your point of view on what the impact is in both cases, or link to relevant discussion? Is it “be on the lookout for miracles”? Why wouldn’t we just do our business as usual being in a simulation as opposed to being in a “root universe”?
I don’t mean that it has to do with which universe we are in. A lot of people believe, for reasons which have never been clear to me, that if a God created the universe, then that God’s opinions have special moral status. I was presuming that that God does not have special moral status if it had been created by another God, or through evolution. But I don’t know what Christians would say. Possibly they would refuse to consider the scenario.
If God created the universe, then that’s some evidence that He knows a lot. Not overwhelming evidence, since some models of creation might not require of the creator to know much.
They should refuse. Asking wrong questions has been a temptation by the Devil since the times of the original sin. A good Christian should know when to stop.
Think about it from a slightly different perspective: the claim is that the universe has morality baked into it—God created such a universe that moral laws are the same as laws of physics. In other words, the claim is that morality is objective and is embedded in reality. It’s not an “opinion” at all.
In Christainity (or Judaism, or Islam) God cannot have been created (by somebody else of through evolution). In theology that’s one of the biggest differences between God and the world—one is uncreated and one is created.