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Z_UWF · 10-27-2003, 10:11 PM

Here's an idea I've pondered for a while. I thought it up back in high school (I'm a sophomore in college now) and have since seen related articles on various websites. The idea is not meant to be taken literally, but rather as a visualization tool.

Imagine the smallest piece of matter in the universe. For simplicity, we'll consider the atom. We could get more specific and go into quarks, but the point is to break everything down to the single, smallest unit of matter. Those units are, essentially, data. Now, imagine a massively complex computer, given the task of storing all of those pieces of data, and processesing those pieces of data based on certain fundamental laws or principles (laws of physics, etc). Now, everything within that simulation would know nothing of the environment beyond the simulation, would know nothing of its laws or limitations. Theoretically, this massive computer might have different laws that allow it to function faster, but the point is that it would not even have to be fast. It is beyond the time dimension inside the simulation, above it. It could processes the entire universe instanteously, or go on for billions of years to process a single day and nothing inside the simulation would feel any different.

For me, this is how I logically justify the existence of God, or at least the possibility. I consider the universe, as massive as it is, to simply be units of data processed in the mind of an all-powerful being. This is a tool for me to conceive a dimension beyond our own, above it. It makes me think that far too many intellectuals dismiss supernatural ideas ignorantly. If the possibility of a realm beyond our own is logically conceivable, then how can we insult those who believe it?

Diving a little deeper and slightly off topic:

If the universe is data processed in the mind of God, and God is storing all the data, then God is everywhere. If the entire history of the universe is processed inside the mind of God as a "simulation," then God is beyond time. If the sum of the universe is just data being processed by rules, then the one who controls those rules has the power to break them - miracles are not inconceiveable. What's the one thing (or at least the closest thing) that humans can create out of nothing? Information, thoughts, ideas, data. If all of the universe is data inside the mind of God, then God created something out of nothing.

Thoughts?

10-27-2003, 10:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
Z_UWF Upright Location: Pensacola, Florida	The world as a computer Here's an idea I've pondered for a while. I thought it up back in high school (I'm a sophomore in college now) and have since seen related articles on various websites. The idea is not meant to be taken literally, but rather as a visualization tool. Imagine the smallest piece of matter in the universe. For simplicity, we'll consider the atom. We could get more specific and go into quarks, but the point is to break everything down to the single, smallest unit of matter. Those units are, essentially, data. Now, imagine a massively complex computer, given the task of storing all of those pieces of data, and processesing those pieces of data based on certain fundamental laws or principles (laws of physics, etc). Now, everything within that simulation would know nothing of the environment beyond the simulation, would know nothing of its laws or limitations. Theoretically, this massive computer might have different laws that allow it to function faster, but the point is that it would not even have to be fast. It is beyond the time dimension inside the simulation, above it. It could processes the entire universe instanteously, or go on for billions of years to process a single day and nothing inside the simulation would feel any different. For me, this is how I logically justify the existence of God, or at least the possibility. I consider the universe, as massive as it is, to simply be units of data processed in the mind of an all-powerful being. This is a tool for me to conceive a dimension beyond our own, above it. It makes me think that far too many intellectuals dismiss supernatural ideas ignorantly. If the possibility of a realm beyond our own is logically conceivable, then how can we insult those who believe it? Diving a little deeper and slightly off topic: If the universe is data processed in the mind of God, and God is storing all the data, then God is everywhere. If the entire history of the universe is processed inside the mind of God as a "simulation," then God is beyond time. If the sum of the universe is just data being processed by rules, then the one who controls those rules has the power to break them - miracles are not inconceiveable. What's the one thing (or at least the closest thing) that humans can create out of nothing? Information, thoughts, ideas, data. If all of the universe is data inside the mind of God, then God created something out of nothing. Thoughts?