Reading Time – 5 minutes
I’ve discussed this topic before but I haven’t in a long while, and this is a popular subject, so consider this an update.
As always, I’m objective. Unlike most people, I don’t take one side or the other and plant myself there screaming about it because of my upbringing, feelings, culture, Societal Programming, hope, or anger.
Instead, I look at the data and draw the most likely conclusions based on what I have available. This raises the probability of me being correct (though of course, it doesn’t guarantee it).
This is, for example, why I’m not a left-winger or Trump supporter or anarchist, but I’m instead a minarchist libertarian because, based on the data, history, economics, and geopolitics, having a government but keeping it as small as humanly possible is the least-bad way for running a modern-day society full of human beings (until someone or AI invents something never before seen).
It’s the same with hardcore Christians/Muslims/religionists vs. atheists. None of these groups are 100% rational (though I agree some are worse than others).
Here are my main opinions and analysis.
1. There is no Judeo/Christian/Muslim god, nor any other gods worshipped by any religion (Hinduism, etc).
This is all false Societal Programming invented by various elites 2,000+ years ago to assist them in controlling the masses.
If you believe in a god (or gods) like this, that’s fine and that’s your choice.
Because I’m outcome-independent, an individualist, and I’m not an atheist (more on that in a minute), I have no problem with you believing these things.
I’m saying there is no scientific data or any real evidence verified by science whatsoever, modern or historical, that indicates the existence of a Judeo/Christian/Muslim god as described in the various holy texts.
The holy texts you have, like the Bible, were written by primitive desert tribes thousands of years ago and have been edited literally thousands of times by various elites over the centuries.
This does not qualify as valid scientific evidence. Quite the opposite; it points to these things most likely being wrong.
FYI if you didn’t know, I was raised Catholic, spent eight years in a Catholic school, unlike most Christians, I have actually read most of the Bible.
So that is where the atheists are correct. Now I’ll describe where the atheists are likely wrong.
2. There is evidence of intelligent design in the universe, indicating a creator or creators of some kind.
Despite what many atheists think, there is indeed a lot of scientific evidence for the universe, astronomy, and even biology having been created by someone on purpose.
Is there conclusive proof of this? No. (At least, not yet; I think if/when AI takes over we might find out.)
Is there scientific evidence of this? Yes. A lot.
So while we don’t know for sure, the hardcore atheist who says definitively “There is no god, I know this for sure, and no one ‘made’ the universe, it was just created by accident or by nature” is likely just as wrong as the Christan who says the Christian God is looking down at you right now watching to see if you use his name in vain so he can send you to hell if you don’t repent.
3. I was 70% convinced simulation theory was correct. Today I am 80% convinced.
If you don’t know what simulation theory is, it’s the concept that this entire universe is actually some sort of advanced simulation or computer program that was designed by a creator or creators unknown for research, entertainment, or to solve some kind of problem.
The simulation is real to us but only a simulation or construct to the creator/creators.
I’ve said before that I was 70% in the simulation theory camp. Today I’m 80%, perhaps even 85% there.
The longer I live and the more I learn and research, the more likely this explanation becomes.
The reason is simulation theory is the only explanation that explains everything, including things like the Big Bang, dark matter, the Fermi Paradox, why the laws of physics break down if you zoom into an atom with a microscope, and so on.
Science has no real answers for most of these things.
Atheists have no answers for these things.
Religionists have fairy tales that are quickly contradicted by facts so they don’t have any answers either.
But simulation theory, if it’s real, explains almost all of it.
As just one example, where are all the aliens?
One possible answer is that there are none because it’s a simulation so we’re the only ones, and the universe is just background like the distant mountains in Skyrim you can never travel to.
Or perhaps there’s only one set of intelligent life per galaxy, forever separated by vast distances; that’s just as plausible.
Simulation theory is far more likely than this all happened by accident or “nature” (atheists), or some angry, touchy god who was so insecure he created a universe full of servants to worship him (Christians, Muslims, Jews,) or a god who came out of the navel of another god to create the universe only to destroy it again later (Hindus), or because the entire universe is inside a black hole in a different universe (some scientists), or whatever.
Do I 100% believe this is a simulation? Nope. I don’t have enough data to state this 100% definitively. (See? That’s what objectivity looks like. Sometimes you’re just not sure, and that’s a valid opinion to have when you don’t have enough data.)
I said I’m 80%, not 100%. This may not be a simulation at all, but all the data points there more than it points to any other explanation humans have come up with so far.
Some people respond that simulation theory “doesn’t count” because it doesn’t actually explain anything.
Okay, we were all made by someone, but who made that someone? It doesn’t answer the “Is there a god?” question.
That’s right. It explains the nature of the universe but it doesn’t explain who the creator/creators are/were.
But you know what? You might have to get used to the real possibility that even if humans take over the entire Milky Way galaxy we may never know the answer to that question, which is hard for human beings to accept.
That’s why they invented things like religion. Emotional humans are made uncomfortable by not knowing something for sure so they make up fantasies that make them feel better.
And hey, I love fantasy. It’s my thing. I think Lord of the Rings is pretty awesome.
But I don’t think it’s real.
So when Christians point to evidence that the universe was created by someone, I agree with them. I just wasn’t created by their god out of the Bible. It was more likely created by one or more weird creatures sitting at some kind of crazy machine outside of our universe and we’re all living inside it.
If that makes life sound useless or depressing, I don’t agree.
I’ve addressed this before in my blogs: If this is a simulation, it is 100% real to you and me, therefore it doesn’t really matter if it’s a simulation or not, or if there is a god or not.
Completely regardless of the existence of a god or the nature of our reality, we live in a universe with very specific laws.
If you follow these laws and take advantage of these laws, you can build a life of great happiness and meaning. I certainly have.
If you ignore those laws or live life in opposition to those laws, you’re going to experience pain and unhappiness. That’s what most people do.
I’ve compared this to playing World of Warcraft (forgive my dated reference; I’m an old man).
You’re playing World of Warcraft and having a great time. You’re in a group of a few other people going through a dungeon. Finally, you come to the main boss dragon and start to fight him, and one of the people in your group says, “I just realized this is all fake. It’s just a computer program made up of ones and zeros. None of this is real, therefore it has no meaning.”
He just stands there doing nothing, and because of his inaction, the dragon kills all of you.
Now you’re pissed and everyone hates that guy.
Instead, when you play World of Warcraft or any other “fake” game, you’re there to play the game.
You’re playing to enjoy yourself and (hopefully) playing to win.
It doesn’t matter if it’s real or fake or a simulation or whatever in the context of the game.
It also doesn’t matter who the programmers were who made the game. They could be amazing people or they could be total idiots or weirdos. It doesn’t matter.
The universe is the game you’re in, and unless you kill yourself right now (which you won’t), you’re here to play the game.
So stop worrying about god and shit, get to work, and play it.
It’s that simple.
Leave your comment below, but be sure to follow the Five Simple Rules.
AlphaOmega
Posted at 01:37 pm, 18th February 2025According to principles of quantum physics consciousness would eventually arise spontaneously from empty space.
Then you can consider that consciousness or awareness does not need to have physical body as we know it.
Pretty much in every religion there is something like mysticism where they interpret that god is a collection of all things together, so rather than it being something separate from the observer, the observer is one of the parts that make god.
So I would say these three things together is sufficient, or something to add?
Kurt Niznik
Posted at 04:31 pm, 18th February 2025One problem with assuming the universe was ‘created’ somehow is that no matter what explanation you come up with there will be some level of infinite regress (i.e. “well then if X created the universe who created X?”, or, “if the universe began X way at X time what was here before?”). For some reason humans have accepted that space could be infinite but really balk at the idea of infinite time, yet according to relativity space and time are inextricably linked, so if one is infinite the other must be (I think, although the BB theory says time and space were created together so before that there was no time, but then how was there a ‘before’?).
Perhaps infinity = God?
Count me as believing none of the theistic or techno modern explanations at any more than 15% certainty.
Mo
Posted at 07:01 pm, 18th February 2025In a recent livestream, you mentioned that your anti-aging doctor wrote his med-school thesis about humans being created by some other entities. Have you asked him to share his thesis with you? It would perfectly fit into this conversation. Maybe these entities who created humans are the ones running the simulation.
According to Gnosticism, this dimension is some kind of “soul-trap” created by the Demiurge (not God) and maintained by his Archons who harvest energy from us. The author Robert Monroe calls this energy “loosh.” But who knows.
Caleb Jones
Posted at 09:48 pm, 18th February 2025That’s up to you.
We may very well be a “part” of god. You and I are each a cell in his body. Possible.
Caleb Jones
Posted at 09:49 pm, 18th February 2025Yes, I addressed that in the article.
I don’t view that as a problem.
Caleb Jones
Posted at 09:52 pm, 18th February 2025I have not because I wouldn’t read it. I know his main points and they seem sound.
No. They would be aliens from another star, not the creators of the simulation.
Creators of the simulation would not have to come here in big metal spaceships or whatever and “seed” the planet with DNA or whatever.
The creators could just snap us into existence (or their equivalent) from outside of our universe with a press of a button.
If Earth was seeded by aliens, the aliens are just as much a part of the simulation as we are.
AlphaOmega
Posted at 11:06 am, 20th February 2025“One problem with assuming the universe was ‘created’ somehow is that no matter what explanation you come up with there will be some level of infinite regress (i.e. “well then if X created the universe who created X?”, or, “if the universe began X way at X time what was here before?”). For some reason humans have accepted that space could be infinite but really balk at the idea of infinite time, yet according to relativity space and time are inextricably linked, so if one is infinite the other must be (I think, although the BB theory says time and space were created together so before that there was no time, but then how was there a ‘before’?).
Perhaps infinity = God?
Count me as believing none of the theistic or techno modern explanations at any more than 15% certainty.”
This is not an issue in the everything together is god model. Everything has always existed.
Dandy Dude
Posted at 12:45 pm, 20th February 2025The fact that Madonna went from how she looked on Dick Tracy to how she looks now, is proof enough for me that there is no god. Or if there is, he’s a real sick son of a bitch!
Caleb Jones
Posted at 01:02 pm, 20th February 2025Haha. As I’ve said before, Madonna is a good example of taking the “I never want to look older” thing too far and for too long.
In her 50s she actually looked pretty good. But she really fucked up her 60s when she should have just let some of that go.
Mark
Posted at 06:17 am, 24th February 2025I am not sure what you mean by there is no scientific evidence for God that Abrahamic religions inform us. The famous Godel theorem in mathematical logic proved that there are true statements that any mathematical system cannot prove. So this proves the limitations of our mind, science, and mathematics to capture ALL there is. There may be true statements or things that exist we simply cannot prove with our limited minds and constructs. that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. So yes you may not prove it scientifically there is God but it doesnt imply God doesnt exist as written in these holy books like in the bible or Quran. Our free will is also self evident whcih kind of denies we are just a simulation. we have consciousness and free will beyond any simulation. our emotions cannot be computed, or simulated, incomputable by any AI or robot or supercomputer. quantum physics tells that there are quantum fields that exist that are not computable. Since these quantum fields are the foundations of our reality, I think saying this universe is just a simulation is incorrect. What quantum theory and relativity tell us about our reality and universe is entirely consistent with what God says about himself and creation in the Quran.
AlphaOmega
Posted at 10:01 am, 24th February 2025“I am not sure what you mean by there is no scientific evidence for God that Abrahamic religions inform us. ”
I think he means the idea that god is some bearded guy in the sky. However even these religions have mystic groups which believe that god means everything together.
Caleb Jones
Posted at 09:40 am, 25th February 2025That is not proof or even evidence of a Judeo/Christian/Muslim God from the Bible/Qur’an.
Instead it (could be) evidence of intelligent design, which is exactly what I said in the article.
“It doesn’t disprove it” isn’t an argument. You can’t prove a negative.
If you think the Judeo/Christian/Muslim God from the Bible/Qur’an exists, you need to show me direct evidence of this, not evidence that someone/something created the universe, which is a different argument (and one I tend to agree with).
You have no data that backs this up.
AI or supercomputer TODAY, correct. In 1,000,000 years? No problem.
The Bible talks about a flood that happened long ago, which really did happen. That’s not evidence of a Christian God existing.
AlphaOmega
Posted at 11:07 am, 25th February 2025Something to note about the discussion here,
There is nothing that can ever be “proven scientifically/with science”. By definition science can never prove anything, only can disprove.
If you are unable to disprove something based on consistent efforts of observational design then it becomes a scientific theory.
The reason why existence of god is not a scientific theory despite no one being able to disprove it is that no one has also been able to design an experiment to test this.
Mark
Posted at 06:20 am, 26th February 2025You didn’t get my point. I was not trying to give proof of Abrahamic God; I was trying to explain that you cannot scientifically or mathematically prove many things in existence. We have consciousness, and free will is self-evident; it doesn’t need theory or complex data to prove. Remember that every scientific or mathematical theory also depends on a set of axioms which is accepted as self-evident. We humans are superior than AI. AI, by design, follows computations; it doesn’t understand anything, so it will never have consciousness and free will like us. I am a data scientist. I know how AI works. I built machine learning algorithms and statistical models. AI will never (even in a million years) have capabilities of understanding, consciousness, free will, emotions like we have as love, etc. These are properties of soul and coming from God. There are quantum fields that can never be computed; that is what science says. There are things many things that cannot be computed or cannot be measured. so it cannot be simulated with a computer program. life is waay complex than a computer program which is deterministic, life or organism is probabilistic, so life cannot be 100% accurately simulated. only with some approximations. There are thousands, if not millions of evidence for the Creator who speak in the Quran but space here is limited. if you read Quran which is a data point and evidence you will see the tone and depth of the sentences are not human. just give you an example it is talking about expansion of universe in the Quran. no human capability could claim that at that time but we now know it with our current technology. I can talk hours on that giving evidences but at the end it is not a proof in a scientific sense or a mathematical proof. something you should see , understand, and feel with your heart,not with your mind (mind can help) I have 100% conviction based on large evidence and my own personal experience, I dont believe I know.
Caleb Jones
Posted at 09:50 am, 26th February 2025Correct.
But you can look at the ponderance of the evidence or lack of evidence and draw conclusions.
I have read parts of the Qur’an. I live in an Islamic country.
Just like the Bible, the Qur’an says a lot of things we know are untrue (humans came from blood clots, mountains were created to prevent the Earth from shaking, shooting stars are missiles against demons, etc, etc) therefore you can’t rely on the Qur’an as a source of scientific truth just like you can’t rely on the Bible for the same, even if you can find some things in these books that are true.
Annnnnnnd you just proved my point about religionists, so thank you.
AlphaOmega
Posted at 10:53 am, 26th February 2025“I was trying to explain that you cannot scientifically or mathematically prove many things in existence. We have consciousness, and free will is self-evident; it doesn’t need theory or complex data to prove. Remember that every scientific or mathematical theory also depends on a set of axioms which is accepted as self-evident. We humans are superior than AI. AI, by design, follows computations; it doesn’t understand anything, so it will never have consciousness and free will like us. I am a data scientist. I know how AI works. I built machine learning algorithms and statistical models. AI will never (even in a million years) have capabilities of understanding, consciousness, free will, emotions like we have as love, etc. These are properties of soul and coming from God. There are quantum fields that can never be computed; that is what science says. There are things many things that cannot be computed or cannot be measured. so it cannot be simulated with a computer program. life is waay complex than a computer program which is deterministic, life or organism is probabilistic, so life cannot be 100% accurately simulated. only with some approximations.”
Some of what you say here is not factually correct, but more importantly none of this is relevant to the discussion in any way whatsoever. Though I do agree with most of what you say.
Mark
Posted at 06:37 am, 28th February 2025I mainly argued that this universe and our life are not simulations based on evidence from quantum physics. There are facts from quantum physics. Certain things such as quantum fields cannot be measurable, so it cannot be simulated. There are both mathematical and physical objects that are not measurable. These are facts. Our mind, data collections and data interpretations are very limited. Regarding data: Two expert scientific groups can look at the same data and may come up with completely different interpretations. this happens all the time especially in biology. So if you want to establish something you should and sometimes you must go beyond scientific data. you should have an open mind and not try to accept or deny something just and only based on scientific data. this will limit you. scientific data can help you up to a point. this is bc of our limitations and tools. I can give explanations on what you say wrong but it make take really long so I dont even attempt it here but I heard many other things people say wrong about Quran I have my answers for all of them all I can say. this is not the place to discuss this. But I think I gave enough evidence from science that we are not in a simulation as you 80% believe.or think.
Mark
Posted at 07:26 am, 28th February 2025If we are searching for the truth about this life and universe and Creator, data and science can help us up to a point. I believe Bible is at least partially revelation and from Creator but I read very small part of it. But I read Quran and I am satisfied with my mind and heart about my Creator talking about life, humans, and life there. I find some facts and truth in other philosophies like you presented as this universe is simulation or different ways to explain this complex universe but none is complete. by the way Quran is not a scientific book and we should look scientific data and theory somewhere else but what Quran says about life, and human journey is pure truth. certain things as you see contradictory to data or facts always have some explanations based on science and data. I have my own reservations about religion; bc many traditions and human interpretations enter in every religion. I look at the source to eliminate some human and societal interpretations and the societal programming side of it.
Caleb Jones
Posted at 09:33 am, 1st March 2025Readers – read Mark’s comments very carefully; he’s proving my point all over the place.
Mark
Posted at 05:49 am, 3rd March 2025Caleb- You say there is no God as described in the Bible or Quran. You say there is no scientific data or real evidence for this God. I disagree. First, you can never prove “this God doesn’t exist” statement(logically and experimentally not possible). You need to see and search all over the place, the whole universe, to say and prove that this God doesnt exist, You dont have the power and capability to search for all universe and existence.
On the other hand, Almost everything gives evidence for a Creator of this universe who is All-Knowing and create everything and all other features as He described himself in Bible and Quran. I can go on with millions of evidence but just a quick example. If I invited you for the best gourmet dinner, after dinner, you would thank you and ask who the cook is. Do you think all this beauty in the world and all the tremendous delicious food has no Creator? a reasonable person would say Yes. it exists Then do you think that the Creator who created all this world and humans would not talk and express himself and tell us why he did what he did? what is his purpose. What he expects from us for all he has given us. what will be our destination after our inevitable end in this physical world. The Creator indeed loves and communicates with us with his messengers, as them as examples and witness to Him also with the books and revelations they presented to us. All thousands of these prophets, all this revelation from Him and billions of people who follow them with their expertise and personal experiences are enormous evidence and witness. The proof of the existence of God is not a subject of science or laboratory experiments(bc these are an insufficient platform or field for this) since we are proving something beyond scientific data and our physical capabilities. This is because science is still so infant and small and incapable of capturing all reality in this universe and beyond. A 10-year-old biology textbook is already outdated since it contains a lot of wrong things in it. Evidence for this Creator is everywhere and everything for those who can see and understand. for you if something or a statement is not proven by scientific data, you discard it which is wrong. as I said in my first post your approach is proven wrong by Godel theorem in mathematical logic. godel proved there are true statements which cannot be proven by any mathematical system. so for example the statement ” Creator as described in Quran exist” can be tur but still may be proven scientifically or mathematically. The fact that as you said there is no scientific proof for that doesn’t mean or imply (as you claim) this Creator doesn’t exist. all living organisms is evidence for this Creator. 100s of thousands of prophets are evidence. Billions of people who follow this are evidence. If you discard all these evidences saying you are smart but all these people are stupid and don’t know what they are doing bc thy are so stupid just following their societal programming I have nothing to say. by the way not all societal programming is wrong as you said. Existence of this creator (Abrahamic One God who craeted everyhting) is correct societal programming. I would argue that scientific positivism is also wrong societal programming, but it seems you follow it religiously. you only ask for data or scientific proof; otherwise, deny as positivist scientists do. most of their arguments are proven wrong experimentally, on in reality by the way. I respect you and your views and I folllow you over. a decade and i learned a lot from you but I disagree on this. You either follow your ego and stuck to your societal programming on this strict scientism and keep denying this, or have an open mind and look at all evidence including and beyond scientific data and theory about the more complex reality we are in. if you open your mind and heart to this possibility, I am sure someone smart like you will see obvious existence of this Creator.
Mark
Posted at 06:03 am, 3rd March 2025correction for a typo:the statement ” Creator as described in Quran exist” can be a true statement but still may NOT* be proven scientifically or mathematically. so as Godel proved, not having scientific or mathematical proof does not imply this statement is wrong(as you claim) as i mentioned before quantum physics also shows the reality we live in does not necessarily (or can) be captured or computed entirely which means many things EXIST but still cannot be measured/orcomputed by science. These are facts. Denying these facts and sticking to scientific positivism(asking for scientific data for everything otherwise denied) religiously is as bad as dogmatic or fanatic religious approach.
Tim
Posted at 02:03 pm, 15th March 2025“Feel with your heart” is an amazing argument and sound advice hahaha
(I’m being sarcastic in case it’s not obvious enough)
I knew posts on religion like this are bound to stir up some real emotion, irrationality and long ass paragraphs.