God as computer

[Cheerful Charlie]

First, I'm new here. Second I am a Christian. Third this is a serious question/speculation. It will be interesting (and hopefully enlightening) for me to read the responses.

So what if Who (What?) we call God is actually a computer (or a really advanced type of technology that we understand as a computer) and all that we see and detect in the universe is simply a part of a program? I don't imagine this computer is "personal" like the Christian God is, but, I suppose it could have attributes that seem to convey personhood. I imagine that somehow the "computer" is outside of the universe program, or so far "above" it to be, effectively, not part of the universe. I know there was a book about this years ago, but I don't the name of it.

So, is this a reasonable or workable theory? How would one reason it out? Is it possible, through reason or evidence to, if not prove it, make a plausible argument for something like this?

I am interested in reading speculations that are based on reason and from a skeptical and/or atheistic point of view.

(I mentioned that I am Christian just so anyone answering will understand my background. I am not interested in this post in answering questions about my faith. I can go to another thread and do that. Besides, this is an atheist message board, no one here is interested in Christianity).

impassibility. The doctrine that God has no emotions, that ascribing emotionality to God is a sort of anthropomorphism. and thus a failing. If we can make God angry or upset we are more powerful than god. Thus God does not act out of emotion, and all verses suggesting that need to be read allegorically.

If so, God acts out of intellectual motivations.So we could say that this view of God leads to a computer-like God whose intelligence is not like ours. This is a line of thinking that goes back to the middle ages, though they would not have known about computers as an analogy to an impassive God.

Related to this is the question does God act out of will or intellect. that is, If i like vanilla ice cream and hate brocolli, it is unlikely I reasoned myself into these dislikes. Is God likewise inclined to some things and disliking other things such as we like ice cream/ Or is everything done by God with a rational reason?

There has been a lot of theological controversy over such things over the centuries. It all relates to questions as to the true nature of God

Start by googling http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impassibility
Welcome to the wonderful world of theology.

Cheerful Charlie