Are We Living In God's "Matrix"?

[sswhateverlove]

The conference he was speaking at was specifically to discuss ID. I was not misrepresenting that he acknowledged that we should not be ignoring the fact that some of the "world's most brilliant people" still believe in a personal god. He seemed to be implying that if one is to look closer, it's because the things these scientists are finding through their research is confirming those beliefs for them. NDT was acknowledging how amazing that is that with all our advancements in science, these scientists are still finding things that are confirming their belief in a "personal god", or with regard to the conference topic "intelligent design". I too find that fascinating.

First, this is from a Beyond Belief conference and was not specifically for ID. Are you lying? Or just making shit up to advance a cause?

I'm watching the video you posted. Did you watch it? NDT's discussion of famous scientists and their religious beliefs was to specifically draw attention to the fact that their religion did not inform their science. They believed in spite of their science and for other reasons.

In the portion of the NDT's talk dedicated to the idea of ID, he calls it 'stupid design'; some endorsement. He continues to invoke the idea of a god of the gaps.

I think you're misunderstanding my point. Also, forgive me for assuming the discussion was about ID, the fact that the title of the video is "Intelligent Design" might've confused me

Actually, what I interpreted from what I watched was that scientists tend to refer back to "god" when they run up against something that they can't explain, that seems impossible, that seems to defy logic, etc. I recognize that NDT is not endorsing the idea of intelligent design, that was not the point i was trying to make by bringing this into discussion.

The things that are not simple and clear cut are things that interest me. Those things that are baffling scientists to the point they throw their hands up and say "well, god" interests me. Not because I believe in a personal god, but that mysterious, unknowns leave so much more to be revealed with regard to the nature of reality and our potential as beings.

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The entire end portion of NDT's talk is a warning AGAINST the god of the gaps, which he equates to ID. He's saying in other words "Look at what happens to progress when we allow religious dogma to rule our academic people!" and to remove ambiguity or any form of misinterpretation he gives the Arabic world as an example. Somehow that still failed.

He also warns against claiming Goddidit when approaching the unknown.

Yes, I'm aware that was the point NDT was making in the video. The reason I posted it was in response to a claim regarding what scientists and what they believe regarding the evidence of intelligence to design/influence. I was pointing out that some of the most brilliant scientists do still find evidence that leaves them falling back to "well, god". That's not to say i agree that it's a good answer, only that it's fascinating that it's still happening and some of the most brilliant minds in the world are still there.

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I'm curious what types of evidence would be necessary to influence your 100% certainty there is no intelligence to the design of reality? I mean, simply the fact that intelligent life exists seems to imply we are experiencing more than just random, chaotic matter flying around in space. But that's just my opinion...

You have exactly one data point for "intelligence" and that would be humanity. A species that can't feed its young, can't protect the only environment is has for survival, is constantly at war, is burning through finite resources at an unsustainable rate, and has armed itself to the point of being able to destroy its own civilization in a single day. We are a species of unending violence, ignorant enough to deny the the observations of our own eyes if it conflicts with our "religion" and quite willing to exterminate anyone who disagrees with us. We are arrogant, self-righteous, greedy, mean, and petty.

So your suggestion that there must be an intelligent designer somewhere because "we" are intelligent is pure hubris. Insisting that only a superior intelligence of some kind, a deity or designer, could explain our being in the cosmos is even more hubris. Indeed, one might just as easily infer that having creatures like humanity on the loose is a pretty good indication that there is no intelligent design behind the cosmos.

Anyway, for all you know this is exactly what happens with a complex enough concentration of biological chemical / electrical energy in a natural environment. At the heart of all religion / gods is this belief that "we" are "special" and so "something intelligent must be involved". In my opinion that is nothing but egomania.

My original post was referring to the possibility that reality, as we experience it, is actually similar to the "Matrix". In assuming that possibility, I was also referring to the designer of such a "Matrix" and the intelligence that would be required.

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I agree with everything you just said on philosophical grounds. However, adding the word "God" fucked it all up. Do you think we're fucking idiots, that we don't know you're a X-tian poe trying to leverage science, philosophy, etc. to establish the probability (or at least possibility) of Sky Daddy?
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Hmmmm... did you see the word "God" somewhere in there? I'm confused...