We had a short discussion in another thread about gods; specifically, what a god was. I suggested that the probability of there being life more intelligent than Human beings is probably very good, considering the size of the universe and the possibility of other universes, etc
Then, someone said, "if that is the case, those would be aliens, not gods"
However, wouldn't any god be an alien? And what is an "alien"? Doesn't that mean something that is not of Earth? Certainly any god we choose of any religion, or merely the concept, is not of Earth.
So what is it that separates aliens from gods? I don't think the concept of extraterrestrial intelligence is ridiculous, do you?
My main question is, what separates a god from simply an extremely advanced and influential conscious entity?
And if there is no difference, why is the concept of a god ridiculous when we Humans are perfect examples of, at least, advanced conscious entities?
Any god, regardless of what religion, would just be a very advanced and influential conscious entity or being.
So what makes the distinction between that and a god?
And if there isn't distinction, doesn't that mean the concept of gods isn't ridiculous at all? After all I'm quite sure there is probably other life out there that is also intelligent.
Now, granted, I'll be fair and lay a few suggestions on the table: I'll assume that your response would be "gods are supposed to have magical abilities"
My response would be, "what is magic?" After all, even if magic does exist, it would be nothing more than a mechanic of reality we don't understand.
But more importantly, how do we distinguish "magic" in the classic sense from just really advanced technology?
And when I say "influential" conscious beings, I mean as in, influence over the laws of nature. Sure, we Humans probably aren't even close to such a thing but there's no telling what knowledge we don't have and others might and what technologies we don't have that others might that enables them to do this.
Then a god is nothing more than a really advanced and influential conscious entity.
Then, someone said, "if that is the case, those would be aliens, not gods"
However, wouldn't any god be an alien? And what is an "alien"? Doesn't that mean something that is not of Earth? Certainly any god we choose of any religion, or merely the concept, is not of Earth.
So what is it that separates aliens from gods? I don't think the concept of extraterrestrial intelligence is ridiculous, do you?
My main question is, what separates a god from simply an extremely advanced and influential conscious entity?
And if there is no difference, why is the concept of a god ridiculous when we Humans are perfect examples of, at least, advanced conscious entities?
Any god, regardless of what religion, would just be a very advanced and influential conscious entity or being.
So what makes the distinction between that and a god?
And if there isn't distinction, doesn't that mean the concept of gods isn't ridiculous at all? After all I'm quite sure there is probably other life out there that is also intelligent.
Now, granted, I'll be fair and lay a few suggestions on the table: I'll assume that your response would be "gods are supposed to have magical abilities"
My response would be, "what is magic?" After all, even if magic does exist, it would be nothing more than a mechanic of reality we don't understand.
But more importantly, how do we distinguish "magic" in the classic sense from just really advanced technology?
And when I say "influential" conscious beings, I mean as in, influence over the laws of nature. Sure, we Humans probably aren't even close to such a thing but there's no telling what knowledge we don't have and others might and what technologies we don't have that others might that enables them to do this.
Then a god is nothing more than a really advanced and influential conscious entity.
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