God Proven To Exist

[Jingoist Hippostan]

I apologize for the misleading title. The question of this thread is "Would you be any happier if god was proven to exist?" Or, alternatively, if it was somehow PROVEN, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that no god existed, would you be happier? Beyond the brief satisfaction of being right or disappointment of being wrong, of course.

I'm an agnostic, but lately have been wondering if I'd want to know if god(s) exist, even if I thought it was possible.

If a truly omnipotent, omniscient god existed, there's effectively no free will. While s/he (If no one minds, I'm just going to say "it" from this point on) might allow us to control most of our actions, any number of our actions could be thwarted, and you would never know if you succeeded because of your personal merit, or because of divine intervention.

Think about how much different old people are from young people. Think about how different knowledgeable people are from ignorant people. Think about how different people of average intelligence are from people with super genius level IQs. It's safe to say that God would be impossibly intelligent, and presumably roughly as old as the universe. If he's omniscient, it knows EVERYTHING. Every single thing that could possibly be known. Think about how this would affect his behavior. I'd say if god exists, it's "divine plan" would make absolutely no sense to humans, seeming nonsensical, horribly cruel, or both.

I think Lovecraft might have the best idea of how a "god" would actually behave. Possibly not in terms of outright evil, but in terms of bizarreness.

[Wilgrove]

Depends on which god or which pantheon. If we're talking about Yahweh, then I'd be terrified to be honest.

[Ixzara]

Well, if god were proven to exist, that would mean he doesn't, because proof would deny faith, and without faith there is no god.

-I ripped this off from a certain movie-

[The Alma Mater]

Depends on which god or which pantheon. If we're talking about Yahweh, then I'd be terrified to be honest.

This. Combating evil gets much more serious if it is real.

[Atlantis Astrum]

Heres the great irony: Not only does God exist in this universe, God IS the universe. We ARE God.

We are all parts of that massively infinite superintelligence. Small cells within a larger mind that expands the cosmos and beyond.

[Baptisia]

An interesting related point: If atheists are right, then no one will ever actually find that fact out for sure. But if Christians are right, then everyone who ever lived will find that fact out together.

[Ashmoria]

im with wilgrove, it totally depends on who god turns out to be.

of course, as an atheist, i assume he would be proven NOT to exist in any form whatsoever so it wouldnt make me any happier.

if however, it turned out that he was a god that required lifelong devotion, i would be unhappy because too much of my life has gone by to qualify.

if he turned out to be roman catholic, id head down to my local church, make a thorough confession, and be content to know that i would join him in heaven some day. that wouldnt make me happier but at least its manageable.

[Ashmoria]

oops

[Malikov]

My current view of God is that, being given freewill, he doesn't intervene in our lives. He exists, he is there, he created the universe, but we asked for freedom when Adam ate the apple (metaphorically speaking), and he gave it to us.

[Maineiacs]

For me, it would depend on which religion (if any as they exist now) turned out to be "The Truth". If Evangelical Christianity or Wahabbi Islam were right, I wouldn't be very happy.

[Rejistania]

Depends on which god or which pantheon. If we're talking about Yahweh, then I'd be terrified to be honest.

Exactly!

[Ashmoria]

Well, if god were proven to exist, that would mean he doesn't, because proof would deny faith, and without faith there is no god.

-I ripped this off from a certain movie-

ya but thats just sophistry stemming from the lack of god being active in the real world. in the bible he was doing stuff all the time. they didnt have to have that kind of faith because if they didnt do what he said he personally smacked them down.

[Zoerb]

Heres the great irony: Not only does God exist in this universe, God IS the universe. We ARE God.

We are all parts of that massively infinite superintelligence. Small cells within a larger mind that expands the cosmos and beyond.

I rather like this, its very poetic, and in a way it sounds right.

As for the question, i'm not sure. I think I would be kinda scared.

I wonder if anyone has ever tried some scientific experiment to find proof of a God or against a God. I do remember some guy that found a part of the brain that, when stimulated, gives you a sense of a "presence" or a "higher being looking over you".

[Angleter]

Provided my Catholic God was the one that turned out to exist? Mixed. While I'd be happy to be proven right all along, I'd be concerned that- due to God's existence being known- people would do what is righteous out of fear and compulsion, rather than faith, genuine good-heartedness and choice. Basically, bad people would begrudgingly do good, making the world admittedly more boring and alike to a predestined one.

[GeneralHaNor]

If god were proven to exist, I would go about my life as if nothing has changed
If being a good person is not enough for him, then he go fuck himself

I fully plan to stand before him in the great judgement, spit in his eye, and tell him why he is unworthy of the title "Holy Father"

[Old Erisia]

Heres the great irony: Not only does God exist in this universe, God IS the universe. We ARE God.

We are all parts of that massively infinite superintelligence. Small cells within a larger mind that expands the cosmos and beyond.

I rather like this, its very poetic, and in a way it sounds right.

As for the question, i'm not sure. I think I would be kinda scared.

I wonder if anyone has ever tried some scientific experiment to find proof of a God or against a God. I do remember some guy that found a part of the brain that, when stimulated, gives you a sense of a "presence" or a "higher being looking over you".

Erm, that sounds like research into paranoia in brain trauma patients... was the study done on ex-soldiers?

Also, if we go that route I kinda think that planets would be part of the large cell structure of the divine being and we are an infection. Our climate is inflammation and natural disasters are the planet/cell's immune response.

[Jingoist Hippostan]

My current view of God is that, being given freewill, he doesn't intervene in our lives. He exists, he is there, he created the universe, but we asked for freedom when Adam ate the apple (metaphorically speaking), and he gave it to us.

How can you know if he doesn't interfere in your lives?

Depends on which god or which pantheon. If we're talking about Yahweh, then I'd be terrified to be honest.

I have to say, I'm a bit concerned about any all-powerful being who is as desperate for approval as Yahweh apparently is.

Provided my Catholic God was the one that turned out to exist? Mixed. While I'd be happy to be proven right all along, I'd be concerned that- due to God's existence being known- people would do what is righteous out of fear and compulsion, rather than faith, genuine good-heartedness and choice. Basically, bad people would begrudgingly do good, making the world admittedly more boring and alike to a predestined one.

How would that differ from how it is now? Plenty of religious people follow out of fear of going to hell.

[I-Quarence]

Using basic logic, it makes SENSE, at least to me, for god to exist. (even if it is not proven scientifically)
Jesus, however, is a whole diiferent. matter.

[Atlantis Astrum]

Heres the great irony: Not only does God exist in this universe, God IS the universe. We ARE God.

We are all parts of that massively infinite superintelligence. Small cells within a larger mind that expands the cosmos and beyond.

I rather like this, its very poetic, and in a way it sounds right.

As for the question, i'm not sure. I think I would be kinda scared.

I wonder if anyone has ever tried some scientific experiment to find proof of a God or against a God. I do remember some guy that found a part of the brain that, when stimulated, gives you a sense of a "presence" or a "higher being looking over you".

Such a notion may seem intimidating at first, but its quite beautiful when you analyze it. We are all just components of a larger intelligence, just like our brain is composed of billions of small cells, neurons and other microscopic lifeforms we barely give thought too.

That being said, nothing is ever lost in the great expanse of multiversal realities. Energy is never created or destroyed, just recycled into new forms, new shapes, new styles.

God is not sitting up on some metaphorical cloud judging us like a primitive King would judge his peons. Truth is we are "God" as the label goes, although such a name can be deceiving in an accurate picture of what "It", The Universal Mind is.

Basically, God is not independent of us. We are all part of the One, part of Eternity, part of the Whole.

As for the comment about a certain part of your brain being stimulated to give a sense of higher presence, I am curious to know more. I do know certain psychoactive substances (such as LSD) can help unlock those suppressed regions that help us feel united with the Whole.

[Consaria]

Yes, because then we would stop having religion debates in NSG.

[Malikov]

My current view of God is that, being given freewill, he doesn't intervene in our lives. He exists, he is there, he created the universe, but we asked for freedom when Adam ate the apple (metaphorically speaking), and he gave it to us.

How can you know if he doesn't interfere in your lives?

It's this little thing called "trust". "Trust" aside, finding purely scientific answers for events that would appear to be divine intervention (have a world changing effect, as well as the established defenition) would be enough for me. Honestly, I wouldn't let it bother me that much, so long as he doesn't coerce me into doing something i don't want to.

[Ashmoria]

Yes, because then we would stop having religion debates in NSG.

oh dont be silly.

we would spend our time debating how best to serve his noodly goodness. (or whatever the phrase is)

[Chinese Regions]

If god were proven to exist, I would go about my life as if nothing has changed
If being a good person is not enough for him, then he go fuck himself

I fully plan to stand before him in the great judgement, spit in his eye, and tell him why he is unworthy of the title "Holy Father"

This

[South Lorenya]

Depends on which deity.

There's also the issue of just how powerful they are. If jehovallahweh exists but has the physical and magical strength of a squirrel, I don't think too many atheists will be losing any sleep.

[Zoerb]

I wonder if anyone has ever tried some scientific experiment to find proof of a God or against a God. I do remember some guy that found a part of the brain that, when stimulated, gives you a sense of a "presence" or a "higher being looking over you".

Erm, that sounds like research into paranoia in brain trauma patients... was the study done on ex-soldiers?

Also, if we go that route I kinda think that planets would be part of the large cell structure of the divine being and we are an infection. Our climate is inflammation and natural disasters are the planet/cell's immune response.

No, it was done on college students. I don't remember exactly what he was studying but it was a fairly recent study. It had something to do with studying spiritual experiences I think. He used an electromagnet on their heads while they lay in a quiet, dark, room.

I like that though instead of an infection I think we would be more like something the cell is producing that is greater than the cell itself, like a hormone. Eventually we might spread to other cells. Although, that kinda does sound like a viral infection now that i think of it.