"If the universe created itself it would therefore have the characteristics of a creator, meaning the universe itself would be God."

My christian friend said that to me yesterday... Im not sure what to make of it.

Any ideas?

That's my general religious outlook. The universe clicks together very well. I am very different from christians though. I don't claim outside creators of stuff; I think everything that is, is the creator. In a sense, I create myself every day.

This is a healthier outlook because it means that instead of a God dictating things to us, we are all accumulatively a part of him, and we are him, and so is everything. This means our job is to go out and continually discover what God is just by discovering the universe itself. As we explore every level, from quantum mechanics, to evolution, to the cosmos, we learn more and more about God, and, ultimately, about ourselves.

If God actually did hand down a perfect infallible book that told us everything about everything (like 42), I would be quite upset with him.

quote:Originally posted by Zoe:

[B]"If the universe created itself it would therefore have the characteristics of a creator/B]

If it made itself, it doesn't have a creator. You're not making any sense at all.

quote:Originally posted by Aseren:

If it made itself, it doesn't have a creator. You're not making any sense at all.

Exactly. Plus, I don't really see how something can 'create itself'. Like a little midget appears in front of you just appears out of nowhere.

You're like, "Wtf! Where did you come from?!"

And the midget is like, "I came from nowhere! I made myself!"

"OMGWTF!"

...fuckin' midgets. http://www.totse.com/bbs/mad.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/mad.gif)

Yeah, well where did God come from?

You really think some magical deity coming out of nowhere and creating the universe in seven days is really more realistic than the universe always being here or being made by a big bang?

quote:Originally posted by Elephantitis Man:

Exactly. Plus, I don't really see how something can 'create itself'. Like a little midget appears in front of you just appears out of nowhere.

You're like, "Wtf! Where did you come from?!"

And the midget is like, "I came from nowhere! I made myself!"

"OMGWTF!"

...fuckin' midgets. http://www.totse.com/bbs/mad.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/mad.gif)

fuckin normals! http://www.totse.com/bbs/mad.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/mad.gif)

quote:Originally posted by IanBoyd3:

That's my general religious outlook. The universe clicks together very well. I am very different from christians though. I don't claim outside creators of stuff; I think everything that is, is the creator. In a sense, I create myself every day.

This is a healthier outlook because it means that instead of a God dictating things to us, we are all accumulatively a part of him, and we are him, and so is everything. This means our job is to go out and continually discover what God is just by discovering the universe itself. As we explore every level, from quantum mechanics, to evolution, to the cosmos, we learn more and more about God, and, ultimately, about ourselves.

If God actually did hand down a perfect infallible book that told us everything about everything (like 42), I would be quite upset with him.





Very nicely said.

Perhaps as our civilisations evolve and discover more about the world, we change our understanding of what God is?

Primitive jews imagined God as a big supernatural anthropomorphic being in the sky.

Modern christians see it as you do?

makes sense to me.

Freud said god was our fathers deified as a cosmic entity...but ofcourse he would say that wouldnt he

"oh, freud want some cheese?"

"oh, yeah what is it your mother pasturised as a lactic entity...have a day off will you, you werido"

Pavlov declared that god is a social reflex, something i actually believe in myself, but i wouldnt trust anything pavlov said cos he was the russian scientist that tormented dogs for a living

"ah heres some food, theyre salivating! ring the bell! *ding ding* AAHH THEYRE STILL SALIVATING, THE TRUSTING LITTLE FOOLS"

http://www.totse.com/bbs/biggrin.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/biggrin.gif)

quote:Originally posted by Elephantitis Man:

Exactly. Plus, I don't really see how something can 'create itself'. Like a little midget appears in front of you just appears out of nowhere.

You're like, "Wtf! Where did you come from?!"

And the midget is like, "I came from nowhere! I made myself!"

"OMGWTF!"

...fuckin' midgets. http://www.totse.com/bbs/mad.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/mad.gif)

you ever watch someone run away from you towards the horizon. notice how they look smaller and smaller as they run. well, midgets dont get smaller, they just dissappear. i believe they just appear by running towards you from the horizon.

the whole dissappearing/appearing thing came out of evolution. they have evolved that way so not just any schmuck could follow them a find the gold at the end of the rainbow they were running towards. that and so not just any schmuck could chase them and catch them to get 3 wishes.