When I start running a simulation of a Sopwith Camel I can set the initial conditions to anything I want. After that, the simulation picks up at that point in time just like it has been running forever. I don't have to run the part of the simulation where Snoopy takes off and lands. I can focus on the single roll maneuver that interests me. I can't tell how long the simulation has been running just by looking at the current state variables. Neither can science.
The OP lays out the current theory of the universe giving a set of observations of that simulation at essentially a single snapshot in time. That doesn't mean that the simulation actually had to run that whole time.
You can think of reality as a simulation of 14 billion year old universe that started running 6000 years ago. You can't possibly imagine the higher dimensions of existence in which that simulation is running, but God has stated quite plainly in the Bible why he started it and what He plans to achieve with it. That's something that can only be revealed from outside the simulation. Science can look forever and only conclude that the universe LOOKS like it is 14 billion years old and started spreading out from a singularity point. Very presumptive of us humans, but that's what we do.
Indeed, as you say the universe could be 6,000 years old and we'd never know if it is a simulation designed to appear that way. That sounds an awful lot like a convenient way to believe you are right even when all of the evidence says you aren't, but I digress.
The larger problem with your reasoning is that Genesis claims the Earth existed before the sun, trees and other land vegetation before sea creatures and birds before land animals. The order itself is wrong. This isn't possible to explain away via the simulation analogy.
Thank you for the intelligent response to his comment. There is a mountain of evidence that proves the universe is billions of years old. Also I agree, the bible does not make sense in many ways. An enlightened christian would argue that many of the stories in the bible are just analogies, but Stan seems to be holding onto some rather strange beliefs.
Google The Simulation Hypothesis. It has plenty of scientific evidence that the universe seems to work like a simulation. Once I saw that I realized it was one way where science and the Bible do not conflict. Therefore it is the best available explanation I have seen that explains all the facts that have been documented throughout history.
Does God use a universe of supercomputers to simulate this universe? I doubt it. But that's not the point. The point is that God clearly generates this reality from some higher level definition and therefore has complete control over every physical particle.
If you've ever built a simulation (I have done many) or an animated Hollywood movie, you know that you can design the various components in any order you like. You can create all the characters for Disney's The Jungle Book while waiting for another team of designers to create the universe in which they will operate.
Your idea of the Bible getting things "in the wrong order" merely shows your preconceived acceptance of the matrix in which you are living.
God is outside that box.
The only way you can know anything about what is out there is if you accept what God has revealed about it.
Most of the anologies I've been using in this conversation are just to help you expand your thinking by talking in terms of science fiction - which humans seem to have an easier time exercising their imagination with. I'm perfectly fine with just accepting that "it is written."
"You take the blue pill, the story ends. You wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes."
I don't need to Google it, I've written about that topic at great length before.
Your idea of the Bible getting things "in the wrong order" merely shows your preconceived acceptance of the matrix in which you are living.
No, it gets them in the wrong order.
God is outside that box.
No, God is the box itself. You have a fundamental misunderstanding of what God is because you were raised in a cult. You will never truly know God so long as you remain in this deceived state.
The only way you can know anything about what is out there is if you accept what God has revealed about it.
The Bible is not the revealed word of God any more than the Qur'an or Book of Mormon are. Because you are not a Muslim or a Mormon you can see, from the outside, that those religions are false. But you can't see that about your own religion from within.
Maybe why is not important, and the only thing that is important is existing in the present moment. Maybe we will find out the Why once we attain the next level of existence if there is another level.
Yes we will all find out some day, but then it will be too late.
Better find out what this life is for now.
It's a test, a trust, and a training arena.
How you do on that test affects what kind of job you get in your real eternal career.
You're in Spiritual College right now. Your resulting credentials matter.
Don't waste it partying like there's no tomorrow.
There are an infinite number of tomorrows. :)
Again. Having accepted the Bible as authoritative, all I do is point to what has been written there.
I only need to focus on why I have concluded that the eyewitness accounts in the Bible are credible. After that, things get very easy: "It is written."
When I start running a simulation of a Sopwith Camel I can set the initial conditions to anything I want. After that, the simulation picks up at that point in time just like it has been running forever. I don't have to run the part of the simulation where Snoopy takes off and lands. I can focus on the single roll maneuver that interests me. I can't tell how long the simulation has been running just by looking at the current state variables. Neither can science.
The OP lays out the current theory of the universe giving a set of observations of that simulation at essentially a single snapshot in time. That doesn't mean that the simulation actually had to run that whole time.
You can think of reality as a simulation of 14 billion year old universe that started running 6000 years ago. You can't possibly imagine the higher dimensions of existence in which that simulation is running, but God has stated quite plainly in the Bible why he started it and what He plans to achieve with it. That's something that can only be revealed from outside the simulation. Science can look forever and only conclude that the universe LOOKS like it is 14 billion years old and started spreading out from a singularity point. Very presumptive of us humans, but that's what we do.
Indeed, as you say the universe could be 6,000 years old and we'd never know if it is a simulation designed to appear that way. That sounds an awful lot like a convenient way to believe you are right even when all of the evidence says you aren't, but I digress.
The larger problem with your reasoning is that Genesis claims the Earth existed before the sun, trees and other land vegetation before sea creatures and birds before land animals. The order itself is wrong. This isn't possible to explain away via the simulation analogy.
Thank you for the intelligent response to his comment. There is a mountain of evidence that proves the universe is billions of years old. Also I agree, the bible does not make sense in many ways. An enlightened christian would argue that many of the stories in the bible are just analogies, but Stan seems to be holding onto some rather strange beliefs.
Google The Simulation Hypothesis. It has plenty of scientific evidence that the universe seems to work like a simulation. Once I saw that I realized it was one way where science and the Bible do not conflict. Therefore it is the best available explanation I have seen that explains all the facts that have been documented throughout history.
Does God use a universe of supercomputers to simulate this universe? I doubt it. But that's not the point. The point is that God clearly generates this reality from some higher level definition and therefore has complete control over every physical particle.
If you've ever built a simulation (I have done many) or an animated Hollywood movie, you know that you can design the various components in any order you like. You can create all the characters for Disney's The Jungle Book while waiting for another team of designers to create the universe in which they will operate.
Your idea of the Bible getting things "in the wrong order" merely shows your preconceived acceptance of the matrix in which you are living.
God is outside that box.
The only way you can know anything about what is out there is if you accept what God has revealed about it.
Most of the anologies I've been using in this conversation are just to help you expand your thinking by talking in terms of science fiction - which humans seem to have an easier time exercising their imagination with. I'm perfectly fine with just accepting that "it is written."
I don't need to Google it, I've written about that topic at great length before.
No, it gets them in the wrong order.
No, God is the box itself. You have a fundamental misunderstanding of what God is because you were raised in a cult. You will never truly know God so long as you remain in this deceived state.
The Bible is not the revealed word of God any more than the Qur'an or Book of Mormon are. Because you are not a Muslim or a Mormon you can see, from the outside, that those religions are false. But you can't see that about your own religion from within.
Maybe why is not important, and the only thing that is important is existing in the present moment. Maybe we will find out the Why once we attain the next level of existence if there is another level.
Yes we will all find out some day, but then it will be too late.
Better find out what this life is for now.
It's a test, a trust, and a training arena.
How you do on that test affects what kind of job you get in your real eternal career.
You're in Spiritual College right now. Your resulting credentials matter.
Don't waste it partying like there's no tomorrow.
There are an infinite number of tomorrows. :)
How do you know if we will ever find out. No one can be for sure, and if you think you are absolutely sure, you have a lot to learn.
Again. Having accepted the Bible as authoritative, all I do is point to what has been written there.
I only need to focus on why I have concluded that the eyewitness accounts in the Bible are credible. After that, things get very easy: "It is written."