“You do, you know,” said The Lady. “Everyone has gods. You just don’t think they’re gods.”

- Terry Pratchett

  • Barbarian@sh.itjust.works
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    4 months ago

    No, but most people do think of Reality as a god.

    But they don’t think He is a god

    These two statements directly contradict eachother. Either you think of Reality as a god, or you do not. If you don’t think reality is a god, then you don’t think “he” is a god (wow, the tautology was weird to type).

    People are perfectly capable of worshipping, praying to, and generally being religious towards someone they refuse to believe is a god.

    What’s your opinion on people who do neither? That don’t believe in a god and don’t pray to anything either?

    • MindTraveller@lemmy.caOP
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      4 months ago

      They don’t contradict. There’s a subtle difference, which is whether it’s conscious.

      Take Donald Trump worshippers, for example. They think he’s a god, but they won’t admit it, even to themselves.

      • Barbarian@sh.itjust.works
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        4 months ago

        Sorry, I edited in the stuff about deists and pantheons as you were responding. What’s your opinion on that?

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      I said this to them above- I honestly cannot think of a way to define ‘reality’ as a god. The universe? Fine, that’s pantheism. But reality is an aspect of the universe, it isn’t the universe itself. Reality is just what we think is true. Truth is a god?

      • MindTraveller@lemmy.caOP
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        4 months ago

        If we put what we think is true up on a pedestal, and say it cannot be challenged, and all must have faith in it under threat of violence, is that not exactly the way we treat gods?

        • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          I treat all my garbage the same. That doesn’t mean I think a banana peel is a piece of junk mail.

          Also-

          and all must have faith in it under threat of violence,

          Dude, crazy people wander the streets without being touched.

      • Barbarian@sh.itjust.works
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        4 months ago

        There are plenty of new age wuwu types that do define reality as a god. If I thought they had any legitimacy I wouldn’t be an atheist, but the core idea is that we essentially exist as constructs within the imagination of this god.

        • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          So basically simulation theory without the computer. Or I guess solipsism, but you’re not the one who exists.