[extropy-chat] Atheism in Decline

[Dan Clemmensen]

Samantha Atkins wrote:

>
> I still don't see how this (likely being in a sim) makes any such 
> difference.  There are too many possible sim scenarios that do not 
> support any notion of a god much less one near that of most theists.  
> So precisely how does this follow?
>
> I can and have construct sim-inclusive arguments that do do a 
> reasonable job of supporting a God but not one very similar at all to 
> what most theist claim.  So even having done some number of iterations 
> of such speculative theology I still don't see where you/we get the 
> benefit you are suggesting.
>
I'm very confused, as usual. Is there any detectable difference between 
living in a sim and living in a universe constructed or controlled by 
"God?"  "God" is simply another name for "sysop."

Different religions use different names for god and ascribe different 
qualities to their particular god. It should be possible to create a 
list of attributes that are ascribed to gods by each religion (sect, 
faith, or other theist grouping) and then ask each religion to declare 
for each attribute whether or not it applies to their god. those who 
think we live in a sim can agree or disagree that each attribute 
describes the sim environment/sysop.

For each religion there is a corresponding simulation environment.

This reductionist approach applies only to religions that agree that at 
least some attributes of their god are "public knowledge." That is that 
at least some attributes of the god can be described reliably in words.

For myself, each of these descriptions of my universe falls into one 
three categories:
    1) inconsistent
    2) consistent but  contradicted by observation of the universe
    3) consistent but no contradicted buy observation of the universe.

I reject 1 and 2. Of all religions in category 3, only one is unique: 
That is the one in which there is no unobservable attributes. For any 
religion that ascribes unobservable attributes to god, I can construct 
an infinity of additional religions by adding additional unobservable 
attributes.

I choose to "believe: in the one unique "religion." I am an atheist.