If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there, does it still make a sound? If your answer to this question is no, then my argument likely will not convince you of anything. However, if your answer is yes, then that means you acknowledge that the tree’s action produces a sound independent of any observer. Now consider my next question: If God’s will is being carried out and no one sees him, does he exist? Whether or not you believe in the literal existence of God, the influence of belief in God is undeniable.

This world is filled with Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, and all other sorts of followers of deistic religions. The most devote of them act in accordance with the faith, and are striving to create the world envisioned according to that god. To that end, laws, cultures, societies are shaped. These are real forces, with real influences on the world. Given that, I’d argue the question of whether your favoured god exists or not is flawed, or rather, unnecessary. The concept of God, like the sound of the falling tree, has real effects regardless of direct observation.

Picture a circle. Any circle. That circle, as long as it fits the proper definition of a circle, is infinitely more perfect than any circle in our reality. A true perfect circle simply cannot exist. It is continuous no matter how closely you look at it, whereas in real life, if you zoom in enough, you will see discrete particles making it up as opposed to a perfect curve. However, that does not stop the idea of a circle from guiding us in reality, whether it be in art, math, or science. We base all our imperfect circles off the idea of perfect circles. Its influence is very real. If you are familiar with Plato’s idea of the forms, then this is nothing new to you. Similarly, the concept of God, though potentially residing beyond our physical reality, guides the actions of millions, shaping the world in profound ways.

Indeed, God should instead be understood as a concept, rather than a physical entity whose existence must be proven or disproven. Gods, even according to their own holy scriptures, typically reside outside this realm of reality, and influence it in subtle ways through people or events. Like the sound of the falling tree, the influence of God’s concept persists, independent of whether we observe or debate his existence. Whether a god truly exists or not would make no matter to the world. It would not change a single thing as much as if a perfect circle existed or didn’t.

The question of God’s existence is secondary to the reality of his influence. Whether he exists as a being or not is less important than the fact that God’s ideals are shaping our world. The influence of the concept of God is as real and impactful as the sound of a tree falling in a forest, regardless of whether anyone is there to witness it, and you can only say that God doesn’t exist when there isn’t a single believer carrying out his will.

Howdy. I’ve decided to start a new series of posts where I’ll archive my pseudo-philosophical, pseudo-theological, and pseudo-scientific ramblings. Do not expect anything rigorously debated, highly researched, or even factual. I do not have a background in philosophy or theology, though I do have a physics degree so you can take any topics leaning towards that end a bit more seriously. In the end, these are simply ideas that I am throwing at a wall. Take it as me simply presenting new ways of thinking of things rather than trying to force my viewpoints on you as objective facts. Each rambling will be rather short, and I intend to make all my ideas as easy to understand as possible, so don’t feel intimidated. The subject matter will also vary wildly. You can expect the first in the series soon.

Here are some topics that you can expect and their previews:

God’s existence is irrelevant

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there, does it still make a sound? If your answer to this question is no, then my argument likely will not convince you of anything. However, if your answer is yes, then that means you acknowledge that the tree’s action produces a sound independent of any observer. Now consider my next question: If God’s will is being carried out and no one sees him, does he exist? Whether or not you believe in the literal existence of God, the influence of belief in God is undeniable.

The case for reincarnation

Many atheists proclaim with confidence that nothing happens after death, or rather that there simply is nothing after death. That all that awaits is an eternal nothingness. I’d argue all people, religious or not, should be scientific, however those who argue boldly that there is no god should be scientific most of all, and if we are to be strictly scientific, then evidence points towards reincarnation being the most likely outcome.

The origin of the universe

Some say that the big bang was the origin of the universe, but the question always goes further back. “What happened before the big bang?” Well, some say that before the big bang, there was a big crunch, and before that there was another big bang, resulting in a cyclical eternal universe. Some say that according to the natural laws of cause and effect, there must be a beginning. Others might claim that God is the beginning, and is allowed to exist as an unmoved mover due to existing outside time and space. My idea has nothing to do with any of those, and instead claims that the human idea of “nothingness” may be wrong.

God’s form and plan

The bible makes many references to God’s plan, our purpose on this planet, the existence of sin, and other ideas without giving an outright explanation of each. Using the clues left by the bible, I try to piece together answers to these questions and more in order to put together a bigger picture.

Common intellectual pitfalls of understanding quantum suicide

Quantum suicide is an interesting thought experiment, but one that should be left at that. It has little merit as a serious idea, however if you do want to play around with the idea of it, it is important to have a proper understanding of what makes it work, why it works, and how not to misinterpret it.

The futility of destroying the world to force enlightenment

According to the Buddha, life in this world is filled with inescapable suffering – or not, if you learn how to accept the transient nature of all, how to let go, and that there is no self. I may be missing a few steps (there is an eightfold path after all), but the ultimate end is escaping the cycle of reincarnation. If that is truly the end, then why not destroy the world so that there is no destination to be reborn into? Here I’ll tell you why not.

Alternate economic systems and political systems

“Real communism hasn’t been tried.” “Capitalism isn’t perfect, but it’s better than communism.” Everybody argues between capitalism and communism to varying degrees, but these are ultimately distractions. People have given up on thinking of new economic systems entirely. If neither system works, then that may be a sign that we need a new system entirely – something unfettered by these two systems. The same can be said for political systems. Most people like democracy, and yet do not feel properly represented. The political class are often not only out of touch with the common people, but are also corrupt. Again, flip flopping between pre-existing systems will not solve these issues. Here, I try to think of some possible new alternatives.

How to shape the world

It can be done ethically, but you won’t like it, because you won’t be alive to see the world you create.