Comments on: Faith http://scifiwriter.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/faith/ Science fiction stories and other writings Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:53:08 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Peter Grant http://scifiwriter.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/faith/#comment-32 Peter Grant Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:05:34 +0000 http://scifiwriter.wordpress.com/?p=61#comment-32 Please don't take this story too seriously, it is fiction after all! I am well aware that God does not really exist in the same way that elves don't, but I plan to write about them as well. Before writing Faith I thought about what it might be like if faith really worked, if believing in something really, really hard made it true. I then proceeded to construct an imaginary universe that worked this way. In doing so, I came to the inescapable conclusion that even if faith worked it would still not necessarily be successful. Much like programming, if you put garbage in, you would get garbage out. If the beliefs themselves were self-contradicting the results would be dubious at best. Hence the suicidal God featured in this story. For more posts along this line: http://richarddawkins.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=58886 Please don’t take this story too seriously, it is fiction after all! I am well aware that God does not really exist in the same way that elves don’t, but I plan to write about them as well. Before writing Faith I thought about what it might be like if faith really worked, if believing in something really, really hard made it true. I then proceeded to construct an imaginary universe that worked this way. In doing so, I came to the inescapable conclusion that even if faith worked it would still not necessarily be successful. Much like programming, if you put garbage in, you would get garbage out. If the beliefs themselves were self-contradicting the results would be dubious at best. Hence the suicidal God featured in this story.

For more posts along this line:
http://richarddawkins.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=58886

]]> By: hang2gether http://scifiwriter.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/faith/#comment-30 hang2gether Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:20:36 +0000 http://scifiwriter.wordpress.com/?p=61#comment-30 I enjoyed it but I couldn't get over the paradox you created. It seems to me that you are vouching for atheism and though I understand your point that we can (and do) live without a god or gods, establishing a "real" god who attempts to persuade people that he does not exist for their own good only advocates deicide. Basically, the underlying basis seems to state that (whether for better or worse) atheists are atheists because they reject an existing god, not because that god does not truly exist... I don't mean to be nit picky. It was a great story regardless! I enjoyed it but I couldn’t get over the paradox you created. It seems to me that you are vouching for atheism and though I understand your point that we can (and do) live without a god or gods, establishing a “real” god who attempts to persuade people that he does not exist for their own good only advocates deicide. Basically, the underlying basis seems to state that (whether for better or worse) atheists are atheists because they reject an existing god, not because that god does not truly exist… I don’t mean to be nit picky. It was a great story regardless!

]]> By: dkv http://scifiwriter.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/faith/#comment-29 dkv Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:10:37 +0000 http://scifiwriter.wordpress.com/?p=61#comment-29 excellent story excellent story

]]> By: Ramin http://scifiwriter.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/faith/#comment-27 Ramin Thu, 18 Sep 2008 09:13:03 +0000 http://scifiwriter.wordpress.com/?p=61#comment-27 Hey, I like this story a lot. To make it more convincing, I think you address an issue that theists tend to press too often: the universe would cease to exist without God. Of course, this is a ridiculous notion, but it would be helpful if you devoted part of the dialog between God and Pastor James to explaining the misconceptions of the universe relying on the existence of God. Something to the effect of, "God: don't worry, the universe will continue to exist even if no one believed in me. The universe moves like clockwork according to my own personal design, regardless of anyone's beliefs." Hey, I like this story a lot. To make it more convincing, I think you address an issue that theists tend to press too often: the universe would cease to exist without God.

Of course, this is a ridiculous notion, but it would be helpful if you devoted part of the dialog between God and Pastor James to explaining the misconceptions of the universe relying on the existence of God.

Something to the effect of, “God: don’t worry, the universe will continue to exist even if no one believed in me. The universe moves like clockwork according to my own personal design, regardless of anyone’s beliefs.”

]]> By: christine http://scifiwriter.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/faith/#comment-25 christine Thu, 18 Sep 2008 03:48:39 +0000 http://scifiwriter.wordpress.com/?p=61#comment-25 excellent excellent

]]> By: Michael G http://scifiwriter.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/faith/#comment-24 Michael G Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:39:25 +0000 http://scifiwriter.wordpress.com/?p=61#comment-24 The idea seems ludicrous, but it really hits the nail on the head with regard to how faith works. The idea seems ludicrous, but it really hits the nail on the head with regard to how faith works.

]]> By: sciencefictionstuff http://scifiwriter.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/faith/#comment-22 sciencefictionstuff Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:14:02 +0000 http://scifiwriter.wordpress.com/?p=61#comment-22 Almost enough to make me beleive. This is awesome and for a minute there wondered how it fits into the Sci Fi category, but it does, it really does fit. Very original and thought provoking. Thanks for stopping by my sciencefictionstuff blog too! http://sciencefictionstuff.blogspot.com Almost enough to make me beleive. This is awesome and for a minute there wondered how it fits into the Sci Fi category, but it does, it really does fit. Very original and thought provoking.

Thanks for stopping by my sciencefictionstuff blog too!

http://sciencefictionstuff.blogspot.com

]]> By: L-Young, 李阳 http://scifiwriter.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/faith/#comment-21 L-Young, 李阳 Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:16:10 +0000 http://scifiwriter.wordpress.com/?p=61#comment-21 Marvellous story! Totally out of anyone's expectation. Marvellous story! Totally out of anyone’s expectation.

]]> By: Metro http://scifiwriter.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/faith/#comment-20 Metro Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:19:42 +0000 http://scifiwriter.wordpress.com/?p=61#comment-20 Delightful. Thank you. Delightful. Thank you.

]]> By: Daniel Florien http://scifiwriter.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/faith/#comment-19 Daniel Florien Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:45:36 +0000 http://scifiwriter.wordpress.com/?p=61#comment-19 Interesting story! It was a little hard to read with the black background, but I enjoyed it. Thanks! Interesting story! It was a little hard to read with the black background, but I enjoyed it. Thanks!

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