The Double Dichotomy Proof of God

[John J. Bannan]

THE DOUBLE DICHOTOMY PROOF OF GOD


1) A metaphysical dichotomy between the set of all possible all inclusive states of existence and no states of existence proves that no states of existence cannot be the case, because our universe is real.

2) A metaphysical dichotomy between the set of all possible all inclusive states of existence that can become real and the set of all possible all inclusive states of existence that cannot become real being those possible all inclusive states of existence that contain two logically possible but contradictory states proves that the set of all possible all inclusive states of existence that cannot become real cannot be the case, because our universe is real.

3) Because our universe had a beginning and does not need to be real, and because something must be real without our universe being real due to the fact that no states of existence cannot be real, then there must be something real without our universe being real proving that all inclusive states of existence that can become real must be possible in reality.

4) Because the set of all possible all inclusive states of existence that can become real is infinite because one can imagine any given universe with the addition of just one more thing ad infinitum, then there cannot be a probability for any given universe because the set is infinite.

5) But because the universe is real, then there must be something real which determines what becomes real among the infinite set of all possible all inclusive states of existence where said determination is not based on probability or random chance.

6) Because something can be real and our universe not be real, then there must be a power to create the real such as our universe, and as there is a power to create the real, then there must be a power to determine what is real based on an order of preference.

7) Because the set of all possible all inclusive states of existence that can become real is not inherently ordered, and because it is possible to determine based on preference which possible all inclusive states of existence come into reality, then there must be a real eternal constraint that determines through will and intellect to allow any or all of these possible all inclusive states of existence to become real.

8) Because the actualization of any or all possible all inclusive states of existence that can become real requires the constraint to actualize them, then the constraint cannot be made and therefore must be infinite pure act without moving parts.

9) Said constraint must have power over all possible all inclusive states of existence that can become real being omnipotent and omnipresent.

10) Said constraint must have knowledge of all possible all inclusive states of existence that can become real being omniscient.

11) Because the mind of the constraint is omnipresent and hence within all of us, our minds are contained within the mind of the constraint which calls all of us to be Sons of the constraint.

12) Hence, a single being exists who is eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, is not made, and has a will and intellect and we call this being God.

[Jashwell]

[Replying to post 184 by Danmark]

What's next? You will share in the being of the Creator in eternity. What more do you want?

What if we don't want to "share in the being of the Creator"?
Are we not allowed to choose our company in heaven?

Does God have anything else to offer?

[Danmark]

[Replying to post 184 by Danmark]

What's next? You will share in the being of the Creator in eternity. What more do you want?

Anything. Everything. Merely 'sharing in the being' of 'the Creator' sounds boring in the extreme. This reminds me of another reason why this entire 'Creator/afterlife' business makes for a very dull story. The essence of any story is conflict. That's why stories end up with either death, or jail, or the hero sitting on a tropical beach enjoying the fruits of his success. The story ends. The conflict is over. No one is going to watch a movie after the protagonist has achieved his goal because the conflict is gone. Only if a new conflict is introduced does the story come alive again. Sorry. Add 'boredom' to my long list of reasons to reject the paradise myth.

[Divine Insight]

Sorry. Add 'boredom' to my long list of reasons to reject the paradise myth.

That's a very good point Dan. And it could be an extremely ironic point in this thread.

Imagine the following scenario:

God: "Dear John, would you like to have eternal life in paradise?"

John: "Oh yes please God! I would love to have eternal life in paradise more than anything else I can imagine!"

So God waves his magic wand and John finds himself sitting on the beach of a perfect island in paradise. Never any violent storms or anything. Even the volcanoes remain asleep.

After about a mere hundred years John is crying out to God, "Dear God, can you please make something interesting happen, this is getting boring."

God: 'What? You're only 100 years into your eternal paradise and you're bored already?"

John: "But I was hoping paradise would be more interesting than this. Nothing exciting ever happens around here."

God: "Oh I see, you didn't really want paradise then, what you really wanted was excitement, is that it?"

John: "Yes I was hoping paradise would be exciting, and thus fulfilling and meaningful"

God: "Go see Danmark, and listen to what he has to say. Then come back and perhaps we can discuss what you really long for with more clarity of purpose."

[John J. Bannan]

[Replying to post 191 by Jashwell]

That's a tad short-sighted.

[John J. Bannan]

{re[Replying to post 192 by Danmark]

Perhaps you prefer the excitement of hell, then?

[John J. Bannan]

[Replying to post 193 by Divine Insight

Boredom in sharing the being of the Creator of all? I doubt it.

[John J. Bannan]

[Replying to post 189 by Danmark]

Shall we let him speak for himself?

[Danmark]

Sorry. Add 'boredom' to my long list of reasons to reject the paradise myth.

That's a very good point Dan. And it could be an extremely ironic point in this thread.

Imagine the following scenario:

God: "Dear John, would you like to have eternal life in paradise?"

John: "Oh yes please God! I would love to have eternal life in paradise more than anything else I can imagine!"

So God waves his magic wand and John finds himself sitting on the beach of a perfect island in paradise. Never any violent storms or anything. Even the volcanoes remain asleep.

After about a mere hundred years John is crying out to God, "Dear God, can you please make something interesting happen, this is getting boring."

God: 'What? You're only 100 years into your eternal paradise and you're bored already?"

John: "But I was hoping paradise would be more interesting than this. Nothing exciting ever happens around here."

God: "Oh I see, you didn't really want paradise then, what you really wanted was excitement, is that it?"

John: "Yes I was hoping paradise would be exciting, and thus fulfilling and meaningful"

God: "Go see Danmark, and listen to what he has to say. Then come back and perhaps we can discuss what you really long for with more clarity of purpose."

[God places phone call to Hell, gets Dan on the line for John]

John: "Hey Dan, God told me to give you a call."

Dan: "Again? Why do I get all the referrals? There are plenty of smarter and funnier people here to talk to. I assume this is about the 'boredom issue' again, right?"

John: "Right."

Dan: "Well John, what can I say? It's not as if you weren't warned. Ol' Sam Clemons and I were just enjoying a good chuckle about that. Now there's a funny guy. Like he said, "Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company."

John: "Gosh darn it! I DO enjoy the weather here, but.... Can you do something for me?"

Dan: "Talk to God. Maybe he'll put you to the front of the line. There's a long waiting list. And we don't approve just anyone.

John: "Great! God already hinted that he might be willing to fast track me. He said he really appreciated my efforts to curb my swearing."

Dan: "John, what was there about 'We don't approve just anyone,' that you didn't understand? God is always trying get rid of his dullards. Have patience. And remember, if you do make it down, you'll have no trouble getting back into heaven. No waiting list."

[John J. Bannan]

[Replying to post 198 by Danmark]

They don't have telephones in hell. You'll just be screwed for eternity.

"And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.' Luke 16:26.

[Danmark]

....
John: "Great! God already hinted that he might be willing to fast track me. He said he really appreciated my efforts to curb my swearing."

Dan: "John, what was there about 'We don't approve just anyone,' that you didn't understand? God is always trying get rid of his dullards. Have patience. And remember, if you do make it down, you'll have no trouble getting back into heaven. No waiting list."

John: "[unintelligible]"

Dan: "Sorry John. I didn't quite get that. There's a lot of static on the line. Prob'ly a lot of "one-liners" again. They say nothing, but they clog up the lines.

But if you can hear me, are you any good at arm wrestling? I just won my 4th consecutive championship and could use some better competition."