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Replying to The Tanager in post #314]
Tanager, the questions you've raised about GOD’s morality, human understanding, and the nature of biblical stories open a profound philosophical dialogue, especially when we consider the framework of Subjective GOD Theory within a subjective experience of the reality (akin to Simulation Theory). This perspective offers a nuanced understanding of how GOD interacts with human experience, free will, and moral development in a world where external, objective evidence of GOD’s presence is absent.
Subjective Reality and GOD’s Interaction.
In Subjective GOD Theory, the world we experience can be understood as a subjective reality—a reality that has been created and is continuously influenced by an intelligent force, often referred to as GOD. However, within this subjective reality, GOD does not manifest as an external, observable being. Instead, GOD’s influence is experienced internally, through subjective personal interactions, moral intuitions, and spiritual insights.
This means that while we cannot directly observe GOD or GOD’s behavior, we can still perceive GOD’s presence through the subjective guidance we receive in our day-to-day lives. In this sense, GOD’s interaction with the world is not fixed or objective, but fluid and personal, guiding individuals through their lived experiences within the subjective reality.
Free Will, Morality, and Atrocities in Subjective Reality.
One of the most challenging aspects of this subjective reality is the presence of atrocities like child abuse. The fact that such events occur is often interpreted as a difficult moral problem. However, within Subjective GOD Theory, the nature of this reality is that humans are given free will, which allows for both moral and immoral actions to unfold. This reality was designed to be temporary, where experiences—both positive and negative—are part of the broader process of spiritual and moral growth.
Because GOD’s guidance comes through subjective means, GOD allows these experiences to happen without intervening to prevent every act of suffering. This doesn't suggest that GOD condones atrocities, but rather that the experiences within the subjective reality are forgivable and temporary. Within this framework, the suffering that occurs is part of the human experience, but it does not define or destroy the soul in any eternal sense.
Many Near-Death Experience (NDE) reports support this perspective. Individuals who have suffered severe trauma, including child abuse, and later had NDEs, often describe gaining profound insights into their experiences. They report a deep understanding that, while the trauma was painful, it did not leave lasting harm on their soul. They often speak of forgiveness and a sense of peace, recognizing that the suffering they endured in the subjective reality was part of a larger spiritual journey, one that ultimately led to healing and growth.
Moral Guidance and the Role of Religious Stories in Subjective Reality.
Within this subjective reality, moral guidance is understood not as a fixed set of external rules but as a subjective process through which individuals interact with GOD’s influence. Religious texts, such as the Ten Commandments, serve as reflections of human experiences with GOD, not necessarily as literal, objective commandments. They can be viewed as Useful Fiction, offering moral guidance and spiritual insights without needing to be taken as literal historical accounts.
This approach aligns with your acknowledgment that even the story of how the commandments were received may be understood symbolically rather than literally. The value of these stories lies not in their historicity but in the moral truths they help convey. In this subjectively experienced reality, these stories serve as moral narratives, guiding individuals on their journey toward understanding GOD’s subjective will and their role of bring that into the world.
Miracles as Anomalies in Subjective Reality.
Miracles are another aspect of this subjective reality that challenge conventional understanding. Like magic, miracles are often considered miraculous because they defy explanation within the objective bounds of current scientific understanding. In Subjective GOD Theory, miracles can be seen as anomalies—rare events that are injected into the subjective reality through GOD’s influence.
Because miracles are so rare and seemingly random, they are difficult for the scientific process to study systematically. However, this does not mean that miracles are beyond reason. Rather, they reflect aspects of GOD’s subjective interaction with this subjectively experienced reality, that we do not yet fully understand.
These events are personal and subjective, often having profound meaning for those who experience them, even if they cannot be easily verified or explained through empirical means.
I also think NDEs may be categorised as Miracles.
Simulation as Subjective Reality and the Role of Free Will.
If we view the world as a subjective reality, it allows us to reconcile the existence of free will with the presence of suffering and atrocities. The design of this reality allows for all manner of human actions, both good and bad, to unfold as part of the experience of free will. GOD does not intervene to stop every instance of suffering because the reality is temporary and meant to be forgivable. The experiences we have within it, even the most painful ones, are part of a broader spiritual journey toward growth and understanding.
As such, GOD is not opposed to these events happening within this simulation but is focused on the soul’s (personalities) journey beyond them. This understanding is supported by NDE reports, where individuals often come to terms with their suffering and recognize it as a temporary part of their subjective experience, which does not harm their eternal nature.
Symbolic vs. Literal Interpretations in Subjective Reality.
Regarding the story of the commandments and other biblical stories, you acknowledged that they may have come through subjective means, even if one believes in an external GOD. While stories like the Ten Commandments or other religious narratives can indeed reflect moral truths, this does not necessarily make them a product of an objective GOD. Many great works of literature—novels, myths, and philosophical texts—also reflect deep moral insights, yet we do not consider them to be divinely inspired in an objective sense.
The key difference here is that while the Bible or other religious texts may be claimed to originate from an objective GOD, the subjective interpretation of these texts often plays a central role in how their moral truths are understood and applied. Whether we take these stories literally or symbolically, what matters most is how they serve as moral guides within the subjective reality we experience. In this way, they are best viewed as Useful Fiction, helping individuals navigate the complexities of life and morality, even if they are not direct products of an objective divine source.
Conclusion: Subjective Reality and the Evolution of Understanding.
In conclusion, the idea of subjective reality as outlined in Simulation Theory aligns with Subjective GOD Theory by emphasizing that GOD’s influence is experienced internally, rather than through external, observable phenomena. Even such phenomena is experienced and interpreted subjectively. The free will granted in this subjective reality allows for both moral and immoral actions to occur, but these experiences are temporary and forgivable.
Religious texts and moral narratives serve as Useful Fiction, offering guidance within this reality without requiring literal interpretation. Miracles, too, are part of the subjective interaction with GOD, defying current scientific explanation but serving a personal and spiritual purpose.
Ultimately, this subjective reality is a temporary space for growth and learning, where GOD’s internal guidance helps us navigate moral complexities and suffering in a way that prepares us for a deeper understanding of the soul’s eternal journey beyond this world.
Footnote: The term "miracles" has not been explicitly defined here, so I am using it in the general sense that most people understand—events believed to be directly from GOD’s intervention, including those witnessed by others. Even if the witnesses do not all provide exactly the same account (as with the resurrection reports), it does not diminish the subjective nature of the experience.
However, it’s important to note that there is nothing inherently requiring these miracles to come from an objective GOD. As explained through Subjective GOD Theory, these events can be understood as subjective experiences within the framework of the simulation, reflecting GOD’s influence without necessitating an external, objective source.
Yours, and option A), are hypothetical.
but almost entirely the Theist argues from an assumption that God is real and whatever He (supposedly) says is objective truth, like a law of physics, and not just His opinion, or say so.
