Are We Real?

[The Sum of Awe]

If God made our reality and rests in another reality (outside space and time) then wouldn't our reality be a fake one? Kind of like making a video game, except making the avatars conscious of their surroundings.

[idav]

Having a video game like that would mean the avatars are indeed in a very limited virtual environment. It might be possible to bring that consciousness outside of the virtual environment into say a robot that we could chit chat with face to face so that reality could be more real.

Or it could be an actual universe built with real parts from the reality of god. I'd hate to think we only live in a simulation of a real universe.

[Willamena]

There's only one reality.

(Mine.)

[idav]

Originally Posted by Willamena

There's only one reality.

(Mine.)

I no real?

[The Sum of Awe]

Originally Posted by idav

Or it could be an actual universe built with real parts from the reality of god. I'd hate to think we only live in a simulation of a real universe.

But what I'm saying is, if a whole reality was made second handed is it really reality?

[The Sum of Awe]

Originally Posted by Willamena

There's only one reality.

(Mine.)

I can't wait to see more of it.

[idav]

Originally Posted by The Sum of Awe

But what I'm saying is, if a whole reality was made second handed is it really reality?

Sure. Same as if I were to build a real earth orbiting my room with real little people as opposed to a simulation in my computer.

[The Sum of Awe]

Originally Posted by idav

Sure. Same as if I were to build a real earth orbiting my room with real little people as opposed to a simulation in my computer.

But what if we make a whole new small different space and time going around your room?

[Quagmire]

Originally Posted by The Sum of Awe

If God made our reality and rests in another reality (outside space and time) then wouldn't our reality be a fake one? Kind of like making a video game, except making the avatars conscious of their surroundings.

This is one of my favorite theories about reality, the cosmic video game scenario.

I mean, think about it: what if game developers came up with a sim where you could jack in and immediately forget it's just a game. It would be the most popular game ever.

It would explain a lot too:
Why is there suffering in the world? Well, a game has to have risks.

Why can't we see beyond this reality? Well, that would be cheating.

What's the only thing we know for a fact actually is "real" about the game? The emotions we experience while we're playing it.

Funny, my last lucid dream (a dream where you realize you're dreaming) I was in some sort of ridiculously advanced sort-of cyber forum, hanging out with a bunch of people. In this "forum" (for lack of a better word) you could actually hear the other people talking, and whenever you focused on any one persons "post", their avatar came to life and you were there talking to what resembled an animated holographic image of the poster.

At one point, this incredibly beautiful woman appeared (or a much more life-like holographic image thereof) and we started talking and it was at this point that I realized I was dreaming. I mentioned to her that I was somewhat sad that the people I'd been interacting with in the "forum" were just creations of my own mind, and she said "Oh no, they're as real as you are. You guys are just sharing the same dream".

I woke up soon after that, but it got me thinking: "who knows?". In any case, if this reality (the one you and I are in right now) were a dream (or a sim), it's unlikely we would know it, and like I said, the only things that we know for sure are real are the emotions we experience while we're here. Beyond that (although slightly less certain ) I think we can assume that the other players are real too.

Everything beyond that may just be a function of light and imagination.

[idav]

Originally Posted by The Sum of Awe

But what if we make a whole new small different space and time going around your room?

That could probably be considered a sub-reality of the total reality. I have considered there being a bigger reality outside of our universe like with the multiverse theory. Every universe would be just as much reality as the others.

Limitations of perception don't mean it is not reality it just means we are only seeing a portion of it unless we our realities are just being played into our heads in a virtual simulation kind of way.