The Demiurge

[Eddi]

What do people here think of the concept of the demiurge?

For those unfamiliar with the concept, the demiurge is a being created by the Supreme Being to design and manage this universe, that the Supreme Being himself created

Plato and the gnostics believed in the demiurge - the word is derived from the Greek for “artisan” or “craftsman"

It is however completely unbiblical as Genesis clearly says that God is the sole creator of the universe and there is no mention of anything that sounds like the demiurge anywhere in the bible. But this point aside, does the concept make sense, is it at least plausible? I’d say it is.

I’m personally 40% certain that our reality is a simulated reality - if this were the case then I believe the simulated reality would be managed and overseen by an entity with similar attributes to the demiurge, only this would be a man-made demiurge, as opposed to one created by the Supreme Being. And its powers would of course be limited to within the simulation and also be limited by what powers the over-seers of the simulation grant it.

I believe in the possibility of the man-made demiurge who presides over this simulated dimension of reality (if it truly is simulated) but I don’t believe that God himself made such a being to manage and administer his creation. I do however consider the notion of a God-made demiurge to be plausible even if it is unbiblical.

So basically, I’m open about the whole concept but don’t really believe it.

 

[Earthling]

It is however complely unbiblical aets Genesis clearly says that God is the sole creator of the universe and there is no mention of anything that sounds like the demiurge anywhere in the bible. But this point aside, does the concept make sense, is it at least plausible? I’d say it is.

I don't know much about Plato's Demiurge, but there are these from the Bible.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; because by means of him all [other] things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All [other] things have been created through him and for him. Colossians 1:15-16

 

[Sunstone]

Back in the early 80s, there were a few biblical scholars who thought the notion God created the universe out of nothing was a misreading of Genesis. They believed the original language actually expressed the notion that God "ordered" existing matter and energy like the Demiurge, rather than created them out of nothing. I don't know what became of their ideas.

 

[Eddi]

Back in the early 80s, there were a few biblical scholars who thought the notion God created the universe out of nothing was a misreading of Genesis. They believed the original language actually expressed the notion that God "ordered" existing matter and energy like the Demiurge, rather than created them out of nothing. I don't know what became of their ideas.

That's fascinating to hear