Definition of a god: an axiomatic, necessary, immaterial, irreducible consciousness which has no conceivable end.
axiomatic
As "A is A and not Non-A", so too "I exist". It is impossible to argue "I do not exist" even as an exercise, for who would be doing the thinking? The self is an axiomatic consciousness.
necessary
People often ask "can you show a consciousness without a brain?" The question is entirely backwards, putting the cart before the horse. Only a consciousness can recognize a brain, and without one's own consciousness there is no awareness of brains, unconscious brains or otherwise. Consciousness is necessary to know or be aware of anything at all, and we are axiomatically aware ("I exist"). The self/consciousness is necessary.
immaterial
Material things can be seen, touched, tasted, heard, and smelt. They are accessible to others. Their contents are objective. They are not "about" anything. They are deterministic.
Consciousness cannot be seen, touched, tasted, heard, or smelt. It is not accessible to others. Its contents are subjective. Thoughts are about something. Consciousness is autonomous (scientifically proven by self regulation, placebos without deception, cognitive therapy, etc).
Cosnciousness/the self is immaterial.
irreducible
You are absolutely, unquestionably certain of your own consciousness. The very existence of matter itself can be questioned and doubted as proven by philosophical skepticism, brain in a vat, simulation theories, etc. It is unreasonable to reduce the certain to the doubtable, the known to the inferred, the thing we require to know matter at all to matter itself. The self/consciousness is irreducible.
no conceivable end
You can imagine the greatest splendrous or most shocking horrors. You can empathize with illness, picture yourself in war, project yourself into the shoes of a horror character. You can fantasize about your most ultimate beauty, imagine a pristine afterlife even if you don't believe in one. And if not consciously then you can in dreams. Yet you cannot imagine the self not existing, you cannot actually empathize with such a concept when you are doing the empathizing, you cannot have a dream with no dreamer. The self/consciousness cannot conceivably end.
you, the god
You, the I in "I exist", are an axiomatic, necessary, immaterial, irreducible consciousness which has no conceivable end. A god. At least so far as you can ever know.
This is not to say there is no room for disagreements, for alternatives. We cannot technically disprove solipsism, or brain in a vat, or simulation theory, but I sure do not believe it those. The thing is, this idea of "you reduce to matter", or "your soul belongs to god", or anything of the sort takes far more leaps and far more faith than simply recognizing that, for all you will ever be able to prove, you are an axiomatic, necessary, immaterial, irreducible consciousness which has no conceivable end.
Why you'd choose a faith which denies that, no idea.
axiomatic
As "A is A and not Non-A", so too "I exist". It is impossible to argue "I do not exist" even as an exercise, for who would be doing the thinking? The self is an axiomatic consciousness.
necessary
People often ask "can you show a consciousness without a brain?" The question is entirely backwards, putting the cart before the horse. Only a consciousness can recognize a brain, and without one's own consciousness there is no awareness of brains, unconscious brains or otherwise. Consciousness is necessary to know or be aware of anything at all, and we are axiomatically aware ("I exist"). The self/consciousness is necessary.
immaterial
Material things can be seen, touched, tasted, heard, and smelt. They are accessible to others. Their contents are objective. They are not "about" anything. They are deterministic.
Consciousness cannot be seen, touched, tasted, heard, or smelt. It is not accessible to others. Its contents are subjective. Thoughts are about something. Consciousness is autonomous (scientifically proven by self regulation, placebos without deception, cognitive therapy, etc).
Cosnciousness/the self is immaterial.
irreducible
You are absolutely, unquestionably certain of your own consciousness. The very existence of matter itself can be questioned and doubted as proven by philosophical skepticism, brain in a vat, simulation theories, etc. It is unreasonable to reduce the certain to the doubtable, the known to the inferred, the thing we require to know matter at all to matter itself. The self/consciousness is irreducible.
no conceivable end
You can imagine the greatest splendrous or most shocking horrors. You can empathize with illness, picture yourself in war, project yourself into the shoes of a horror character. You can fantasize about your most ultimate beauty, imagine a pristine afterlife even if you don't believe in one. And if not consciously then you can in dreams. Yet you cannot imagine the self not existing, you cannot actually empathize with such a concept when you are doing the empathizing, you cannot have a dream with no dreamer. The self/consciousness cannot conceivably end.
you, the god
You, the I in "I exist", are an axiomatic, necessary, immaterial, irreducible consciousness which has no conceivable end. A god. At least so far as you can ever know.
This is not to say there is no room for disagreements, for alternatives. We cannot technically disprove solipsism, or brain in a vat, or simulation theory, but I sure do not believe it those. The thing is, this idea of "you reduce to matter", or "your soul belongs to god", or anything of the sort takes far more leaps and far more faith than simply recognizing that, for all you will ever be able to prove, you are an axiomatic, necessary, immaterial, irreducible consciousness which has no conceivable end.
Why you'd choose a faith which denies that, no idea.
