God is Consciousness

Exploring this premise using the God’s Video Game metaphor

God is Consciousness - a premise to consider.

Consciousness is the prerequisite of awareness.

Awareness is the prerequisite for observation.

Observation is the prerequisite for understanding.

Understanding is the prerequisite for existence.

Nothing can exist without Consciousness.

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"Arguments why God (very probably) exists" — https://theconversation.com/arguments-why-god-very-probably-exists-75451

The linked article is one example of the never-ending attempts by philosophical thinkers to unravel the mystery of reality. How did reality come about? What or who could be responsible for it, and for our lives?

Nearly every attempt to speculate on this mystery inevitably presupposes the existence of a physical universe and a “supreme being” who created it. Very few, however, have eliminated this presupposition in order to consider that the answer to the mystery may lie in a ‘realm’ beyond physicality. I am one of those few.

The opening 5 lines briefly summarize my thinking about existence - that “reality” exists in Consciousness - a realm devoid of time, space and mass.

I wrote the following letter to the host of The Consciousness Podcast several years ago. I had listened to many of his podcasts which features many guests with impressive credentials. They discussed a variety of theories on episodes like this:

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Hello Stuart,

I am writing to suggest a premise which I hope you may consider worthy of discussion on The Consciousness Podcast. It is summarized below.

The “God Is Consciousness” Premise.

WHAT IF the only ‘reality’ is Consciousness itself?

WHAT IF everything we understand as our “physical universe” is simply an illusion?

WHAT IF every element of that illusion is retained as an artifact of Consciousness?

Note: I am characterizing Consciousness as a ‘realm’ devoid of time, space and mass in the same way that ‘God’ has been described by religious scholars and believers as an eternal, all-knowing, all-seeing and all-powerful creator.

Let It Sink In

The idea that the “physical universe” is an illusion or dream is, of course, a challenging one to take in and absorb. However, the effort to “experience” it is worthwhile for the unique perspective it can add to your Life Lens.

Obviously, the “consciousness technology” behind this illusion is beyond comprehension. However, trying to explore mysteries like this is exactly what you are trying to do with your podcast series, is it not? 

God’s Video Game - a metaphor

Allow me to take this concept further by way of metaphor in which we are all just players in God’s Video Game.  

Before I elaborate on this metaphor, however, I wish to clarify my use of some terms. I do not use the term  ‘God’ in the traditional religious or biblical sense. Instead, I use it as a proxy for ideas like “Universal Consciousness”, “The Universal Mind” or the “Creator of all things” that have been used by other thinkers before me. I generally dislike the term ‘God’ because it carries with it a constellation historical and cultural religious ideas which distract from my purpose, but it is also the most widely used and accepted term for an all-powerful Creator.  Therefore, I find it acceptable for my metaphorical use.

The video game analogy was inspired by conversations with my eldest daughter who is a highly accomplished online gamer. I generally think of the creators and players engaged in the gaming and virtual reality industry sectors as people who like to “play God” by creating surrogate lives within universes of their own for entertainment and research purposes.

God’s Video Game - it’s fundamental ideas.

God is consciousness. Consciousness is God. Nothing exists but God.

Everything exists in Consciousness as a dream.

There is no space because space cannot exist in a dream.

There is no time if there is no space.

There is just Now, the dream and us — players in the game of Life. 

We — the players— are God’s co-creators of Life. 

God provides the landscape, stage and Life’s circumstances.

God also creates each one of us as unique players in Life.

Players ‘birth’ into Life and evolve with unique abilities. 

Each endowed with free will, players make choices in Life.

Players engage the game of Life and acquire wisdom in so doing.

Sometimes we overcome a Life challenge. Sometimes we don’t. 

Inevitably we die, but not without accumulating wisdom from Life.

In Life, new players appear to replace old.

Each one exists solely the Mind of God.   

Every Life encounter creates an Artifact - a Life Lesson.

All Artifacts become one with the God.

Wisdom is the existence of Life’s Artifacts.

Creativity is the pursuit of more Wisdom. 

Opportunities to gain Wisdom from Life is the reason why players exist. 

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God’s Video Game - Comments about Life

The video game analogy offers familiar concepts and parallels to contemplate regarding the object of Life.

Human game creators and players exhibit both God-like and human-like powers.The creators provide the landscape, stage and circumstances for the game. Each player possesses the ‘free will’ (within a set of Life constraints defined by the creator) to choose from a compendium of “powers” and “characteristics”. Each player’s choices serve to create a unique game avatar that the player directs to tackle Life challenges and exploit Life opportunities. 

Online games have evolved continually and with no end in sight.

Game CREATORS acquire more skills, knowledge and better tools as the ‘artifacts of past lessons’ are reapplied creatively and productively. They are motivated by the fundamental need to puzzle together new ways to keep players engaged and challenged. Do they possess an existential need to create, perhaps for entertainment reasons?

Game PLAYERS appear to seek both entertainments and some form of “fulfillment” from their attempts to master the game. Is mastery their equivalent of ‘wisdom’? Do they acquire it by refining - perhaps seeking god-like perfection - as they sharpen their abilities to play?

Is there really an eternal realm of bliss, the equivalent of HEAVEN, on the podium for the winners in the game of Life? Are these the reasons that God and Life exist at all?