If You Were God Part I: The Time to Come

dauer · 12-14-2006, 06:34 AM

Hello all.

I thought this would be something fun to do. Please feel free to riff off this with your own Part II or whatever, if so moved.

So almost all of the active religions today have an idea that someday someone will come and do some stuff, or a change will happen and we will be in a new time without the need for a single individual as catalyst. My question is quite plainly, if you were God, crafting this part of humanity's story, what would it be like? Would you have a person or not? If so what would s/he be like? Tall? Short? Say anything important? Do anything important? Tell good jokes? Smile a lot? Heat vision and superstrength? Wears a robe? Wears a space suit? Smells like fresh muffins? God incarnate? Thoth incarnate? Hugs everyone and always smiling? Advocates physical fitness?

What would the time be like? Would physics be the same or would it change entirely? What would people do with their time? Would we all of multiplicity cease? Would we spend every waking moment in meditation? Would we sing songs? What about technology? Would it be extremely advanced or would we do away with most of it and get back to nature? Would we go to work anymore? Would we need to study? Would people still have children? Would our loved ones long passed be there with us? Would we be able to fly? Everyone telepathic? Would it be like the return of disco 24/7? Would we still eat? What types of food would we eat? What would our family structures be like? Would we still need penal systems? Would it be possible to commit a wrong? Would there be aliens with us? Would we live in castles? Treehouses? Tudors? Communes? The clouds? On another planet? In another dimension?

Would we still have religion? Would there still be different religions? Would we still observe weekly or annual holidays? Would different people have different beliefs or would we all believe the same thing?

How would this time come to pass? Would it be pleasant or unpleasant? Would anyone die because of the change? Would anyone be unhappy about the change? Would there be some sort of judgement beforehand? Would we all be required to sign a form in triplicate?

Would people still get old? Would people still die? Would children still be born? If children were born, what would life be like for them in a time to come of your design?

Okay, I think I've left enough jumping off points for anyone truly desiring to do so to write a novella.

So if you could were God and you designed it all, what would it be like?

Dauer

flowperson · 12-14-2006, 03:31 PM

Shame on you Dauer...didn't you know that intelligently posed questions have an inherently disordering effect upon the established social order ?

flow....

juantoo3 · 12-14-2006, 04:19 PM

Kindest Regards, dauer and flow!

Quote:

didn't you know that intelligently posed questions have an inherently disordering effect upon the established social order ?

Indeed, yet is that not our Modus Operandi, our (french for) "reason for being?"

I do protest as well, dauer, in a mild way. Is it not bordering on blasphemy to even consider placing oneself in the role of G-d? At least in the Christian teachings, I believe that was the major sin committed by the adversary...although I do understand the Jewish teaching pertaining to the adversary does not correspond. Surely though, there are teachings within Judaism (and I would think Islam as well) that warn specifically about placing oneself or any other human into a role such as G-d's. I am open to correction, this is simply my instinctive reaction to (a) question(s) such as this.

Cage · 12-14-2006, 04:31 PM

Does G-d have a sense of humor?

dauer · 12-14-2006, 08:24 PM

juantoo,

Quote:

I do protest as well, dauer, in a mild way. Is it not bordering on blasphemy to even consider placing oneself in the role of G-d? At least in the Christian teachings, I believe that was the major sin committed by the adversary...although I do understand the Jewish teaching pertaining to the adversary does not correspond. Surely though, there are teachings within Judaism (and I would think Islam as well) that warn specifically about placing oneself or any other human into a role such as G-d's. I am open to correction, this is simply my instinctive reaction to (a) question(s) such as this.

Well, the person of the messiah, and the time of the messianic age, have been reimagined time and again throughout Jewish history, through midrash and other methods. I honestly didn't think this post would offend much when I posted it. It's one thing to actually claim to be God, but it's quite another to imagine, if you were God, how you'd do things. And certainly the crux of this exercise is that we're all different humans with different ideas and points of view and ideals, so even if we're discussing what it would be like to function as God, we're really discussing what, as humans living our particular experiences, we would want things to be like or, otherwise, imagine things could be like.

And I have to go with Cage on this. I do think God must have a sense of humor. Have you ever seen a platypus? :O If it truly is blasphemous to write about what a time to come would be like if one were God, then most or all of the sacred texts in the world are blasphemous, as are any reconstructions of said times to come by theologians and writers via philosophy or storytelling or other methods.

Also, this is not only addressed at Muslims, Jews, and Christians. Abrahamic religions are not the only ones waiting for a person or time that is to come. And even for atheists or agnostics, why not? I still think it's a fun and creative exercise.

Perhaps the greatest issue that this raises is, "Are we being critical of what our religions say if we imagine things a little differently?" Well, God knows best, right? So whatever we imagine, it's only our imaginings, not God's, and whether we're willing to put it down in a post or not, it's still somewhere in our heads. But that has nothing to do with what will ultimately happen nor with what is ultimately best.

Dauer

wil · 12-14-2006, 08:39 PM

Hmmm blasphemy for putting oneself in the place of G-d...how many movies has someone done voice overs...or better yet been as G-d? Do we think they blasphemed for that? I thought that Joan of Arcadia where G-d showed up all over to her was enjoyable...but that is me.

So here the concept if you were G-d...blasphemous? No not anymore than saying a prayer asking/telling G-d to change something saying we got something that needs fixin?

I think this is the exercise that is anticipated...looking at what we've got and what we would do to fix it...seems like it could be valuable and intersting to me.

And of course the best thing about these threads is....if you start not liking one, you don't have to post...or even open it!

Prober · 12-14-2006, 09:03 PM

(in Cliff Clavin voice...) Did you know that the male platypus has a stinger capable of inflicting extreme pain?

dauer · 12-14-2006, 09:27 PM

Quote:

(in Cliff Clavin voice...) Did you know that the male platypus has a stinger capable of inflicting extreme pain?

roflz!!!11111111111

InLove · 12-14-2006, 09:37 PM

Hmmmm.....

Rule One: No more deadlines.

That's all I've got so far--just wanted to get it in here in time.

InPeace,
InLove

InLove · 12-14-2006, 09:39 PM

Oh, Yeah--I forgot--

Rule 2: No more rules.

Wait, does that work? See--I'm already in trouble.

InPeace,
InLove

flowperson · 12-15-2006, 12:13 AM

Dauer

Intelligent questions create progress in the real world and are not blasphemous IMO.

Keep on keepin on and disregard and avoid platypus stingers by any means possible. Anyway, monotremes are disordered creatures by definition.

flow....

juantoo3 · 12-15-2006, 12:27 AM

Kindest Regards, dauer!

Quote:

Originally Posted by dauer

I honestly didn't think this post would offend much when I posted it.

This I understood, which is why my objection was raised as politely as I could think to do. I realize you are a student and a seeker, like so many of us. This is simply a form of exercise I *personally* prefer not to engage in, for the reasons mentioned. My cross to bear as it were, my *legal* burden.

Quote:

Perhaps the greatest issue that this raises is, "Are we being critical of what our religions say if we imagine things a little differently?" Well, God knows best, right? So whatever we imagine, it's only our imaginings, not God's, and whether we're willing to put it down in a post or not, it's still somewhere in our heads. But that has nothing to do with what will ultimately happen nor with what is ultimately best.

I would hope a caveat such as this is a sufficient disclaimer.

China Cat Sunflower · 12-15-2006, 12:48 AM

Well, I'd start by rapturing out all right wingers. I'd send them to a special conservative heaven, aka a cosmic quarantine ward, where they would happily pluck harps for eternity in some safe, and extremely remote location. Then, in the interest of mankind in general, I would forever outlaw rap, hip hop, country and western, and techno "music". I would resurrect Frank Zappa, and make him Lord of the physical universe. And then I'd pronounce it all good, grab a coldie, and head for the hot tub.

Chris

Paladin · 12-15-2006, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juantoo3

Kindest Regards, dauer and flow!

Indeed, yet is that not our Modus Operandi, our (french for) "reason for being?"

I do protest as well, dauer, in a mild way. Is it not bordering on blasphemy to even consider placing oneself in the role of G-d? At least in the Christian teachings, I believe that was the major sin committed by the adversary...although I do understand the Jewish teaching pertaining to the adversary does not correspond. Surely though, there are teachings within Judaism (and I would think Islam as well) that warn specifically about placing oneself or any other human into a role such as G-d's. I am open to correction, this is simply my instinctive reaction to (a) question(s) such as this.

A thousand pardons, but did you mean to say Raison d'etre?

Paladin · 12-15-2006, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by China Cat Sunflower

Well, I'd start by rapturing out all right wingers. I'd send them to a special conservative heaven, aka a cosmic quarantine ward, where they would happily pluck harps for eternity in some safe, and extremely remote location. Then, in the interest of mankind in general, I would forever outlaw rap, hip hop, country and western, and techno "music". I would resurrect Frank Zappa, and make him Lord of the physical universe. And then I'd pronounce it all good, grab a coldie, and head for the hot tub.

Chris

Eh... worse things could happen

That's hilarious Chris