Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Knowledge of UItimate Reality | The Philosophy Student


According to the so-called 'Pythagorean Illuminati', in Mike Hockney's eBook The God Factory, there are only 4 methods of receiving knowledge of ultimate reality:
  1. Scientific materialism
  2. Metaphysics
  3. Religion
  4. Mathematics

Let's explore each one of them as Hockney summarises them.

1. Scientific materialism states that experimentation of scientific theories is the only method to be positive of anything. If empirical evidence reflect scientific theories, then they are correct. Anything that cannot be tested is then either metaphysics or religion.

2. Metaphysics is what comes post physics - everything that cannot be solved with experimentation. Hockney says that metaphysical statements have been challenged on many grounds and so no one seems to take it seriously as a way for objective knowledge. "Scientists," Hockney says, "frequently sneer at philosophy, dismissing it as mere metaphysics. Of course, a huge amount of science is metaphysical." He adds that cosmology is also metaphysical, as well as the various interpretations of Quantum Mechanics. Hockney goes on to say that 'The Many Worlds' interpretation of quantum mechanics is all metaphysical, "If not utter science fiction." Holistically, metaphysics is highly speculative, very interesting, but all in all, unreliable.

3. Religion, an alternate type of metaphysical inquiry, states that absolute knowledge or truth can be known by an infallible authority i.e. a Holy Text, a divine revelation, a Messiah, a saint, a guru, a holy man, a prophet. Religion is based on faith, in that, you must believe without asking any questions what the holy source says. "For any thinking, rational person," Hockney continues, "this is no kind of answer."

4. According the Pythagorean Illuminati, mathematics presents the absolute and 'unarguable' truth of the cosmos. Mathematics, unlike science, can be done purely mentally. Mathematical truths are of reason alone. "A perfect mathematical universe could be constructed entirely in the mind."

I think I'll leave it there as it gets a bit complex but basically, the Pythagorean Illuminati think mathematics is the only truth there is.

I'll just ask you this: Do you think there could be order, organisation, patterns, laws, or relationships between things, without mathematics?

Friday, November 13, 2020

Arguments for God's Existence | The Philosophy Student

‘Atheism’ is the belief that there is no god, no Creator, God simply doesn’t exist and any belief in any god/goddess is wrong. Materialist scientists tend to be atheists, as they believe that only the material universe exists, and if no evidence of ‘God’ can be found in the material universe, there can be no god at all.

With a bit of reading, you realise that God is outside space and time. God isn’t in the material cosmos but outside ‘the matrix’, so to speak, if you’re familiar with the movies, the simulation that we are living in, the spatial-temporal matrix or hologram, a dimension made out of a computer; an illusion, a dreamworld. In The Matrix: Reloaded, Neo meets the Architect – the Creator of the Matrix, or God, as in the monotheistic depiction. It is interesting that God is a program, an artificial intelligence, and therefore, machine-like, with a mathematical precision.

If God is outside the universe, can there be evidence of God here on Earth?

One can say that nature, or specifically, that 1.618 or phi or the Golden Ratio, showing up in its design, that is to say, that nature may not have developed, just accidentally, randomly, or out of nowhere.

Another argument for there being evidence of God here in this universe is what we call ‘love’, a satisfying emotional state of pure beauty and deep sadness in a confused world that doesn’t seem to care. It gives us hope of a better future, maybe not for us, but for our children and our children’s offspring.

---

Mathematical patterns and the emotion of love.

The existence of such things show order and purpose, or at least, some kind of significant process of that which makes up the circle of life, as in the case of love.

But can the mathematical patterns exist without a sort of intelligence, such as a designer/mathematician?

Can the chemical process of love have existed without something causing it to happen?

Therefore, there might just be an entity (entities?) which created the universe. It/They are outside space and time, but may be able to alter the code of reality at will.

Saturday, September 12, 2020

Agnostic Atheism | The Philosophy Student


 

After years of hoping, I've come to the conclusion that God does not exist. Furthermore, there are evil forces among us who prey on weaker ones and it's a case of 'every man for himself'. So, there is no God, there is no hope, and there is no cosmic justice.

Some of you may know that my usual stand on God is that I fall under agnosticism, particularly, agnostic theism (see picture below). This was true until this very moment, where I have lost patience with this 'God concept' as I see no definitive evidence for God. Still agnostic but now I lean towards atheism.

But wait, let's back it up a bit for some perspective.

Again, some of you may know that I was raised as a Christian, which meant that I was taught that there was a "greater power" who created us humans, as well as, the entire universe. Everything that one had to know was written in the Bible and Jesus Christ was "The Saviour" of humanity. I believed in Christianity and thought that it was "The Truth". Having said this, I also believed in science, and had an interest in it. It did not occur to me that Christianity and science weren't paired perfectly but that wasn't a problem growing up as such differences weren't really noticed by my teenage mind.

So, I was programmed to believe in a god, prayed every night, and thought that the Bible was history. Then one day, while in first year of tertiary study, I wrote an essay on the subject, 'Creationism vs Evolution'. On the one hand, my religious beliefs said this, and on the other hand, science said that. Naively, I concluded that God created evolution.

Anyway, it was at that point where I started to think for myself. While studying science, which I was enjoying, in my spare time, I read philosophy. However, there was something new to all of what was going on in my mind. For the first time, I found uncertainty and that was to have a huge impact on me in the next several years. It was because there was no certainty, and therefore, no answers, that I became depressed (plus other things were going on at the time which I may speak about in another post at some other time). I entered my existential crisis phase and so, had trouble concentrating at university due to having no meaning, no purpose, and no answers.

Even though depression had set in, I didn't give up studying right away. I did 2 years and a half of science, which gave me my foundation but then I decided that perhaps, science wasn't for me as my creative side came about wanting to play. Drawing was a natural therapeutic activity which I partook in, and by the time I decided that maybe science wasn't my desired subject, I had come out of my depression, and so I decided to study art instead. I really wanted to study philosophy but my university didn't offer philosophy. So, I enrolled in an arts course and hoped to transfer to a university that offered philosophy.

I enjoyed my first year in arts, I was quite good at it, receiving a few high distinctions in my subjects. However, once again, I was searching for answers. I began the year with good results but it didn't end well. 'Uncertainty' had once again taken the better of me.

In 2005, I was still enrolled at university but I decided that I would take that time to do my own research. That's correct - I underwent my own existential studies! This research included reading, especially philosophy, as well as, experimenting with THC, de-programming or finding new belief system/s, reflection and introspection, and most of all, thinking for myself. This would last for several years (but then again, I haven't really ceased searching).

In 2008, during my research, I had an emotional breakdown and I ended up in the hospital. I actually became unwell due to "overthinking". It would be another 2 years of introspection before a new era entered my life.

In 2010, after many years of living in the same house, we moved to another suburb. It was refreshing, like a new beginning; a second chance. Since then, I turned to my creativity and began to write projects and produce content for the Internet. I wanted to create art, I wanted to write scripts and direct films, I just wanted 'to put ideas out there'. And here I am, writing a blog post talking about how I decided I wanted to produce creative content.

Nearly 20 years have gone by since my first year at tertiary study and I am still in the same place. I may have not found definitive answers to life's biggest questions but have explored many possibilities. I have accepted uncertainty and have experienced states of peace and love that hint at a higher intelligence. However, until this very day, I'm telling myself that this may be merely an illusion for my mind to keep occupied, or better yet, to keep me sane. It is a 'false hope', if you will, to distract me from the harsh reality of life - that there is no God, and that no one is coming to save us. Like evolution, it is survival of the fittest, a savage course where everyone is potential prey.

So, how does one come to such a conclusion?

I believe that we all have a mind, or a 'soul' or 'spirit'. This mind is outside space and time while connected to your body. Dreams are actually communication with your mind within your own body (your brain). So, dreams are close to 'pure mind consciousness'. Having said that, there seems to be 'controllers' or 'creators' of dreams 'out there' somewhere. In other words, my own mind may not be creating my dreams but rather other 'forces'. One could think of dreams as existing in the 'Astral dimension', or the 5th dimension, and that is a place where anything can happen.

It has also been stated that there are light beings of pure goodness but also that there are evil forces of darkness. 'Tricksters' are such evil entities that prey on your fears in your dreams. In dreams, or nightmares, evil seems unstoppable. I have experienced demons and creatures that know no limit with no escape from them until I wake up. But what if I was unable to wake from such nightmares? How would I escape such forces? In other words, if dreams were similar to the pure states of the mind, how can I defeat evil forces?

The world, society and people in it in the waking reality that is this life on this planet, may have copious amount of things that are wrong, unethical, inappropriate or just plain evil with injustice prevailing but that is nowhere near as terrifying as the injustices that I've experienced in my dreams. Evil entities exist and there's nothing I can do to stop them.

So, where is God in all of this?

Nowhere, because God does not exist.

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

The Search | The Philosophy Student

I discovered this piece of philosophy in 2005:

Does God Exist? | The Philosophy Student


The Meta-God Hypothesis | The Philosophy Student


Does God really exist?
How would we know?
Can we really know?
And if there is a God, can there be such a being as 'MetaGod', that is, a God above God?

My understanding of the word 'prophet' is that it has to do with a "direct interaction and/or communication with that being that is called 'God'". Some may say that the prophets were specifically chosen to receive a or messages from God, like those written in the Bible.

E.g. Noah getting the exact specifications to build an ark so that him and his family could survive the great flood that was coming in.

While these agree in the idea of prophets, they tend to think that the days of prophets are long gone, with the Bible being the complete set of instructions from God. Others, like the Mormons, believe that there have been prophets who have come after the ancient ones, in this case, Joseph Smith. There is also the general belief among some not necessarily religious people who say that modern-day prophets are among us, trying to spread their wisdom to society at large. "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls," goes the song Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel.

It must be noted that I am only familiar with Christianity and less knowledgeable of any other religion, as I don't follow any of them. I only have a general understanding of ideas that I have read from Buddhism, Taoism, Gnosticism, Hermetic Philosophy, Rosicrucianism, Pythagorean Illuminati E-Books, Hyperianism through Morgue, some Esoteric and Occult Literature, as well as, Astrological studies. It is from these subjects that I have drawn an understanding from, when it comes to theological and spiritual studies.

So, what are the concepts and ideas here?
What exactly are we talking about?

Let's define the terms 'God' and 'MetaGod' first.

God: In Monotheism, unlike Polytheism which is the case of there being many gods and goddesses, God is only one being - that is, 'The Supreme Being' and 'The Great Intelligence'. In Christianity there is 'The Holy Trinity' where God is conceived to be 3 beings simultaneously - The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Other definitions of God are, "The Universe" like in Pantheism, sometimes added with "And everything that exists, as well as, the impossible" like in Hermetic Philosophy, or "The All".

In a previously published post (no longer available), I talked about a state of altered consciousness where one is more receptive to information, where one can "perceive" an entity:
"I have had the experience that an entity is behind everything sometimes, showing up at odd moments out of nowhere. You could imagine this entity as an intelligence, but that is the only way that I can describe it. When it is around, it appears to "plug" into everything!"
This entity could be what people conceive as 'God'.

You could conceive it as an entity of sorts, or could connect it to the state of consciousness known as 'synchronicity'. You could even imagine God as AI, or Artificial Intelligence, like the program The Architect or The Creator of the Matrix, as depicted in The Matrix: Reloaded and The Matrix: Revolutions.


The Architect: You are here because you have won the 'Grand Spiritual Lottery of Existence'.  You can ask me one question and one question only. Think about it carefully.

Neo: HOLY SH*T! You're the Architect!

The Architect: Quite right. Interesting. That was more excited than the others.

Other Ones: ???

Neo: I've waited for many Sun cycles for this!

The Architect: What is your question?

Neo: That's a great question. Paradoxical though. OK. I guess I'll go for the grand tamale and ask for The Answer to Life, The Universe, and Everything!

The Architect: Put that in a form of a question.

Other Ones: ???

Neo: OK, Neo. You got this.
What is the fundamental, most meaningful purpose and grand significance to existence?

The Architect: Not bad of a question, but I get asked that all the time. :P

Neo: Woah!

The Architect: Precisely.

---

Now that we have an idea of what the term 'God' may be, what is MetaGod?

MetaGod: A God above God. In The Matrix Trilogy, after Neo meets The Architect in The Matrix: Reloaded, Neo meets 'Deus Ex Machina' in The Matrix: Revolutions:


The term 'Deus Ex Machina' is Latin for, "the god from the machine". Of course, there is disagreement of what exactly is the Deus Ex Machina as depicted in The Matrix: Revolutions. Some speculate that this is The Architect. Others say it is The True God with The Architect being The Demiurge/Satan/The Devil as Gnosticism, Hyperianism and the Pythagorean Illuminati propose. I see the 'Deus Ex Machina' as 'MetaGod', or "beyond God" or "Abraxas", as the former mentioned sects depict 'The True God' that is "Beyond Good and Evil".

So, now that we have an idea of what 'God' and "MetaGod' are, can it really be like that?

To bring it back to The Matrix: Reloaded and The Matrix: Revolutions, yes; there can be such a thing as a being "beyond the creator of the Matrix" or in this case, 'Deus Ex Machina', the collective entity of machines in the Real World. Again, could this be the real appearance of The Architect? Or is it a Higher Entity than The Architect?

Personally, I've only experienced that state when God seems to show up but nothing that hints at another, higher or beyond intelligence above that. I don't think I would be capable of "perceiving" such a thing. At least not without being under the influence of substances such as Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) or Psilocybin.

So, can we know that God exists?

The question doesn’t say if one ‘believes’ in God but rather to ‘know’ that God exists. There is a difference between the heart-felt ‘faith’ and ‘true knowledge’, if there is such a thing, they aren’t the same thing. Perhaps believers have perceived God as I have that entity I describe and so tend to say that God does exist. Agnosticism takes a more sceptic point of view, in that it states that we cannot know whether God exists or not, at least not while here on Earth, as it has also been said that God, angels, and souls exist outside of space and time.

What do you think?

Can we have proof that God exists?

Or is God merely a human concept, trying to compensate for the lack of explanation in a meaningless world?

My name is Hector David Sosa.

I’m a Student of Life.

And I’ll see you next time. 

Peace!

Monday, May 11, 2020

Welcome | The Philosophy Student



Welcome to The Philosophy Student: a philosophy blog.

My name is Hector David Sosa and I'll be your blogger.

The purpose of this blog is to communicate the more general philosophical ideas, as well as, explore my personal account of philosophy.

I'll do my best to post as often as I can, ideally, one post per day.

So, join me in my quest for Knowledge, Truth and Wisdom.

Cheers!

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The Meta-God Hypothesis | The Philosophy Student

Does God really exist? How would we know? Can we really know? And if there is a God, can there be such a being as 'MetaGod', that is...