Friday, October 18, 2013

Our World, The Matrix

   Years ago I read a book entitled "Arena" by Karen Hancock. It was an excellent read, and I've read it two more times since. The book is an allegory of our universe, using advanced aliens in lieu of angels, a handbook in place of the Bible, and a virtual guide instead of Jesus. The story is compelling, where two friends take part in a test which transports them to an alternate reality in which they must follow this handbook and stay on a path to get out of the test. Along the way they get sidetracked and end up spending a long time in this simulation.
   The thing is, I've used this book as an explanation to people before about how the world works. I've told them that the universe is basically a contest to bring glory to God. That Satan and God are vying for souls in order to increase their own glory, with God of course coming out triumphant in the end.
   Consider the story of Job. Job was living his life in prosperity, when Satan went before God and basically said that Job was only serving God because God was blessing Job. God says, "We'll see about that" and let's Satan begin messing with Job's life, first taking his possessions, then his children, then his health. Job's wife even told him, "Curse God and die." But Job never turned on God, and in the end got more than he started with.
   Also, consider the words of the apostle Paul in Ephesians 3:8-12 (KJV):
"Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
"And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
"To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
"According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
"In whom we have boldness and confidence by the faith of him."
   This passage has intrigued me for a long time, especially after reading that book. If we look closely, we could easily interpret that passage to mean that there is a contest is heaven in which God is "proving" (for lack of a better word) himself to Satan and the angels. Especially in verse 10:
"To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,"
   Sounds to me that he is showing the principalities and powers in heavenly places His wisdom, using the church as a vessel to do so.
   With all this being said, I was looking at some string theory and M-theory for fun and came across some recent articles about how scientist are now wondering whether or not we are living our lives in an advanced computer simulation created by an intelligent being/beings that are using the simulation to make a better future for themselves.
   Some have even theorized that this is fact, and have begun to studying our universe in this light.
   As a believer, while I don't believe that God is part of an intelligent race running a simulation, I think this is a good explanation of what is going on. Is God really a kid playing an advanced game of The Sims? No. But the similarities are eerie. I think that the similarities are a good way of explaining things to people with questions. Whatever you believe about this (as a Christian, unless you believe we are just part of a computer program), the good thing is that it doesn't change the ultimate question which is, "Where are you going to spend eternity?" But it can answer some difficult questions such as, "If you believe the Earth is young, why does it appear to be billions of years old?"
  For some more interesting reading, I suggest the book "Arena" by Karen Hancock. I also have a couple of links to some websites discussing the matter:

http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/12/14/scientists-ask-are-we-all-part-of-the-matrix

http://www.messagetoeagle.com/bonnsimulationvirtworld.php

http://hackingchristianity.net/2013/09/are-we-in-the-matrix-are-angels-testing-us.html

   Let me know what you think.

- Sapper Woody