The Universe as a Tragedy... (The nature of a \'Creator\')

by dhw, Saturday, August 01, 2009, 11:56 (5592 days ago) @ xeno6696

Matt has asked a string of questions:
1) Why is it that virtually all creator-gods are benevolent?
2) Why would we assume that a being as powerful as God would want anything to do with us?
3) Isn't it possible that God created all of this as art? Aesthetics? No real reason but because he can?
4) Why would we think the universe would be made as an act of love? 
5) What if God created this universe from anguish? - We would need a committed believer to answer 1) and 4), but it's fun to speculate, so I'll join in the game. - At the risk of repetition, since a lot of this is in the "brief guide" and also came into exchanges with Mark (a reverend), I would start with the fact that creations often reflect aspects of the creator. One of the problems I have with the concept of heaven is what the hell (joke) are people going to do for the rest of time? Well, if God's stuck with himself for all time, he's got the same problem. So my best bet for motive would be boredom. - Having decided to create life, he then messes around with different forms, experimenting (maybe on other planets too), until eventually he comes up with us. It obviously took him quite a while to figure out how to do it, but then it's taking us quite a while to figure out how he did it, so it's tit for tat. From then on, we tit for tat all the way, which explains the whole mishmash of good and bad, love and hate, joy and pain. He's incorporated all these things into the system (which reflects his own make-up), and he gets a kick out of watching the interplay. - He is, of course, incredibly, dazzlingly, mind-blowingly brilliant. Quite apart from his scientific genius, the overall plan is masterly. Because the fact is, we can't have the good, the love, the joy without the bad, the hate, the pain. You say, Matt, that "all the best art and music seems to come from pain." Many of humanity's greatest and noblest achievements have come as a response to suffering. Without the contrast, life would be dull not just for him but also for us. So he knows exactly what he's doing. - In answer to question 2), then, he's interested in us because we're his creations. Christians often draw the comparison with parenthood. You can draw it with anything you create. You want to know what happens to it. And if it's something worth loving, you love it. We've just had a visit from our one-year-old grandson (congratulations, BBella, I know just how you feel), and the pleasure and love that we have experienced are almost indescribable. So although humans can't conceive how God could possibly keep track of all the billions and billions of his creations, he might be the multiest of multi-taskers and have his own means of watching. And he might well hate some of us and love others. Fortunately, we can assume that since we have a sense of humour, he's got one as well, and you can imagine him laughing his head off at the clever human minds which pooh-pooh the idea of design and earnestly believe that chance dunnit. On the other hand, I doubt if he's laughing at the maniacs who slaughter people on his behalf. On a third hand (which would be very useful, sir, if you ever rethink the design), he might not care two hoots, so long as we keep entertaining him. - The universe as a tragedy? Yes, indeed. And also as a comedy, a love story, a mystery, an adventure, a horror movie, science fiction, and whatever else we humans care to make of it. The universe is wonderful and terrible. But ... let me creep back into my agnostic shell ... whether it was made or just evolved that way, who knows?