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ANNOTATION:
Simplicity should not be an argument against the existence of God

Based on Occam's razor, which states that one should not make more assumptions than the minimum needed, I believe that it is actually much simpler for the human mind to imagine that there is an omnipresent and omnipotent being that controls and makes everything, rather than trying to understand and perceive the complex interplay of forces that organised and created the universe without God.

For example, in trying to explain why intelligent lifeforms exist, it is easier to simply say "God made it happen" rather than try to explain it in terms of evolution and other processes.

Following the line of argument that simplicity implies it is most likely true, then that would imply that God actually do exist. I, however, personnally do not believe that simplicity is a good argument for or against the existence of God. Perhaps in trying to find answers to the questions in life, people invent such hypothesis as the God that created everything. It is perhaps easier and more pleasant to imagine that one lives forever and even after the body dies, the soul can still live and go to Heaven, the paradise where everything is good. It is also perhaps the vindictive nature in all of us that created the notion that all bad people (meaning people who have hurt us in some way, or who have commited acts which we disapprove of, or people who have opposed the religious authorities) go to Hell and burn for eternity.

That would be my two cents worth for now. Thank you for putting up such an extensive site. I am still exploring the wonders of it. =)


Copyright© 2001 Principia Cybernetica - Referencing this page

Author
Chua Tat Hsien (caidax[ at ]singnet.com.sg)

Date
Aug 18, 2001

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