the switch

[Matthew Hajicek]

That's programming though....non-written silicone would just sit there doing nothing....

You've heard of neural networks right?  That's software that learns, rather than being programmed.  Check this out, it's art made by neural networks in response to written prompts:

https://www.midjourney.com/showcase/

No one programmed it to do that, they simply told it how bad or good it was doing while it kept trying over and over.  That's the exact same way humans learn; pain is bad, pleasure is good.  When you eat good food, for example, your body releases pleasure chemicals that tell your neural network that its recent actions were good.

[BrianP.]

Pier pressure then ensues....

And we all know what happens when there is too much pier pressure.

[TylerBeer]

You've heard of neural networks right?  That's software that learns, rather than being programmed.  Check this out, it's art made by neural networks in response to written prompts:

https://www.midjourney.com/showcase/

No one programmed it to do that, they simply told it how bad or good it was doing while it kept trying over and over.  That's the exact same way humans learn; pain is bad, pleasure is good.  When you eat good food, for example, your body releases pleasure chemicals that tell your neural network that its recent actions were good.

There's also 'genetic' algorithms that will re-write their own code, and if you base that on inputs that are being processed by neural networks...

[CNCAppsJames]

Do you believe that a benevolent deity would punish for all eternity anyone who didn't guess right?
........
 It is not possible for there to be one truth in religion.

Some say "guess". Some say choose. We are ALL faced with choices, and choices have consequences. There are good consequences and bad consequences.

YOU choose to say "not possible". Again, if you are right then this life is all there is. But if you are wrong, your choices here have consequences. You can choose to ignore that. You can continue to mock that idea, it's up to you. The conversations you had over your life on these spiritual matters will be played again, or they won't. You have to ask yourself which is the greater consequence, acknowledging a divine creator or believing it's all random stuff. It seems like you've answered that question.

Personally though, I could never worship a god my puny brain could fully comprehend the in's and out's of. That would indeed be a sad little god.

We all have to live and with our choices. Choose wisely.

[CNCAppsJames]

There's also 'genetic' algorithms that will re-write their own code, and if you base that on inputs that are being processed by neural networks...

Somebody wrote that code. It didn't just appear out of nothing. A computer terminal didn't just start coding on it's own one day. No, it required an individual or team of individuals... dare I say Intelligent Designers providing that initial input so that it could begin that process.

[beej]

A god like that wouldn't be worthy of worship.

So, you just made the point for God sending you to hell. Contrary to popular belief amongst materialists, God doesn't have to condemn someone to Hell, people choose it.

My wife use to work at a petting zoo. When the young goats were born, they were pulled off of their mothers and bottle fed, so that the children could bottle feed them at the zoo. Some baby goats came running to you in those first few days to drink the bottle milk and some refused to drink the bottle milk. The ones who refused died. no matter how hard you tried to convince them to drink the milk ultimately they chose their own path.

[beej]

Having or not having consciousness is not binary;

Then why would you make that the basis for whether a preborn baby has rights as a person. why not use something binary, like, oh say, they are a human or they are not human.  You pretty much just obliterated your own original point that got this whole conversation started.

[mowens]

My view is that God is infinite. Christians believe that God is triune, comprised of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. My thought is why limit God? I think God takes whatever form is necessary. That is why there are so many religions and denominations. Most of the evil done in the name of religion are the result of humans subverting his message.
Two things I know for sure. God exists; I'm not him.

Matthew believes aliens exist because he has seen evidence he deemed credible. Many people have not seen evidence so they don't believe him. I've seen evidence that causes me to believe in the existence of God. Matthew has not seen the evidence so he doesn't believe it.

I think the best thing to do is to accept that people have different beliefs and let it go.

[beej]

My view is that God is infinite. Christians believe that God is triune, comprised of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. My thought is why limit God? I think God takes whatever form is necessary. That is why there are so many religions and denominations. Most of the evil done in the name of religion are the result of humans subverting his message.
Two things I know for sure. God exists; I'm not him.

Matthew believes aliens exist because he has seen evidence he deemed credible. Many people have not seen evidence so they don't believe him. I've seen evidence that causes me to believe in the existence of God. Matthew has not seen the evidence so he doesn't believe it.

I think the best thing to do is to accept that people have different beliefs and let it go.

If God is real, He is the only thing that matters. by the way, the catholic church believes that God is infinite and omnipotent as well.

[CNCAppsJames]

...
Matthew believes aliens exist because he has seen evidence he deemed credible. Many people have not seen evidence so they don't believe him. I've seen evidence that causes me to believe in the existence of God. Matthew has not seen the evidence so he doesn't believe it.
...

The thing about "evidence" is the subjectivity of it. You and Matthew could view the exact same situation and you would have one "evidence based" finding about what you saw and he would have a completely different "evidence based" finding even though you witnessed the exact same event.

[MIL-TFP-41]

Hypothetical question....

If a spaceship landed across the street from your residence, a ramp rolls out, and some green fugly dudes come rolling out on their black 10 speed bikes & were carrying the Book of Mormon & blabbing on about them being the one true religion, would you join the Mormons? (note - you are sober and drug free when this happens)

That would be about the only thing I can think of that would convince me to join any one religious denomination.

[mkd]

So the switch was starting a topic about a political conversion and it got switch to theology and classic 'clump of cell' killing baby boys and baby girls.
Pfft

[Incogneeto]

Hypothetical question....

If a spaceship landed across the street from your residence, a ramp rolls out, and 5 absolutely Beautiful and Naked women come rolling out on their black Triumph motorcycles & were carrying the Book of Kama Sutra & blabbing on about them being the one true religion, would you join the Ladies? (note - you are sober and drug free when this happens)

That would be about the only thing I can think of that would convince me to join any one religious denomination.

Fixed

Will I go to Hell?? Asking for a Friend.

[Incogneeto]

So the switch was starting a topic about a political conversion and it got switch to theology and classic 'clump of cell' killing baby boys and baby girls.
Pfft

I just made it Better.

[Incogneeto]

IDK. There are a few on here that still don't have conscious thoughts. 🤪

When I have a drink I feel I have a higher consciousness.

Or maybe I'm just Higher.