Re: The Physics of Immortality

From: Anders Sandberg (asa@nada.kth.se)
Date: Sat Aug 22 1998 - 10:59:16 MDT


"Bryan Moss" <bryan.moss@dial.pipex.com> writes:

> I have question concerning Tipler's beliefs. I've
> heard people on this list say he uses his Omega
> Point theory to justify his religious beliefs, but
> from what I understand his theory states that
> there will be infinite computation and all beings
> that have ever existed or could have existed will
> be resurrected. Does he use this as justification
> for religious beliefs?

Not directly, but his aim is rather clear by his theological
speculations in PoI and the fact that he proposes an omega-point state
that is awfully close to the typical western concept of God even when
alternatives (such as a fractally divering pantheon of Powers or
something similar) are possible within the OPT framework.

> Personally I can't see any
> link between the potential existence of a God-like
> entity and worship. Or does the Omega Point have a
> huge ego that must be satisfied by long-dead
> entities going to church?

Tipler doesn't propose worship (other than the fundamentally important
mega-project of starting the omega-development process), but his
theorty seems to give at least some people the same comforts as
standard religion: there is a wonderful eternal life to look forward
to, the evils of the world are necessary but will be corrected, and so
on. Not quite a religion in the social sense (yet), but not far off.

-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Anders Sandberg                                      Towards Ascension!
asa@nada.kth.se                            http://www.nada.kth.se/~asa/
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