[net.religion] Non Serviam

lew@ihuxr.UUCP (07/28/83)

The selection "Non Serviam" by Stanislav Lem in "The Mind's I" casts
an interesting light on the question of why God doesn't reveal himself
openly. The selection is a story about an AI researcher who creates an
entire abstract universe inside a computer, complete with "personoids".
These personoids are much different than a HAL or a robot since their
whole milieu is internal to the machine. They are completely unaware
of any other type of existence. They have discussions about various
philosophical questions (creation, morality, etc.) and their creator
can eavesdrop on these. He is in the position of God to them, but one
can easily see that his power to manipulate their reality is severly limited.
He considers the morality of revealing himself to them by some means, and
even of suddenly "turning them off" (shudder).

The editors comment in the "Reflections": "The vision of personoids
patiently awaiting a proof of the existence of God by a miracle is quite
touching and astonishing." I agree. This reminds me of the Gnostic doctrine
that the Creator is not the ultimate God. We can imagine gnostic personoids
who somehow divine their situation and tell their creator (like the square
tells the sphere in "Flatland"), "you are no better off than us!"

	Lew Mammel, Jr. ihuxr!lew