Values and Morals in a Simulation, Law of Attraction
Does practicing the Law of Attraction or taking control of the simulation make you selfish? Does absolute power necessarily corrupt? What about morals and ethics?
There's been a lot of debate lately about how the New Age movement, mind-over-matter ideas, and simulation theory somehow encourage people to behave selfishly. People only think of themselves, especially since they believe they are essentially a form of God in this Universe.
Is there any truth to it, and what does morality look like in a mind-made reality?
Does the New Age movement and anything related to mind over matter guide people toward a more hedonistic, selfish mindset?
I think so. How could it not? When you first venture into this part of the world, you are told you can be, do, and have anything you want. You are essentially a God, or at the very least, you can make him give you what you want.
Who wouldn't want to play with this possibility upon realizing such a profound idea? But here's my question.
Is it not the same with praying in religion?
Aren't most prayers selfish?
"Oh God, please save me, give me this or that, make them love me, forgive me my sins, let me win just this time, bring back what I lost…"
As far as I can tell, the only difference is that you are directly addressing a judgemental, all-powerful being hoping he will hear you and grant you your wishes, while in LOA and similar, you're not asking anyone for permission, you're demanding a new reality be made manifest because it is being manifested all the time anyway, and you're just hacking the mechanism of creation to boost your life.
But God has told people what to do and, more importantly, how not to behave! He even made a list. Thus, he inserts values of the highest order into his believers, who are now, no doubt, all saints, perpetual good-doers, and without flaw. It doesn't work this way, does it?
I would insinuate, but I won't, in case you're religious, that a murderous, judgemental God is hardly the perfect example for us to follow. Has he not allegedly murdered the whole planet at least once, burned a few cities to the ground because he didn't like them, and created a hell for unbelievers and sinners to suffer in horrible torment for all of eternity? Surely not. He wouldn't, the God of love and forgiveness. Riiiight.
Had there not been countless atrocities committed in his name throughout history by the holiest of holy men? That's not possible. Religious people are pious, perfect, lustless, obedient sheeplings with no personal attachments, desires, or will. No? What's the difference then?
And ultimately, before I hear those in love with their Christ about how God is all about love and the fairest, purest, omni-everything being in the world, who is the alpha and the omega, the beginning, and the end, and there is nothing that is not him, let me remind you what that means.
If God is all and God is good, that means that everything you see and everything that exists, including the most evil, vile, despicable things, are also God and his will! You can't have one without the other. Where are the values and morals, then?
World religions have twisted these ideas into a lovely box where it all makes sense, but only to those who can't read or think with their own head. Those who believe what they are told and don't question anything. Well, we question everything, so tought luck.
Consequences
One thing is true, though. In some religious texts and teachings, morality is a large component. They do teach their followers right from wrong, but what is considered right, just, or evil will heavily depend on the religion we speak of.
Christianity, for example, pretends to value all life above everything and is all about neighborly love while directly contradicting the ideals everywhere, but okay.
Islam is more direct. There is love and justice for one set of people, but not for all people. Those have the choice to convert or die.
Eastern religions may take all shapes and forms, but I don't recall ever encountering similar ideas—only one of Karma, a simple-ish law that states that everything we think and do has consequences in this life and the next through reincarnation.
You're not told what to do, but you reap the consequences
I prefer this system and find it closer to what I have personally observed in the world around me. Every thought and action has consequences. However, they are not judged by some subjective criteria or a set of rules but by the intention and understanding of the actor himself.
Good and evil aren't decided upfront. Instead, we are being "judged" by our intentions and beliefs, not our actions. It's weird, I know. Neill Donald Wals's book Conversations with God has some interesting ideas on this topic.
In short, while we may judge something as evil and wrong, Karma will most certainly judge them by the intention, not the consequence.
For example, Hitler, the ultimate bad guy, most likely believed that what he was doing was right. He believed it with all his heart and wanted good for his people. Sure, we now judge him as misguided and plain evil, but from his perspective, he was the good guy fighting the good fight. As do most people who commit evil acts.
Here's the thing: we don't always agree on what is good and what is evil. It will depend solely on your perspective, understanding, and beliefs. You may not want to accept this fact, but it remains a fact! Not everyone sees things the same way, and opposing sides and interests often conflict with each other. What is good for one is bad for another.
The old religions had one guiding principle: God is in charge; he determines what is good and evil, and we must obey his wishes (or die or worse).
The new (not new, BTW) ideas, like the Law of Attraction and even the Simulation Theory to some extent (depending on the concept), give you that power.
Much like with Eastern philosophies and religions, you can do whatever you want, but you will pay the price either way. Every thought has very real consequences for your reality. From this perspective, the mind is the governing force behind reality, which most likely isn't the real reality. It makes the rules of all existence.
The simple rule of thumb is: as within, so without! As in your mind, so in your perceived reality. Did you notice the same ideas in most religions as well? If the answer is no, you may want to reread the texts from a different perspective. You never know what you might find.
In essence, then, there are no rules, but there are repercussions
If you understand these laws even in minute detail, morality and ethics will be your number one priority. What you do to others, even in your mind, will be done to you—literally.
I don't know to what extent modern LOA teachers include this very important point in their teachings, but it's at the very core of the idea.
You must take full responsibility for everything that happens to you and everyone in your world as you create them. Nothing is real, as in material and independent, but is essentially a made-up world within your mind—something akin to a dream. You, or your mind, is everything there is. You could then see yourself as a sort of God of this little simulation, game, mental world of yours.
You are God - now what?
So the question then becomes, what kind of God are you?
What would you do with it if you were given ultimate, limitless power over everything and everyone?
Would you be a benevolent God or an evil, selfish, omnipotent bastard?
We all play this game differently, as is more than evident from video games, which are lovely little simulations within simulations. Some people are guided by morals even when they know that the characters are not real but only programs, while others unleash all of their frustrations on the innocent NPCs. Some people make good bosses and leaders, and others create hell on Earth for their subordinates.
What determines those characteristics and values needn't be religious. It could be passed on from our parents, learned from philosophy, or practical experience. One thing is certain - we will never have the same values, as we don't have the same desires, beliefs, and perspectives. It's just not possible.
The hedonistic approach to life that capitalism, consumerism, marketing, social media, and LOA promote is shallow. We agree on that. But it's also part of this experience of life on Earth. If this is ultimately just a game of life, we might want to make the best of it or risk being sorely disappointed when we unplug one day from the simulation and realize we took everything too seriously.
The simulation theory has many ideas with two different possibilities:
We are trapped in a simulation, a digital world. We are not real people; we just think we are. We don't influence the simulation itself and are only players on the board. Classic religions would suggest that we are living in a simulation created by some entity, the programmer, called God. Geeks assume we're bots in a program.
The other possibility is that we are living in a dream-like simulation, created by or minds, in a single or multiplayer-type environment. We have all the power in this realm, and nothing is real, as we are stuck in our minds, which could very well be one mind (God?).
Why did I just tell you all that?
Because it opens another dimension to our debate on values and morals. If nothing is real, including all the people, then why does any of it matter? Why, indeed.
Some people fall into cynicism and nihilism when realizing this possibility, yet others find the whole idea entertaining. If this is a game, then let's freaking play! I prefer the second approach and share it myself.
It doesn't matter if this life is real or simulated. It's all we have at the moment, and we can't know for a fact what, if anything, follows. It would make sense to make the best of it.
Some will interpret this as a "free for all, no rules" type of fun, where they can do whatever they want to whomever they want, while others will find meaning and purpose in exploring what this world has to offer, perhaps focusing on a specific mission, or simply love.
Why the hell not? Choose what means the most to you and gives you the best value for money or, in this case, life. But beware the consequences of your choices, for they are sure to come.