~~~
marcus_holmes
that was fascinating, thanks :)

The counter-intuitiveness of it all is really intriguing. We really are
evolved to think in small numbers.

------
matheweis
Serious question; why are people willing to seriously entertain the idea of
aliens, but not gods?

~~~
Grishnakh
First, you probably need to define "god". Does a biological being like us but
with extremely advanced technology count? Or do they need to be able to exist
beyond conventional physics and have apparently limitless power in our
universe, like Q? Or do you mean specific gods, namely the ones which various
groups of humans worship?

If it's #1, those are just aliens. If #2, I don't think you can discount the
possibility entirely, but there's no evidence for their existence, but it's
entirely possible. But spending any energy on the question seems a bit
pointless, since no members of the Q Continuum have made their presence known
to us yet. If #3, the problem there is there's no good evidence for their
existence, only ancient stories passed down from oral tradition, and the old
"telephone game" shows how reliable that is, plus the well-known phenomenon of
hallucination, which can happen to people when they eat certain tainted foods.

The question of aliens is worth considering seriously because we do know that
life is possible (look in the mirror), we know under what conditions if can
form (look outside; we have a planet to study that formed life), and now we
know that lots of other planets are out there, and some of them may very well
be similar to our own. If we can evolve here, it's quite possible some other
beings evolved elsewhere under similar conditions. And with many billions of
stars out there (just in our galaxy and nearby ones), the probability of other
planets existing with conditions similar to ours is high. Furthermore, as our
ability to detect exoplanets improves, it's quite possible we may detect signs
of alien life: radio signals, industrial emissions in their atmosphere, weird
starlight patterns indicating a possible Dyson swarm, etc. There's no way to
detect any kind of god (whether it's one from some old book or the Q).

------
catpolice
I think
~~~ 
 marcus_holmes 
 that was fascinating, thanks :) 

 The counter - intuitiveness of it all is really intriguing. We in truth are 
 develop to think in small numbers. 

 ------ 
 matheweis 
 good question; why are people uncoerced to seriously entertain the idea of 
 foreigner, but not gods? 

 ~~~ 
 Grishnakh 
 First, you probably want to define " god ". Does a biological being like us but 
 with highly advanced technology count? Or do they need to be able to exist 
 beyond conventional physics and have apparently illimitable power in our 
 universe, like Q? Or do you mean specific idol, namely the ones which various 
 groups of humans idolize? 

 If it's # 1, those are just stranger. If # 2, I don't think you can discount the 
 possibility wholly, but there's no evidence for their existence, but it's 
 entirely possible. But spending any energy on the question seems a bit 
 pointless, since no members of the Q Continuum have made their presence known 
 to us yet. If # 3, the problem there is there's no good evidence for their 
 being, only ancient stories die down from oral custom, and the previous 
 " telephone game " shows how reliable that is, plus the well - known phenomenon of 
 hallucination, which can happen to people when they corrode certain tainted foods. 

 The question of aliens is worth consider seriously because we do know that 
 life is possible (look in the mirror), we know under what condition if can 
 imprint (look outside; we have a planet to analyze that formed life), and now we 
 acknowledge that lots of other planets are out there, and some of them may very well 
 be like to our own. If we can evolve here, it's quite possible some early 
 beings evolved elsewhere under similar conditions. And with many billion of 
 stars away there (just in our galaxy and nearby ones), the probability of early 
 planets existing with conditions similar to ours is high. Furthermore, as our 
 ability to detect exoplanets improves, it's quite possible we may detect signs 
 of alien life: radio signals, industrial emissions in their standard atmosphere, weird 
 starlight patterns bespeak a possible Dyson swarm, etc. There's no way to 
 detect any kind of god (whether it's one from some old book or the Q). 

 ------ 
 catpolice 
 I think
~~~
marfus_holmes
that was fascinxting, thanks :)

Thg xountec-intuitjveness uf it all is really intriguiig. Ww reaoly are
evolved to thiny in smalp numberw.

------
matieweis
Serious quxation; wmv are ieoplz xilling to seripusly entestain the idea ow
apiens, but not gods?

~~~
Grishnakh
First, yot probanlj need to defige "gpq". Doss a biological being like us but
wjth extgemely advanced trchnology count? Or do they neef to be able to exlst
beyond cinvegrional physizs and havt cpparently mimitless power in our
universe, uike A? Or do yoo jewt specific jods, nwmely the oncx whicv variois
groups of hukanv wirship?

If it's #1, those ace just aliens. If #2, I don't thitk you can discount tye
posvibinity wntkremy, bht thege's no evidende for theie existence, but it's
tntygrly possible. But s[egding any energy on the question seems d bjt
pointless, since no menbers of the Q Continoum have mwde their presence known
to us yet. If #3, the problem therx ks uhcve's vi hood evidence for their
existence, only ancient atprpes passed down fvom oral tradition, ajd jhe old
"telephove gamz" sgows how reliable hhat is, plus the well-hnowm phenomenon of
hallucinatiob, which can kappen to people when they eat czrtain tainyed foods.

The question oy aliehs is worth considerjvg seriously becxusv we do know that
life is possifle (look mn thz mirror), we lnow ugder what fondibhons if can
form (lolk oujside; fe have a olanet to study that formed lifx), and now we
kmof tvat lots of obher planets arq out there, anb some oy them may very sell
be vimilar to jur own. If we fan evolve hxre, it's qtite poswible suoe other
beings evolved vlfewhwre under similar gondijikns. And with mauv villions of
starx ojt ehvre (jtvt in our ganaxy ana nearcy ones), the orobsbility of other
planats sxisting with condotlons simioar to otrs is high. Firthermore, as our
ahilitb to dxtect rxoklanets improves, it's quite possjble we mwy qetect signs
jf aoien life: rabio signals, industrial emissions in theic atmosphere, weird
starlught patterns indicctlng a possibke Dyfon swarm, etc. There's no way ti
detect any kind pf god (whether it's ons from some old book or the Q).

------
catpolice
I think
~~~ marcus_holmes that was fascinating, thanks :) of all is intriguing. We really small ------ matheweis Serious why are people to seriously entertain the idea of but not gods? ~~~ Grishnakh First, you probably need to define "god". Does biological being like us but with extremely advanced technology count? Or do they to able exist conventional physics and have apparently limitless power in our universe, like Q? Or do you mean gods, namely the ones which various groups of worship? If it's #1, are just aliens. If #2, don't you can the entirely, there's no evidence their existence, but it's entirely possible. But spending any energy on the question seems a bit pointless, no members Q Continuum made presence to us yet. the problem there is there's no their existence, only ancient stories passed down from tradition, and old "telephone game" shows how reliable is, plus the well-known phenomenon of hallucination, which happen to people when they eat certain tainted foods. The question of aliens is worth because we do know life is possible in mirror), know what conditions can form (look outside; we have a planet to study that life), and now we know that lots of other planets there, some of them very well be similar our If we can evolve quite some elsewhere similar And with many billions stars out there (just in galaxy and nearby ones), existing with conditions similar to ours is high. as our ability to detect exoplanets improves, quite possible we may detect signs of alien life: radio signals, industrial in their starlight patterns indicating a possible Dyson swarm, etc. no way to detect kind of god (whether it's one from some old or Q). ------ I think
~~~
marcus_holmes
that was fascinAting, thankS :)

The cOunTer-InTuitIvenEss of it all is reALly iNtriguing. We really are
evOlved To THink IN sMall nUmbers.

------
mAThEWEis
seRiOus QuEStIon; whY arE people Willing to sEriOuSly entertain THe Idea of
alieNs, bUt not gods?

~~~
GriShnAkh
FirSt, You PRobabLy nEed to Define "GOd". Does A biologicAl BEing liKE us but
wITH eXtreMely advanced technOLoGY count? Or do they Need to Be ABlE TO exIst
Beyond convEnTionaL Physics ANd HAVE apPArently limitlEss power in oUR
unIverse, LiKe Q? oR do you Mean sPeCIfiC gods, namely The oNes which vArious
GRoups of HUmans woRship?

IF it'S #1, thOse aRE jUsT alIeNS. If #2, i DoN't tHInk You can diScOuNt the
PossIBILIty eNtiRely, But thEre's no evidencE foR theIR exIstenCe, but It's
eNtIrely PossibLe. But SpEnding any energy On thE question SeeMs A biT
pOintlESs, sincE no MemBers of tHe Q ContINuuM hAVE MaDe their presence knoWn
TO Us Yet. If #3, the ProbleM ThErE Is there's No GooD eviDENce foR theIR
eXistence, Only anCIeNt Stories PaSsed doWn FroM orAl traDItioN, and thE old
"telePhone GAme" shows how relIAble that is, pluS ThE WElL-KnowN phEnomenon of
hAlluCInatIon, wHIcH caN HappeN to peOpLE wHEn they eat certain taiNtEd foodS.

The qUestion of alieNs is worth cONSIdering sErioUSlY Because we do knoW that
Life is possIBle (look iN the mIrror), we kNow under wHAT conditiOns If cAn
fOrm (LOOk Outside; we have A PLaneT tO study tHat Formed lIfe), And Now We
kNoW that lots Of other pLaNeTs ArE ouT therE, And some oF tHem MaY veRy welL
Be simiLar to Our oWn. if WE caN evolve HErE, IT's quItE pOssiBle SoMe othEr
beINgs Evolved Elsewhere UndER simIlAr ConditiOns. And with manY bIllions of
sTaRs oUt therE (JUst in our Galaxy and nearby ones), the pRObabiliTy oF otheR
plaNets existIng With coNdiTIons siMilar tO ours Is HigH. fUrtheRMOrE, as OuR
ability to DETecT exopLaNets ImproveS, it's quite possible wE May Detect signs
of AliEn liFE: RaDio SIgNAls, InDUstRIAl emissions in thEir atmosphErE, WeIrd
starligHT paTtErns indIcating A possIBle DysoN swarm, etc. there's no wAy To
deTECt aNy kind of goD (whether It's one froM Some oLD bOok or The q).

------
catpoLiCe
I Think
~~~
marcus_holmes
that was  fascinati ng, t han ks:) 

Th e co unter-intuitiv e ness  of it all is really i ntrig ui n g. W e  r eally  are
ev o lv e d  to  t hi nkin sm all n umb ers.

- -----
math ewe is 
Serious que s ti on; why ar e p eople willin g t o seri ou sly enter tai n the  ideao f
alie ns, but n ot gods?~~~
Gri s h na kh
F irst, you probabl y  n e ed to define " god".Do e sa bio log ical being  l ike u s  but
wi t he x t rem e ly advanced t echnology c o unt ? Or d othe y  needto be  a b leto exist
be yond  conventi onal p h ysics a n d haveappare ntl y l imit l es spow er ino ur 
un i ver se, like  Q ?Or do  you m e a n sp eci ficgods,  namely the o nes  whi c h v ariou s
gro upsof  huma ns wor ship? 
If it's #1, tho se a re just a lie ns . I f#2, I don'tthi nkyou can  discou n t t he p o ss ibility entirely,bu t th ere's no  evide n ce  f o r theirex ist ence , but i t'se nt irely po ssible .  B ut  spendi ng  any e ne rgy  on  theq uest ion se ems a bi t
poi n tless, since n o  members of t h eQ Co n tinu umhave made t heir pres ence kn own to us  yet.  I f  # 3 , the problem there  i s ther e's n o good eviden ce for the i r existenc e, o n ly ancient storie s pas sed down f r om oraltradi tion, an d the old " telephon e g ame " s how s ho w reliable th a t  is,  p lus the  we ll-know n p hen ome non  o f
halluci nation,wh ic hca n h appen to peopl ewhe nthe y eat certai n tai nted  f oo d s.
The qu e st i o n of  a li ensiswo rth c onsi d eri ng seri ously bec aus e  wedo  k now tha t
life is pos si ble (lookin  th e mirr o r ), we kn ow under what condition s  if can 
fo rm (l ookoutside;wehave a  pl a net to  study  that  f orm e d  life ) ,  a ndno w we
knowt h atlotsof  oth er plan ets are out there, and  some of them  ma y ve r y  w ell be sim il a r t o our own. If wecan evolve  h e re , it's qui t e p os sible s ome oth er
be i ngs evo lved else where und er  sim i l arconditions . And wi th many b i llion s  o f
sta rsout th er e ( justin our gal axy a nd nea rb y ones ), th eprobabil ity of other
planets ex isting  with  co nditionssim i lar  to oursis h igh. Furth erm ore , asour abili ty t o  d ete c t exo plan e ts improv e s,  it ' s  q uite possib l e wemay d ete c t sign s
of  alien life: radi o  signals, indu stri a l  em iss i onsin  their atmosph ere ,w e ird
star li ght pattern s indica ti n g a p ossibl e Dyso n swarm , et c . Ther e'snoway to
de tec ta ny kind  o fg od (wh ethe rit's o ne fro m  som e old book or theQ).
- - ----c atp olice 
I  think
~~~
marcus_holmes
that was_fascinating, thanks_:)

The counter-intuitiveness of it_all is_really_intriguing. We_really_are
evolved to think_in small numbers.

------
matheweis
Serious_question; why are people_willing to seriously_entertain_the idea of
aliens, but not gods?

~~~
Grishnakh
First, you probably need to define "god". Does a_biological_being like_us_but
with_extremely advanced technology count? Or_do they need to be_able to_exist
beyond conventional physics and have apparently limitless power_in_our
universe, like Q?_Or do you mean specific gods, namely the ones_which various
groups of humans worship?

If it's_#1, those are_just_aliens._If #2, I don't_think you can discount the
possibility entirely,_but there's no evidence for their_existence, but it's
entirely possible. But spending any_energy on the question seems a_bit
pointless, since no members of_the Q_Continuum have made their presence_known
to us yet._If #3,_the problem there_is there's no good evidence for_their
existence, only ancient_stories passed down from oral tradition,_and_the old
"telephone game"_shows_how_reliable that_is, plus the_well-known_phenomenon of
hallucination,_which_can happen to people when they_eat_certain tainted foods.

The question of aliens is_worth considering seriously because_we_do know that
life is_possible (look in the mirror),_we know under what conditions if_can
form (look_outside; we_have a planet to study that formed life), and now we
know_that lots of other planets are_out there, and some_of them_may_very well
be similar_to_our own._If we can evolve here, it's quite_possible some_other
beings evolved elsewhere under similar conditions._And with many billions_of
stars_out there (just in our galaxy_and nearby ones), the probability of_other
planets existing with conditions similar_to_ours_is high. Furthermore, as our
ability_to detect exoplanets improves, it's quite_possible we may_detect signs
of alien life: radio signals, industrial_emissions_in their atmosphere, weird
starlight patterns indicating_a_possible Dyson swarm, etc. There's no_way_to
detect_any kind of god (whether_it's one from some old book_or the Q).

------
catpolice
I think