Entry #2: What is Real?

A topic that I find interesting to converse about and to explore is creation and reality theory. Most people have their own beliefs on why we are here and what reality is. Yet, have you ever explored the possibilities of reality being different than what you think?

For instance, some people believe that what we experience day to day is actually produced by a virtual reality system we are a part of. There have even been TED talks on this reality theory. Think for a second, how could you prove you were not in one? Take for example the modern day video game, The Sims. The Sims is a game where you produce the reality and world in which your character, “Sim,” lives in. This involves controlling every aspect of every day: sleep, eating, hygiene, developing relationships, happiness, fitness, finances, construction, work, and nearly anything else you can think of. With technology growing at an exponential rate each year, is it too far-fetched to say we could one day create a video game so exquisite in detail that it mimics the precise details of reality we currently perceive? It is that idea that makes it a possibility.

A more conventional reality theory involves religion. In one form or another, a sentient being labeled God created the universe in its entirety. God gives us our purpose, a divine path, and an explanation of the world around us. Books such as the Bible, guide the morals and values of the people that participate in that theory of reality. Some people may ask, is this any easier to accept as the truth of reality than the simulation theory?

Others believe that the reality around them is due to sheer luck and evolution over billions of years. Of course, this theory of reality is known as Darwinism. Over millions of years, the human race, as well as every other species, evolved from microorganisms that were in the right place at the right time. The amount of

"luck” required for this process is extraordinary: the Earth being what it is; Earth containing the buildings blocks of life; the correct temperature needed for life to exist; the precise distance from the sun; the exact position in the universe; the list goes on and on. Some people view this theory of reality as nearly impossible considering the amount of aspects that are required for existence.

Yet, is one theory of creation and reality more acceptable than the alternatives? If so, why? It may be impossible to ever know how we got here; furthermore, finding an explanation that describes why we perceive the world in the way we do may never be found. While this may be true, if no one ever contemplates the topic, we will surely never arrive at any conclusion. Question the world around you!