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God as a Working Hypothesis
By Shlomo Maital
Claude is an AI large language model (LLM) by a 2021 startup, Anthropic, launched by entrepreneurs who left OpenAI. Amazon invested $4 billion in Anthropic.
I have done a small experiment. I decided to write a blog on “God as a Working Hypothesis”. I hesitated, because matters of faith are very personal and individual.
I framed a few sentences in my mind. Then, I asked Claure to write 300 words on the subject. And the truth is: Claude did this task far far better than I did.
Here is what Claude wrote. Judge for yourself:
“God as a working hypothesis” is a concept that has intrigued theologians, philosophers, and scientists for centuries. It suggests approaching the idea of God not as an absolute certainty, but as a provisional assumption that can be used to explore and understand various aspects of existence, morality, and the human experience.
“This perspective allows for a more flexible and open-minded approach to discussions about faith and spirituality. Rather than demanding unwavering belief or outright rejection, it invites individuals to consider the implications and potential benefits of accepting God’s existence as a starting point for further inquiry and reflection.
“As a working hypothesis, the concept of God can serve as a framework for addressing fundamental questions about the origin of the universe, the nature of consciousness, and the purpose of human life. It provides a lens through which to examine ethical dilemmas, explore the boundaries of human knowledge, and contemplate the mysteries of existence that science has yet to fully explain.
“Proponents of this approach argue that it allows for a more nuanced and intellectually honest engagement with religious and philosophical ideas. By treating God as a hypothesis rather than an irrefutable fact, individuals can critically examine religious teachings, cultural traditions, and personal experiences without feeling constrained by dogma or the fear of blasphemy.
“Critics, however, may argue that reducing God to a mere hypothesis diminishes the profound spiritual experiences and deeply held convictions of believers. They might contend that faith, by its very nature, transcends empirical evidence and rational argumentation.
“Nevertheless, viewing God as a working hypothesis can foster dialogue between believers and non-believers, as well as between different religious traditions. It creates a common ground for discussion, allowing individuals to explore the implications of divine existence without necessarily committing to a particular belief system.”
“This approach also aligns with the scientific method, which relies on hypotheses to advance knowledge and understanding. Just as scientists formulate and test hypotheses to explain natural phenomena, individuals can use the God hypothesis to explore existential questions and evaluate its explanatory power in various contexts.
“Ultimately, treating God as a working hypothesis encourages intellectual curiosity, promotes open-mindedness, and allows for a more inclusive conversation about spirituality and the nature of reality. It acknowledges the limitations of human knowledge while still engaging with the profound questions that have captivated humanity throughout history.”
How to Get to the Root of the Problem
By Shlomo Maital
Let’s say you have a tough problem. You want to get to the root of the cause.
But how?
Ask a five-year old.
Really. Ask a kid. Because – they get to the root of things, by the method of ‘rood cause analysis’, RCA, used widely by systems experts diagnosing crashes, by computer engineers designing software… in general, by the hi-tech experts.
The method was used eons ago by kids, long before silicon. It’s called “the 7 Question Path to Enlightenment”.
Here’s a fictional conversation with one of my grandchildren.
Why are there people on Earth? Because they descended from primates, monkeys and apes. Why are there primates? They too descended, from other mammals, through evolution. Why are there other mammals? Well, see, this fish figured out how to move from the sea, breathing oxygen through its gills, to the land, breathing air through lungs. Where did the fish come from? It began with single cell living things, created by a combination of the right chemicals in a warm sea. Where did those single cell things come from? From the oceans, created when the Earth cooled from boiling, and when rain began to fall. Why didn’t the oceans just evaporate, as they did on Mars? Gravity. What causes gravity? And what is it? … Uh….
There we have it. The root cause. Life on Earth, because of…gravity. But..what in the world is gravity? Truth is, we do not truly know how gravity works or what it really is – Einstein’s theory of relativity is a start.
Root cause? Overweight? Out of shape? Tired? Financial problems? Ask why. And then again. And again. Either you get to a dead end…or the root cause. And even dead ends sometimes are very helpful, right? They tell us what we need to explore in depth more thoroughly.
TIMnovate 