Infinity and Nihilism

[_CaliforniaKid]

In pondering the infinite regress thread at MADB, it struck me that if the past is actually infinite and we add one more event, we actually have no more events than we began with. Similarly, if there are an infinite number of gods, worlds, and souls, then no amount of increase can actually result in a total increase. The result is that while our efforts aggrandize the individual gods above us, they do not actually contribute to improving or increasing the total whole. Christians sometimes mock efforts to find meaning in life by the accumulation of wealth and property, because it's never enough. We ground meaning in the pursuit of a greater purpose. One might similarly ask of eternal increase, will it ever be enough? And if not, what good does it do the gods above us for us to seek their increase? I guess what I'm asking is, what is the point of having an infinite number of beings working toward a local increase that doesn't result in a total increase?

[_John Larsen]

Modern physics has proven that space and time are a continuum. Time mostly likely did not exist before the big-bang. To talk about the infinite regression of linear time isn't real.

John

[_Gazelam]

isn't it ultimately about bringing order to chaos?

that's what gods do, they take chaotic matter and organize it into something useful, be it the dust of the universe into worlds, or intelligences into souls.

[_CaliforniaKid]

isn't it ultimately about bringing order to chaos?

that's what gods do, they take chaotic matter and organize it into something useful, be it the dust of the universe into worlds, or intelligences into souls.

But if chaos and order are both infinite, then chaos never actually gets smaller and order never actually gets larger. This remains true even if the arrow of antropy, as it were, is pointed consistently in one direction.

[_CaliforniaKid]

David Waltz adds an interesting comment at MADB:

Here is another interesting take (IMHO): if there is an infinite amount of pre-existent intelligences, why does God (the Gods) always seem to choose a preponderance of non-celestial types; a doctrine of infinity certainly implies that there are an infinite number of saintly intelligences upon which God (the Gods) can draw/pick. I suppose one could postulate that there is a higher law above God (the Gods) which demands that more telestial and terrestrial types than celestial are chosen; but I sincerely believe that only a few would find comfort in such a worldview.

[_Imwashingmypirate]

Modern physics has proven that space and time are a continuum. Time mostly likely did not exist before the big-bang. To talk about the infinite regression of linear time isn't real.

John

Time probably DID exist before the big bang. There has probably been multiple big bangs. I think or time and space as a loop sort of think a bit like mobius strip. These tomoatoes are burning my mouth... ARGHHH.

[_Mercury]

isn't it ultimately about bringing order to chaos?

that's what gods do, they take chaotic matter and organize it into something useful, be it the dust of the universe into worlds, or intelligences into souls.

by this you imply that in the beginning it was more chaotic than it is currently.

[_Gazelam]

isn't it ultimately about bringing order to chaos?

that's what gods do, they take chaotic matter and organize it into something useful, be it the dust of the universe into worlds, or intelligences into souls.

by this you imply that in the beginning it was more chaotic than it is currently.

Great question Mercury.

Chaos is an eternal fact. It something that's constantly at pull. The entire plan of salvation is set up to teach us to resist this pull.

What God does is go about bringing order to things, be it organizing matter, or teaching spirits how to organize and strengthen themselves. The ordinances we go through in church, are set up to focus our minds on what brings happiness and order and faithfulness and consistency to our lives and those we love.

Which is why the church focuses on the home, encouraging Fathers to love their wives and children as the Lord loves us. Because a strong and loving home is the single greatest asset to a community, both in the present tense and in a future tense. And what is good for the Home applies to all things.

[_antishock8]

The fact of the matter is that there isn't a point other than to exist and make your own existence meaningful to you. If you want to look at it from the Mormon paradigm, Mormon gods doing what they do simply is the answer to the quandary of an eternal existential crisis. The Plan of Salvation provides Purpose, the Intelligences or Pre-Existence spirits voted on the Plan/Purpose, and that was that. It's the System within which black was called black and white was called white. Purpose was defined, and the eternal body politic moved forward.

It's no different from what we're experiencing in general terms with humanity. There are a few dominant systems through which the body politic defines morality and ethics. We have, essentially, Western Democracy, Socialism, and Islam. The systems are constantly competing with one another since their establishment. Even though all of humanity shares so much in common, we tend to divide into different socio-political systems for whatever reason.

Nihilism doesn't have to be what it's typically said to be by Believers. It's actually a nice way to approach life and to define the purpose of one's life. In fact, if most people lived by its credo, I think we'd have less violent conflict than we do now. I'm not sure how Mormonism, eternal progression, and nihilism fit together, but I do see how it goes well with post-death Islamic fantasies. Residing within the heart of the green bird...