johngalt

Doesn't god have to be living to exist?; i mean living in the sense that He or She has a beating heart? I exist because i have organs and my heart beats and my brain thinks. If god exists, doesn't He/She have to have these attributes to be living?

Tenspace

Without going into a twenty-page thread, let me just refer to an old SF story I read. It was about beings that lived in suns. Totally incorporeal, and a scale of presence that allowed them to witness stellar evolution as a way of life.

I wish I could remember who wrote it, or what it was called. Anyway, I would say that the definition of life having a brain and a beating heart might be a bit earth-centric. We have no idea (yet) as to how life can evolve. Then you get into the whole machine-thing: can we create a machine that is truly alive?

When it comes to God, remember he is no more alive than any other character in a book you might read.

Who knows, a thousand years from now, machines could be worshipping Luke Skywalker as Jesus.

Tenspace

Magus55

Rocks exist, but they aren't alive. God isn't bound to the physical laws of the universe - he is spiritual and therefore doesn't need cells or organs to live.

Just_An_Atheist

Please define "spirit".

Calzaer

Lots of things exist that aren't alive.

However, nothing exists that doesn't leave some form of physical evidence as to its existing.

diana

And plants exist and are alive without the benefit of a "beating heart." Not to mention single celled organisms, etc.

"Beating heart" is a very limited definition for "life."

d

johngalt

I guess i worded the question wrong. I meant existing in the sense of leaving physical evidence.

Magus55

Says who? Does that mean its impossible for aliens to exist since they haven't left any physical evidence of existing?

Magus55

I agree, the OP is the one that made reference to a heart and organs being necessary for life - not me.

Calzaer

If you can find something that exists but leaves no physical evidence as to its existence, I'll give you 10 trillion dollars (which may or may not exist).

Aliens, if they exist, will certainly leave physical evidence as to their existence. Are you saying that we can find evidence for God somewhere in Alpha Centauri?