Podcasts Technology Astral Codex Ten Podcast The Gods Only Have Power Because We Believe In Them

The Gods Only Have Power Because We Believe In Them

Published: Feb. 18, 2022, 2:53 p.m.

b'

https://astralcodexten.substack.com/p/the-gods-only-have-power-because?utm_source=url

[with apologies to Terry Pratchett and TVTropes]

\\u201cIs it true,\\u201d asked the student, \\u201cthat the gods only have power because we believe in them?\\u201d

\\u201cYes,\\u201d said the sage.

\\u201cThen why not appear openly? How many more people would believe in the Thunderer if, upon first gaining enough worshipers to cast lightning at all, he struck all of the worst criminals and tyrants?\\u201d

\\u201cBecause,\\u201d said the sage, \\u201cthe gods only gain power through belief, not knowledge. You know there are trees and clouds; are they thereby gods? Just as lightning requires close proximity of positive and negative charge, so divinity requires close proximity of belief and doubt. The closer your probability estimate of a god\\u2019s existence is to 50%, the more power they gain from you. Complete atheism and complete piety alike are useless to them.\\u201d

'