Elon, Jesus and the search for base reality

I was listening to an Elon Musk interview the other weekend while working in the yard doing work that an Optimus robot will soon be doing. He said something interesting; he made the statement that “it was very unlikely we are living in base reality.” I dug into this concept, and this is not the first time he has said something like this. What he is talking about is simulation theory—the hypothesis that what we perceive as “reality” is actually an artificial construct, most likely a highly advanced computer simulation, created by a more technologically sophisticated civilization. This theory was first promulgated by Nick Bostrom, a Swedish philosopher at the University of Oxford, who published a seminal paper titled “Are You Living in a Computer Simulation?” Elon, in recent years, has pushed this idea into the mainstream.

As I marinated this in my meat computer, it hit me that this is basically what Christians have been saying for millennia. There is truly nothing new under the sun. The Apostle Paul said in his letter to the Romans, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.” An intellectually honest view of the universe demands the conclusion that there is something more going on here: design, beauty, irony, tragedy, truth, and objective morality. Both perspectives agree on one base truth: the world we perceive with our five senses is not the ultimate or final version of reality. Musk and Bostrom believe there is a programmer; Christians call him Creator.

The parallels, though not perfect, are profound. The Bible teaches that this world is a low-resolution copy of a true reality: a copy of heaven, a shadow of things to come, and Christ (Col. 2:17, Heb. 8:5). Musk argues that because of the rate of technological improvement, we will eventually create simulations indistinguishable from reality. The Bible argues that the “unseen” is actually more substantial and permanent than the “seen.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 says: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Our perception is limited by the “render” we are provided. Our current experience is a filtered, low-fidelity version of a much clearer “base” existence. Paul uses the image of a dim mirror to explain this riddle: “we know in part now but will one day know fully” (1 Cor. 13:12).

Musk and other proponents point to the mathematical nature of the universe (the “code”) as evidence of a simulation. Well yeah, the Bible attributes this “code” to the Logos (Word/Reason). John 1:1-3: “In the beginning was the Word… Through him all things were made.” In Greek philosophy and early Christian theology, the Logos represents the underlying logic or “program” that holds the universe together.

Of course, if we are in a simulation, our bodies are essentially avatars. The Bible frequently refers to the human body as a temporary vessel for a soul that belongs elsewhere.  2 Corinthians 5:1: “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven…”  In John 18:36: When Jesus tells Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world,”  His “base reality” or origin point exists outside the current “simulation” of Earth’s political and physical constraints.  

This brings us to the ultimate paradox of the simulation: the Programmer’s intervention.  “And the Logos was made flesh and dwelt among us.” John 1:14 He is the code and the coder, and he took on a human avatar to live as one of us. He demonstrated through hundreds of documented miracles that he had full administrative access, ultimately showing power over death. Then he turned to his followers and said, “As he sent me, so I send you,” John 20:21 and gave us the keys to the kingdom so we can work with his authority to eradicate the effects of the virus, which is sin, until one day he makes our prayer fully manifest: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

While simulation theory provides a useful structure to understand the nature of things, the mystery of the most vexing questions remains: Who is the programmer, and why was the simulation launched? The answers for the Christian lie in the historical Jesus Christ, who demonstrated his transcendent nature and our programmer’s cosmic motive. What is the one thing that an all-powerful and all-good God cannot have through his strength? The one thing he cannot gain through his might is a genuine loving relationship. Love must be won through demonstration of character and loving action.

God created man in his image and placed him as steward of a perfect world. One of the God-like attributes man was endowed with was a free will and the choice to commune and collaborate with, or rebel against, our Father. Man ate the forbidden fruit, releasing the virus of sin and corrupting the entire code of creation. The Torah tells the early story of God’s relational intention for man, but more than that, it tutors man on the seriousness of sin and the gap of separation between us and how things are supposed to be.

Law and justice are only a partial revelation of our programmer.  “He (Jesus) is the fullness of the deity in bodily form.”  He is the fulfillment of the law and the fulfillment of the “future rendering” of the prophets.  On the cross, mercy and justice kiss – the curse of sin was taken on by the only one who could bear it for us – one who transcends the system and the virus it is infected with. He demonstrated victory over death and says to us today, follow me and you too will be delivered from death.  

Beyond the deliverance from sin and death, there is even more good news for explorers like Elon. We will have an eternity to explore the infinite depths of our Father. 1 Corinthians 2:9: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived—the things God has prepared for those who love him.” As we explore and help build this ever-expanding kingdom, we are “being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory.” 2 Corinthians 3:18.

I believe Elon is a truth seeker and this has led him to a right conclusion – this is not base reality. But as interesting as simulation theory is, what do you do with Jesus?  To the truth seeker, the evidence of his life, death and resurrection is overwhelming. He is the one who claimed to be the truth.  As brilliant as Elon is, I’m throwing in with the one who demonstrated full administrative access – foiling physics and defying death.