# If you had God like powers, do you think you'd eventually quit caring about people? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 5, 2018, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-god-like-powers-do-you-think-youd-eventually-quit-caring-about-people/811876 "2018-04-05T16:14:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-god-like-powers-do-you-think-youd-eventually-quit-caring-about-people/811876/21 "2018-04-05T18:28:36Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Wife dies? No problem, just snap your fingers and she comes back to life. Yeah…I could snap my fingers…or… ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-god-like-powers-do-you-think-youd-eventually-quit-caring-about-people/811876/22 "2018-04-05T18:33:28Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > And since the only being possible of answering that question is “God”, are we supposed to wait until he registers for this board? He did. Got banned for being a Jerk. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-god-like-powers-do-you-think-youd-eventually-quit-caring-about-people/811876/23 "2018-04-05T18:34:50Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > He did. Got banned for being a Jerk. Well, there _was_ that bit where He wouldn’t quit citing Himself… ---
**Author:** ![Lost\_girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lost\_girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lost_girl)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-god-like-powers-do-you-think-youd-eventually-quit-caring-about-people/811876/24 "2018-04-05T18:37:29Z")
So your saying God just suddenly stops caring? Is there a line where I can stand in to receive powers? Caring is caring, no matter where it came from. If one was to suddenly stop caring then that would mean they never cared at all. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-god-like-powers-do-you-think-youd-eventually-quit-caring-about-people/811876/25 "2018-04-05T18:40:21Z")
**Aldeberan** was _God_? ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-god-like-powers-do-you-think-youd-eventually-quit-caring-about-people/811876/26 "2018-04-05T18:46:42Z")
> [@Lost\_girl](#): > > If one was to suddenly stop caring then that would mean they never cared at all. Not true. I cared a great deal for the woman who eventually became my ex wife. However, upon discovery of a certain volume of information (not quite sudden Godlike omniscience, but certainly I learned more on an occasion than I knew the previous day) I began to care considerably less about and for her at a fairly steady rate. Turns out, the woman I cared for never actually existed. Perspective is important. ---
**Author:** ![Lost\_girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lost\_girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lost_girl)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-god-like-powers-do-you-think-youd-eventually-quit-caring-about-people/811876/27 "2018-04-05T19:04:48Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > Not true. I cared a great deal for the woman who eventually became my ex wife. However, upon discovery of a certain volume of information (not quite sudden Godlike omniscience, but certainly I learned more on an occasion than I knew the previous day) I began to care considerably less about and for her at a fairly steady rate. Turns out, the woman I cared for never actually existed. Perspective is important. The woman she claimed to be? As in her being? Or as in values, morlas, personality etc. in which u made her into? Elaborate ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-god-like-powers-do-you-think-youd-eventually-quit-caring-about-people/811876/28 "2018-04-05T19:05:36Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Yeah…I could snap my fingers…or… LOL. That’s so wrong. But it’s fucking hilarious! ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-god-like-powers-do-you-think-youd-eventually-quit-caring-about-people/811876/29 "2018-04-05T19:15:48Z")
This is how we end up with the platypus. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-god-like-powers-do-you-think-youd-eventually-quit-caring-about-people/811876/30 "2018-04-05T19:21:08Z")
> [@](#): > > Pondering the psychological effects of suddenly being given God Like powers. This would, of course, be the real issue. Hell, ponder the psychological effects if tomorrow you are told that a cure for aging will be released and you will never have to worry about aging or aging related illness or disease again. That would be a hell of a shock to most people and would radically change behavior and outlook. Put that along with the powers generally attributable to the gods or God and it would be too much for a human mind to take in I think. Now, if I could be like the Olympian gods, say, or maybe the Norse ones, that could be fun than if I had all of the powers of the Abrahamic god which doesn’t sound like a lot of fun to me at all. ---
**Author:** ![Crazy\_Canuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazy_canuck/32/5282_2.png) [@Crazy\_Canuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazy_Canuck)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-god-like-powers-do-you-think-youd-eventually-quit-caring-about-people/811876/31 "2018-04-05T19:53:10Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Put that along with the powers generally attributable to the gods or God and it would be too much for a human mind to take in I think. Once someone had the powers of God, wouldn’t they be able to use those powers to make their mind strong enough to take it all in? ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-god-like-powers-do-you-think-youd-eventually-quit-caring-about-people/811876/32 "2018-04-05T19:58:18Z")
> [@Lost\_girl](#): > > The woman she claimed to be? As in her being? Or as in values, morlas, personality etc. in which u made her into? Elaborate Baby, that’s a threat to hijack this thread to Cuba. You start another thread along these lines and I’ll contribute. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-god-like-powers-do-you-think-youd-eventually-quit-caring-about-people/811876/33 "2018-04-05T19:59:01Z")
> [@Crazy\_Canuck](#): > > Once someone had the powers of God, wouldn’t they be able to use those powers to make their mind strong enough to take it all in? Would you think of that before it drove you insane? OP says ‘suddenly’, and the powers of the Abrahamic god are just ridiculous. They totally break the world and are just so OP that they aren’t any fun at all. Give me the powers (and flaws) of Odin or Thor any day over that stuff! ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-god-like-powers-do-you-think-youd-eventually-quit-caring-about-people/811876/34 "2018-04-05T20:02:04Z")
> [@Lost\_girl](#): > > … Elaborate Some people is just no good. 'nuff said. (n.b. Someone smart told me that once.) ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-god-like-powers-do-you-think-youd-eventually-quit-caring-about-people/811876/35 "2018-04-05T20:57:39Z")
Am I the only one in the universe? Since the Abrahamic god was (in some interpretations) so lonely he created Earth, I’d certainly feel lonely enough to at least fake caring. I’m not sure I could grant my target the free will not to love me. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-god-like-powers-do-you-think-youd-eventually-quit-caring-about-people/811876/36 "2018-04-05T21:06:07Z")
> [@HelenGawn](#): > > I’m not sure I could grant my target the free will not to love me. You don’t need to as long as you make it clear you are willing to smite hard and often. ---
**Author:** ![Crazy\_Canuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazy_canuck/32/5282_2.png) [@Crazy\_Canuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazy_Canuck)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-god-like-powers-do-you-think-youd-eventually-quit-caring-about-people/811876/37 "2018-04-05T21:28:39Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Would you think of that before it drove you insane? Even if I didn’t, I can rewind time until I did. Omnipotence would be great, by definition there is no problem that it can’t solve. Seriously though, the more I think about this, the more cynical I get and the more I think that the best we can hope for is complete indifference from our new divine overlord. Ever seen a kid “play” with ants? ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2018, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-god-like-powers-do-you-think-youd-eventually-quit-caring-about-people/811876/38 "2018-04-05T22:55:00Z")
The powers of God are sometimes claimed to include omniscience and omnipotence. If nothing escapes your attention and you can, without consequence, make everything be exactly how you want it to be, then the rational mind will promptly make the world (and the entire universe) conform to their ideal. There’s also a really good chance this would happen subconsciously - things would just be how you like them, all the time, everywhere. (Yeah, let that sink in. Watch the news, and let that sink in. :D) The curse of omniscience would give me hardly a _choice_ in caring about everyone; I’d be aware of them regardless. And they’d probably all like me, because I’d like that. But that would be depressing because it would all be fake. So then nobody would like me, which would seem less fake, but be even more depressing. So then I would make everyone have their free will again, regarding how much they like me (though murdering people would still be impossible because I’m not evil), and that would still be depressing because virtually nobody would like me, and so I’d eventually use my omnipotence to remove my godly powers and all memory of having them. (Murder would still be impossible though.) ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2018, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-god-like-powers-do-you-think-youd-eventually-quit-caring-about-people/811876/39 "2018-04-06T03:09:33Z")
God’s vanity is infinite. Nothing in the universe can be more vain than God. God’s vanity is the sum of His insistence that he be worshiped, which can never be diminished. One of the reasons I reject the concept of the Christian-taught God is because I do not consider Vanity to be a virtue, and therefore a vain God is not virtuous, and so not worthy of my honor and respect… I’m still a few years away from the pearly gates, so let Him chew on that while he waits. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2018, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-god-like-powers-do-you-think-youd-eventually-quit-caring-about-people/811876/40 "2018-04-06T03:45:10Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > LOL. That’s so wrong. But it’s fucking hilarious! No, no. I’ll snap my fingers. It’s just I have this friends bachelor party coming up… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-god-like-powers-do-you-think-youd-eventually-quit-caring-about-people/811876.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-god-like-powers-do-you-think-youd-eventually-quit-caring-about-people/811876.md?page=3)