Introduction

Many people today, both young and old, are increasingly exposed to the claim that our world is not real and that humanity may be living inside a computerized simulation. Although this idea is often presented as a cutting-edge philosophical insight, it is in fact an old worldview expressed in modern technological language. Scripture affirms that the created world is real because God Himself formed it, and that Jesus entered this very real world in the fullness of His humanity to redeem it. This article seeks to explain, in clear and accessible terms, why the simulation theory is ultimately unconvincing and why the Bible provides a more coherent, hopeful, and intellectually satisfying account of reality.

This discussion is necessary because the simulation concept has circulated widely across social media platforms and has gained significant influence among younger generations through short videos, posts, and online discussions. Many young people today are silently wrestling with profound questions of truth, existence, and identity. These questions may not always be expressed openly, but they weigh heavily on their hearts and minds. When these concerns surface, the responsibility falls upon parents, mentors, friends, and ministry leaders to respond with wisdom and compassion.

Too often, when teenagers or college-age students, especially those within Generation Z, raise such questions, older adults dismiss their doubts as evidence of spiritual weakness or a lack of trust in Scripture. This assumption is not only unhelpful; it is inaccurate.

Doubt is a normal and even healthy part of spiritual formation.

Questions about reality, truth, and the meaning of existence, including questions as dramatic as whether we are living in a simulation, can become opportunities for deeper engagement with the Word of God.

In the same way that two individuals might approach a difficult conversation with the shared desire to understand the root of their disagreement and work toward clarity, we must also meet younger generations with patience, humility, and a readiness to listen. When someone comes to us confused or uncertain, our task is not to dismiss their concerns but to guide them toward the truth found in Scripture. As the Apostle Peter reminds us, we must always be prepared to give an answer for the hope that is within us (1 Pet. 3:15). It is my hope that this article will assist readers, whether parents, pastors, educators, or students, in responding thoughtfully to the growing belief that our world is merely a simulation. By grounding our conversations in Scripture and approaching these questions with grace, we can help lead others toward a deeper understanding of the truth God has revealed.

The Growing Confusion About What Is Real

The modern world is experiencing an identity crisis concerning the nature of reality itself. Social media platforms have become echo chambers for speculative philosophies, pseudoscientific theories (pronounced soo-doh-sy-en-TIH-fik), and digital myths that appeal to minds already overwhelmed by cultural instability. These theories mimic scientific credibility with complex language, yet they lack evidence, testing, or grounding in real science. Because they appear mysterious, intellectual, or rebellious, they spread quickly among those already searching for meaning in a chaotic world.

Younger generations in particular are living under an unprecedented level of emotional overload. They face pressure, comparison, anxiety, and information fatigue at nearly every moment. In this environment, the idea that the world is fake or simulated offers a strange sense of comfort. If reality is not real, then perhaps pain does not matter. If life is coded, then choices carry no eternal weight.

The simulation idea becomes a coping mechanism to avoid the heaviness of life.

Yet this mental escape does nothing to heal the deeper wounds of the soul. Instead, it slowly erodes one’s understanding of identity, dignity, and purpose.

The Bible, however, offers a radically different worldview. It grounds reality not in human perception or technological speculation but in the creative act of a personal, all-powerful God who made the world intentionally and declared it good.

The Bible’s Clear Teaching About Creation

The first verse of Scripture cuts through confusion with absolute clarity: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). These words reveal that creation has a true beginning and is the direct work of a sovereign God. The world is not an accident, nor is it the product of an artificial program written by unknown cosmic designers. It springs forth from the eternal mind of God.

Genesis continues by affirming that creation is not only intentional but also good. After each stage of creation, God pronounces His work good, and after forming humanity in His image, He declares it very good. This goodness stands in direct contradiction to both ancient Gnosticism and modern simulation claims, both of which portray the physical world as flawed, deceptive, or meaningless. Scripture insists that the physical world has value because its Creator is good.

Psalm 19 further confirms creation’s reality by declaring, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psa. 19:1). A simulated world cannot declare anything. It cannot reveal God. Only a real creation can testify to a real Creator.

The Incarnation Shows the World Is Real

One of the clearest proofs that the world is not a simulation comes from the heart of the Christian faith: the incarnation. Scripture tells us that “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (Joh. 1:14). Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, entered human history in a real human body. This means the physical world is trustworthy enough for God Himself to inhabit.

The New Testament emphasizes the physicality of Jesus repeatedly. He hungered, grew tired, wept, and suffered. He experienced real death and rose in a real body, inviting His disciples to touch Him and confirming, “A ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have” (Luk. 24:39). These details exist because the early church was already fighting ideas that resembled today’s simulation claims. They confronted people who denied the physical world and denied the real humanity of Christ. The incarnation dismantles every claim that matter is unreal, unimportant, or illusory.

Why the Simulation Theory Does Not Hold Together

Even without Scripture, the simulation theory collapses under its own weight. If our world is a simulation, one must ask who created the simulator and who created the one who created the simulator. This leads to an endless chain with no true origin, while Scripture declares that God alone is eternal and uncreated.

Furthermore, no machine has ever produced true consciousness. Computers can imitate patterns, but they cannot generate self-awareness, moral reasoning, or spiritual longing.

Humanity’s inner life, creativity, conscience, and sense of eternity reflect the image of God, not digital coding.

If the world were simulated, morality would also lose all meaning. Right and wrong would be programmed illusions. Yet Scripture affirms that God has written His moral law on human hearts (Rom. 2:15), and humanity intuitively recognizes justice, compassion, and truth.

Added to this is the fact that no scientific experiment, observation, or data confirms a simulated universe. It remains a philosophical speculation, not a scientific conclusion.

The Old Error of Gnosticism Returned in a New Form

To understand why the simulation idea is spiritually dangerous, we must recognize its deep similarity to an ancient belief the early church fought fiercely: Gnosticism (pronounced NAH-stu-si-zum). Gnosticism was not a single, unified religion but a broad movement that influenced many spiritual groups during the first and second centuries. At its core, Gnosticism taught that the physical world was not truly real or good but was instead a flawed or deceptive realm created by an inferior spiritual being. Many Gnostics believed the true God was distant and that the visible world was a prison designed to trap the soul.

Because they viewed matter as evil or worthless, Gnostics also denied the full humanity of Jesus. They argued that Christ only appeared to have a physical body because a divine being could never enter such a corrupt environment. This view, known as Docetism, directly contradicts Scripture’s teaching on the incarnation. Gnostics also insisted that salvation did not come through faith in Christ or through His atoning work but through secret knowledge available only to a spiritual elite. This made the gospel unnecessary and the cross powerless.

Now consider simulation theory through this lens. It claims the physical world is not fully real, that existence is a deceptive environment, and that only those who “wake up” to hidden truth understand the real nature of reality. It removes the meaning of the body and elevates the mind. It teaches that the real world lies somewhere behind what we experience. These ideas are not modern breakthroughs but are the same spiritual errors that circulated in the early church, only rewritten using digital language instead of mythological language.

The apostle John saw these teachings forming even in his own day and responded with forceful clarity. He emphasized that he and the other apostles touched Jesus, saw Him, and witnessed His physical life firsthand (1 Joh. 1:1). John’s warnings were not abstract debates but direct confrontations against the earliest forms of Gnostic thought. He declared, “Every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God” (1 Joh. 4:3), targeting teachings that denied Jesus’ real humanity.

Early church fathers like Irenaeus wrote extensively against Gnosticism, reminding believers that if God created the world, then creation is inherently good, meaningful, and capable of being redeemed. Irenaeus argued that a worldview which treats the body or creation as unreal contradicts the very heart of the gospel. Tertullian likewise insisted that Christ’s real death and real resurrection proved that matter matters and that God did not despise creation but entered it to save it.

The simulation theory is therefore not a philosophical accident. It is Gnosticism reborn. It denies the goodness of the physical world, questions the reliability of creation, diminishes the importance of the body, and portrays truth as something hidden behind the world rather than revealed in Christ. The early church confronted these ideas with Scripture and won. Today, we are called to do the same.

Why This Illusion Feels Comforting to Some

To respond effectively to those embracing simulation ideas, we must understand why they resonate. Many who accept these claims are not convinced by logical arguments. They are driven by emotional and existential needs. Believing that the world is simulated makes their burdens seem lighter, their mistakes less permanent, and their pain less personal.

Yet the Bible teaches that God meets us in reality, not illusion. He draws near to the brokenhearted (Psa. 34:18) and offers hope in the midst of suffering. The gospel does not minimize pain. It transforms it. Jesus did not escape from the world but entered its suffering fully and overcame it.

Anticipating and Answering Common Objections

To make this article comprehensive and useful, it is essential to address objections that may arise from those who hold simulation beliefs.

Objection 1: “The world feels fake, so maybe it is fake.”

Feelings do not determine truth. Scripture teaches that “the heart is deceitful above all things” (Jer. 17:9). Emotional instability or existential anxiety does not transform reality into illusion.

Objection 2: “Technology is advancing so fast that future civilizations could simulate worlds.”

Even the most advanced technology cannot create consciousness, souls, moral awareness, or the image of God. Machines cannot produce the spiritual dimension of humanity.

Objection 3: “Science supports the idea of a simulation.”

This is false. No scientific evidence supports simulation theory. It is speculative philosophy, not empirical science.

Objection 4: “If God created the world, is that not also a kind of simulation?”

A simulation is artificial, deceptive, and dependent on a machine. Creation is purposeful, meaningful, and rooted in the character of a holy God. Scripture declares, “The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does” (Psa.145:17). Creation reflects truth, not deception.

Objection 5: “Believing the world is simulated helps me cope.”

Temporary escape is not healing. God offers real comfort, real presence, and real restoration. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mat. 11:28).

Biblical Evidence That Reality Is Real

To anchor this article firmly in Scripture, below are key biblical truths that affirm the reality of God’s world.

1. God Created a Real, Physical World

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1).

2. God Declared Creation Good

“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Gen. 1:31).

3. Humanity Is Made in God’s Image

“So God created mankind in his own image” (Gen. 1:27).

4. Jesus Entered Creation Physically

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (Joh. 1:14).

5. Jesus Testified to Physical Resurrection

“Touch me and see” (Luk. 24:39).

6. Creation Will Be Renewed, Not Discarded

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth” (Rev. 21:1).

Scripture affirms not only the reality of the world but its future restoration in Christ.

The Hope the Gospel Gives

The gospel speaks directly to the fears and uncertainties that drive people toward digital illusions. God created us, loves us, and sent His Son into the real world to redeem us. Jesus did not come to free us from reality but to restore us within it.

He died in real history, rose in a real body, and reigns in real majesty.

The gospel gives meaning to our work, dignity to our humanity, and purpose to our existence. It assures us that suffering is not meaningless, that life is not a glitch, and that eternity is not a programmed exit. We are God’s creation, known and loved by Him. Reality is not a burden. It is a gift.

Conclusion

The simulation theory is a modern expression of an ancient error. It undermines creation, dismisses the body, and denies the incarnation. It promises enlightenment but delivers confusion. Scripture offers something infinitely better. God created a real world, entered it through His Son, and will one day renew it in glory. We are not trapped in an illusion. We are participants in God’s redemptive story.

You are not an accident, not code, not a glitch.

You are God’s workmanship, created with purpose, loved with everlasting love, and invited into a future far more real and beautiful than any digital imitation.

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