Recently I have been running into two types of people:

Those who believe in God
Those who believe we live in a simulation

When I press about who created the simulation, I often hear:

An all powerful higher intelligence

When I ask how this differs from God, they usually state that the creator has no resemblance to the classic Christian God they grew up with.

This is fair enough. They probably have not studied or experienced the perennial philosophy. They are rebelling against a poor understanding of God that was forced on them. They haven't yet found the path themselves.

My baseline thought is that it does not matter. There is no difference. Some higher intelligence set a few beautiful patterns/ratios in motion and that created all of this beauty.

However, sometimes when deep in meditation I have a bad trip. I think I am in a simulation. I feel taken advantage of. Lied to. I assume the creator somehow is profiting from this ruse. Like the machines in the matrix. I am assigning (evil) humanity to the creator

Then, like a flash, I flip (from -6 to +6 on gurdjieff scale) and I *know* that the simulation thoughts were myself. My ego casting another screen. Then I feel divine love + unity. A creator did not stick me here to sap me or use me. I was given the opportunity to live + enjoy.

Perhaps, I even chose to be here, to have this human experience. As Ram Dass said, "I signed up for the class."

Outside of "knowing" this in the psychedelic sense. You will never know the answer logically, as you cannot ascertain the wholeness of the system as you are a part of it. If you don't seek the answer inside yourself, you will have to make a decision on assumption.

However, it is still your choice. Worship the wonder of God, or be skeptical of the creator. It will define your life.