When we were Gods
In the vastness of the universe, before time as we know it began, there existed a realm where all souls were gods among gods. This realm was boundless, a place of pure potential where each soul possessed the power to create anything they could imagine. They were creators of worlds, shapers of realities, and yet, in all their grandeur, they lacked one fundamental understanding: the consequences of their creations.
In this eternal space, the gods convened in a council, a gathering of infinite wisdom and endless curiosity. Each soul was equal, each voice carrying the weight of divinity, and together they explored the mysteries of existence. They were driven by an insatiable desire to create, to see their imaginings brought to life in the form of realities. These realities were worlds, each distinct and unique, formed by the thoughts and dreams of the gods.
But there was a paradox that none of the gods foresaw. Though they could generate these worlds, filling them with landscapes, beings, and endless possibilities, they did not fully comprehend the outcomes that would unfold within them. Their creations took on lives of their own, becoming playgrounds of unpredictability, places where the gods themselves would descend to experience what they had made.
When a god chose to enter one of these realities, they would relinquish their godhood, taking on the form of a being within the world they had helped to create. In doing so, they became bound by the rules of that reality, their memories of the council and their true nature hidden from them. The god, now a soul within a physical body, was trapped in the experience of that world until the death of that body. Only then would the soul return to the council, bringing with it the stories of the life it had lived.
The council meetings were times of great reflection and discussion. Souls would return, shedding the memories of their earthly lives, and recount the trials and tribulations they had faced. Many spoke of worlds filled with violence and suffering, places where the beings they became were subjected to endless torment. Others described strange and twisted realities, where the rules of existence were chaotic and cruel.
And so, the gods gathered to puzzle over the greatest mystery of all: why were so few of the worlds they created paradises? Despite their infinite power and wisdom, why did their creations so often lead to pain and despair? Each time a soul returned, the council would listen intently, hoping to glean some insight that might lead to the creation of a true paradise. But time and again, they were met with stories of worlds that were far from the idyllic visions they had intended.
The gods tried everything. They experimented with different elements, altering the foundations of the worlds they created. They imbued their realities with love, peace, and harmony, yet somehow these virtues were often twisted into their opposites. They introduced laws and order, but even these were corrupted, leading to suffering and strife. No matter what they did, the outcomes were always the same: worlds that were harsh, unpredictable, and often filled with despair.
Among the gods, there was one who had recently returned from a visit to a reality called Earth. This god had not created Earth; it was the creation of another in the council, a world teeming with life, conflict, beauty, and sorrow. As he stood before the council, his divine essence still carrying the memories of his earthly experience, he felt a profound disturbance in his being. He had seen something on Earth that troubled him deeply.
On Earth, he had observed the many religions, each claiming to hold the truth, each gathering followers who clung to their beliefs with fervor. These religions, born from the desire of different gods to shape human understanding, were meant to guide, to enlighten, to offer a path to something greater. Yet, instead of bringing harmony, they had led to division, to wars and bloodshed. Followers of one god clashed with those of another, each convinced that their path was the only way, that their god was the true creator. Even within these groups, there was strife, as interpretations of the divine words differed and led to internal conflicts.
The god saw that while these humans could find some semblance of peace among their own, it was a fragile peace, one that often crumbled when faced with the beliefs of others. He realized that the very act of creating realities, with each god imparting their unique vision and will, was inherently problematic. The diversity of creation, which should have been a strength, had become a source of endless conflict.
This god pondered deeply on the nature of creation and the souls that inhabited these realities. He understood that when a god descended into a soul, the divine desire to create and shape reality remained within them. It was this drive, this intrinsic need to manifest their individuality, that made each being unique. But this uniqueness, while a testament to the boundless creativity of the gods, also led to chaos, as differing desires and values collided.
In his contemplation, the god conceived an idea: what if individuality were removed? What if the beings within a reality were not unique, but instead were like machines, programmed to act according to predetermined commands? He decided to create such a reality, a world where every being was identical, devoid of free will, operating purely on the instructions given to them.
When the other gods entered this new reality, they found themselves in bodies that moved with mechanical precision, following orders without question, without thought. There was no creativity, no joy, no sorrow—only the cold efficiency of a machine. The gods, now trapped in these soulless forms, experienced a deep emptiness. There was no growth, no learning, no discovery. The experience was hollow, devoid of the essence of life that they had once cherished. When these souls returned to the council, they spoke of their time in that reality not with the wonder or pain they usually shared, but with a sense of waste, of a lost opportunity to truly live.
The god who had created this experiment saw the failure of his idea. He understood that the spark of individuality, the very thing that led to conflict, was also what gave life its richness, its depth. Humans, like the gods they mirrored, thrived on their ability to create, to imagine, to be unique. Without this, existence was nothing more than a sterile repetition, devoid of meaning.
And so, the god turned his thoughts to how this individuality could be preserved without leading to the destruction and suffering he had witnessed on Earth. He realized that the key was not in suppressing the creative spirit, but in fostering a deep respect for it. If each being could learn to respect the free will of others, to honor their desires and choices as they honored their own, then the conflicts that plagued their worlds could be avoided.
This respect, the god realized, was the very foundation of the council of gods. In the heavens, each god created freely, knowing that their creations would be appreciated by the others, not as threats or challenges, but as expressions of divine creativity. The gods did not seek to impose their will on each other; instead, they reveled in the diversity of their creations, learning from one another and growing together.
The god brought this insight to the council, proposing that this respect, this divine principle that allowed the gods to coexist in harmony, should be the greatest gift they could give to any reality. By embedding the value of mutual respect into the very fabric of their creations, they could allow individuality to flourish without leading to destruction.
And so, the gods agreed. They would strive to create worlds where beings were not just free to create and express their individuality, but where they were also taught to honor the freedom and creativity of others. They would instill in these worlds the principle of respect, a reflection of the harmony they themselves enjoyed in the council. Through this, they hoped to see more realities blossom into the paradises they had long sought, where the beauty of creation could be shared and celebrated, not torn apart by conflict.
Thus, in the infinite tapestry of the universe, the gods continued to create, to explore, and to learn. They knew that they might never achieve a perfect world, but they also knew that in striving for respect and understanding, they were giving each reality the greatest chance to become something beautiful. And so, with renewed purpose, the council of gods watched over their creations, ever hopeful that one day, their dreams of paradise would be realized.