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Line 1: − [[Image:Saint_nicholas.jpg|thumb|250px|Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra]]+ − − A [[God-substitute]] is any fictional person, group, invention, or other device of modern [[mythology]] (including [[science fiction]]) that has powers beyond the normal knowledge and experience of mankind by several orders of magnitude. If such a person or thing existed, humanity would regard him, her, or it as [[God]]-like. Usually a God-substitute is a force for good, which in turn might mean either: − − # Keeping world peace, − # Enforcing human law, or − # Simple wish fulfillment. − − Perhaps the oldest God-substitute in the mythology of the post-classical world is [[Saint Nicholas]], Bishop of Myra in the third century AD. This person did exist, and in fact took part in the [[Council of Nicaea]]. But the widespread conception of him as an immortal master toymaker with a delivery system that any merchant would envy, does ''not'' do justice to that man's memory, and would probably mortify him with embarrassment. − − The God-substitute is a frequent device of [[science fiction]]. Its usual form is of either an [[Extraterrestrial life|extraterrestrial]] immigrant having God-like powers, or a human being who is either born with such powers or gains them as a result of a failed life-sciences experiment, typically one seeking a possible military application. The God-substitute might also be an invention, usually a weapons system, sometimes a work of man but more often extraterrestrial, that grants its possessor with such powers or simply makes the possessor someone to be feared. − − A God-substitute might also be a subject of speculation in conventional [[Science|scientific]] circles, specifically as an undefined force, or an [[Extraterrestrial life|extraterrestrial nation-state]], that might have performed the act of [[Creation]] in the place of the [[God]] of the [[Bible]]. The chief fuel for such speculation is the growing realization that the universe must have had a beginning, and that beginning must have set aside all the physical laws under which the universe operates today. − − [[Category:Mythology]] − [[Category:Religion]]
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