Simulationism

Simulationism
Family	Modern / Philosophical and technology-centered worldview
Origin region	Global philosophical and internet culture
Founding period	21st century CE, with older philosophical roots
Estimated adherents	Unknown; usually a philosophical hypothesis or spiritual speculation rather than an organized religion.

Simulationism is a modern worldview or speculative belief that reality may be a simulation, sometimes interpreted spiritually through themes of creators, code, awakening, and liberation.

Overview

Simulationism is not a formal religion, but it can function religiously when it gives people a cosmology, creator concept, moral speculation, or salvation narrative. It overlaps with simulation hypothesis debates, Matrix-inspired spirituality, gnosticism-like ideas of illusion, and technology-centered theology. Neutral coverage should distinguish philosophical arguments from religious or internet subcultural interpretations.

Key beliefs

• Reality may be computationally generated or simulated
• The apparent world may conceal deeper layers of reality
• Creators of the simulation may be interpreted as godlike beings, programmers, ancestors, or unknown intelligences
• Awakening, escape, or understanding can become spiritual motifs
• Critics argue that simulation claims are often unfalsifiable or speculative

Practices

• Philosophical discussion of the simulation hypothesis
• Meditation on illusion, code, and awakening
• Creation of symbolic diagrams or cosmologies
• Study of The Matrix and related media in some circles
• Ethical reflection on agency within systems

Places of worship

• Online communities
• Study groups
• Private meditation space
• No standard place of worship

Sacred texts

• Philosophy papers on simulation
• Science fiction and cyberculture texts
• Matrixist writings in related movements
• Personal essays and manifestos

Holidays and observances

• No universal calendar
• Film or publication anniversaries in some groups
• Community-defined awakening observances

Branches and related traditions

• Matrixism - A related popular-culture-inspired religious movement.
• Artificial Intelligence Theism - A related category when AI or posthuman beings are imagined as creators.
• Gnosticism - An older religious category sometimes compared to simulationist themes of illusion and awakening.

See also

• Religion
• Theology
• Philosophy of religion
• New Religious Movements
• Unaffiliated and Secular Worldviews
• Technotheism