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Originally Posted by GGG
There is no requirement for the simulation to exist. There is no experiment one can do to prove or disprove it.
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Well, this isn't quite true. It's currently unfalsifiable. It seems possible that once we know more about the nature of consciousness, it will be something that can be disproved. You could make a similar argument about the existence of God, I suppose, but in that case, it's not clear what we would need to know that we don't know now in order to finally determine that question.
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Religion is part of the human evolutionary condition. Perhaps part of the shortcuts our brain takes to make sense of things and establish rules to successfully pass on genetic material and ensure the survival of young or perhaps critical in establishing the in groups and out groups that we still are today...
The simulation is just an extension of filling this evolutionary need to fill in gaps.
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Simulation theory doesn't fit in this box. It's not a system designed to give purpose to existence or create a way for everyone to function as a moral community, it doesn't create ties between people. If it was taken seriously, the most you could take from it is "existence is meaningless", which isn't a belief system anyone's going to sign on for.
I really think you're misunderstanding what Bostrom was going for here. It's just a fun yet somewhat disturbing thought experiment. You're ascribing a whole ethos to the guy that doesn't exist. It's a logical game, not a system of belief anyone is being asked to treat as the organizing principle for their lives. As far as I know, no one (well, maybe some weirdos with youtube channels) are preaching to people about being part of a simulation. I mean, did you watch The Matrix and come out aghast that the Wachoskis could preach such an evidence-free dystopic vision to their audience?