Do we live in a matrix?

Recently I've been going to see my uncle because he's a math professor (and has two other careers I'm not aware about) because I've been trying to study for math since I have a final the next week and I barely passed it (math can be hard when is definitely not one of your major classes) and I catched him watching these videos where scientists, philosophers, professors, over all professionals talk about the world we live in and how mysterious events can be explained through the whole "we live in a matrix" idea. I know it sounds crazy but let me explain what I saw and discussed with my uncle. This was about the mirages, the buildings from the past, the cultures, the beliefs of natives, the religions, the after life, etc. Like the mystery of aliens or ovnis, or the harvest circles. The experiences of people feeling going through other planes or dimensions while sleeping (I am one of them), etc. This guy said that it was possible that we are living in a fake environment while we are being controlled by beings outside of the universe and thus making us obey through the rules of physics and so many other rules too. That for me, is like saying we are controlled by God (I am a christian so forgive me if I see solutions in my belief too). He talked about it as if it would be really bad that we are in a world like that while other beings are treating us like no more than guinea pigs but I believe that if this is a matrix and that if we die we go to the place those beings are controlling us, we are living in both places so I don't see any waste on it. Also, I was discussing with my uncle that given that there have been found some instruments or stuff from million years ago that can belong to civilizations from the past, there is also a theory that consists in us being just a single apparition of the human race among thousands that have appeared since the Earth started having life. Which is hard to believe but at the same time is kind of acceptable if you think about it. If humans ceased to exist, everything that's left, will eventually degrade and also become once again part of the Earth. The Earth tends to regenerate so it will explain how they came off with this. In my mind, humans have of course their years counted but if this theory was real and mixing it up with the humanity's belief of gods or God, and the matrix thing, it will prove that we are indeed being controlled by a sadistic being that is just treating us like guinea pigs watching how we grow and destroy ourselves in different ways. What do you guys think about this? Of course I was ignoring all the stuff that can counterattack or erase those theories, but if analized, why do you think that would not or won't be the truth? What do you think is beyond the universe and if you think humans are more or equal to what we've defined like animals or other beings? I really want to know what do you guys think about this.

@stickmichael yes I know, that's why I tried on not putting everything so detailed in there because it will end up being thesis long lol I just tried to say the most important stuff for people to analyze it and give an opinion about it. I spent hours talking about this with my uncle and we didn't even have time to finish it.

Well alot of evidence points toward our reality being fake or computer simulated. My opinion on it is just to see for myself when the time comes. The thing I would worry about is that if we do exist in this other reality why would we be in this one. To escape something maybe? Or what. Not sure that is the best I got. lol

I remember some scientist concluding the universe could be a computer sim. Now they want to say the matrix. Who knows....Hexagons are either the key to the universe since they occur in nature often or the matrix has to use LOD(level of detail like in games) to save GPU cycles. Did we catch a glitch on Saturn j/k? http://i.space.com/images/i/000/036/594/i02/saturn-hexagonal-jet-stream.jpg?1391455378 http://www.space.com/18674-saturn-vortex-hexagon-storm-photos.html

These theories have definitely been passed around for years and not JUST by skeptics but despite what some of these clickbaity articles might suggest there's not really any definitive evidence to conclude we are so much as 'ehh maybe we COULD be possibly'. Certainly there's no scientific consensus about it.

Meh... Prove that existence isn't just your personal perception first. It's an older "ish" theory. All I gotta say is that my player needs to stop being so damned lazy and get some money. XD

I know is not new lol and I'm not trying to say is not my own perception of things. I saw that on a video, I didn't feel the urge to prove that wasn't my perception because is kind of obvious it isn't since is not new. Of course I in the end of what I said mixed my thoughts about it in it. That's why I'm asking you those questions nobody seems willing to answer yet. I don't want you guys abording these themes objectively but rather subjectively. @yaasshat if I say or talk about my perception of things I'd say I personally don't believe in the "these civilization is just one appearance of many others before us" thing because is just too out of mind for me. I personally believe in what's written in the Bible but of course in a more reasonable way. I said I'm a christian and even so I'm interested in how science tries to explain these kind of phenomenons. Contrary to what many people may think, science to me is just a tool that allow us to say there is a God outside of the universe (since actually science can't fully deny the existence of God). I only want to know what do you think about it, what do you think is beyond us and what we know and if you believe in these theories or not. That's it. (The last part of yaasshat was funny lol)