On the Immortality of the Soul

[Epictetus]

Sorry, that was rude of me.

Is having the stroke responsible for bringing up these thoughts now? Subjects like this always fascinate me, despite being an atheist all my life (or at least agnostic when I was too young to care) I hadn't considered the fact that I had no soul until a few years back (when I joined RDF)

I see this cycle of other life consuming us when we die as a comforting thought, it's the closest we can get to Gaia theory or Buddist reincarnation without adding the crazy spiritual nonsense to the mix.

the idea of an immortal soul has always seemed to me to be based on a combination of absurd egotism and wishful thinking. but having witnessed over my lifetime several people die of prolonged illnesses, i would not attempt to rob them of whatever comfort they may derive from such a belief. i might openly express ridicule and contempt for such a belief on an atheist forum such as this, but i would curb my tongue in the presence of someone lying on their deathbed, for whom there is no hope of recovery.

[ScholasticSpastic]

I'm bitterly disappointed by this thread: I came in spoiling for a fight and now I find that there is not one I disagree with to be found.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

I'm bitterly disappointed by this thread: I came in spoiling for a fight and now I find that there is not one I disagree with to be found.

Liar!

[Link]

I'm bitterly disappointed by this thread: I came in spoiling for a fight and now I find that there is not one I disagree with to be found.

Liar!

[A Monkey Shaved]

The mortality or immortality of the soul is not the big issue with me but religious leaders preaching that any conversion or belief will make any difference. I cannot be sure whether or not I will be reincarnated or have been reincarnated but I am of the view my philosophy or religious belief (or lack of) has nothing to do with it. I am deeply sceptical of any supernatural afterlife such as entering any supernatural realm such as heaven, hell or as some ghost that can do amazing things like walking through castle walls where I become permanently immortal in some ethereal spirit form

[AshtonBlack]

You seem quite stoic about it.

the stroke, or being turned into a pile of dung?

A small joke based on your username. Granted a bad one.

[Rum]

People who do believe in the existence of a soul get very muddled by it I find..not surprisingly. There appears to be a notion that there is either 1. Some invisible part of us we are not aware of conscious of which survives death (in which case why does it suddenly become aware in some way), or 2. That there is some irreducible core of a person which is their true identity - a sort of holy identity, which carries on. Either way..quite clearly given the available evidence hooey it would appear.

[Robert_S]

People who do believe in the existence of a soul get very muddled by it I find..not surprisingly. There appears to be a notion that there is either 1. Some invisible part of us we are not aware of conscious of which survives death (in which case why does it suddenly become aware in some way), or 2. That there is some irreducible core of a person which is their true identity - a sort of holy identity, which carries on. Either way..quite clearly given the available evidence hooey it would appear.

I still use the word "soul" and I like the word, but I'm not to talking about anything supernatural when I do use it.

[mindyourmind]

And the discussion on the soul causes such fun speculations. Why do we have to lug around our bodies for a few decades if it's all really about getting to the soul part and partying with Jesus? Why not create souls from the beginning? How long is "forever"? How will my soul "burn"? Can I kill my soul if I get bored up there? Where is up there? Can souls fly? If they can, how will they keep us in heaven or hell? How will we recognize other souls?

So much fun

[Robert_S]

Can I kill my soul if I get bored up there? Where is up there?

For Americans "up there" is Canada. "Down there" would be Texas.

[A Monkey Shaved]

How people kid themselves that people in the days when they gotten around on the backs of mules, donkeys and oxen had the answers about the fate of the soul after death any more than we do today in spite our sophisticated technology?

[fordo]

, i glide though hear but once a month,like rum i dont see the point of the op,did you really have a stroke or are you just a special type of smart arse?

[Xamonas Chegwé]

People who do believe in the existence of a soul get very muddled by it I find..not surprisingly. There appears to be a notion that there is either 1. Some invisible part of us we are not aware of conscious of which survives death (in which case why does it suddenly become aware in some way), or 2. That there is some irreducible core of a person which is their true identity - a sort of holy identity, which carries on. Either way..quite clearly given the available evidence hooey it would appear.

I still use the word "soul" and I like the word, but I'm not to talking about anything supernatural when I do use it.

Supernatural soul does exist - here is proof.