Intelligent Design or Evolution?

[Mario the Lothario]

Do you?

 

[likka]

I am far from the only person who has experienced it though.

Please feel free to share this evidence that all humans have a soul.

 

[likka]

Do you?

Why?

 

[Mario the Lothario]

Why?

I'm interested in knowing.

It's a simple question, there's no need for you to be defensive.

 

[Niximus]

Do you?

Please tell me you're not going to ask where that love comes from and try to paint it as an entity....

 

[Richo83]

Thought and emotion are incorporated into the doctrine of emptiness. There's also the bundle theory. Anatta too. Interestingly enough Buddha actually believed that a belief in a soul or self contributed to immorality.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundle_theory
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatta

 

[likka]

People experienced the effects of gravity long before there was an observable explanation for it.

We are living in 2009, not 1009. You really are clutching at straws now.

 

[likka]

I'm interested in knowing.

It's a simple question, there's no need for you to be defensive.

What if I don't have a mother?

 

[Mario the Lothario]

What if I don't have a mother?

Then intelligent design wins the day.

 

[Mario the Lothario]

Okay likka, assuming you do have a mother do you love her?

 

[skilts]

It is not a physical construct, but it feels to me like it's in the middle of my brain. Perhaps the pineal gland has something to do with it, I'm not sure.

The body and the soul are seperate, and the body lives on as atoms, after what we call 'death' - I am unsure where the soul goes, but I don't imagine it just disappears.

I'm sure all people are born with souls. I'm not sure if everyone has access to their soul though. It might be that it lays dormant within some people.

That the soul is not a physical construct would indicate that it has no presence as extention. It would also appear, from what you said, that all attempts to locate it have failed. The only clue you are able to provide to its probable location is a feeling you have. You say the body and soul are separate. If this be so, where is the soul, if not in the body?

To refer to 'a soul', as you have, would indicate that you think the soul has an element of thingness to it. Yet you are unable to assert that this existing thing has any extention or specific location. What kind of a thing is that?

Is it possible that the thing you refer to as 'soul' is something else altogether, or indeed, nothing at all? Have you entertained that possibility? Given your certainty of its existence, does not the woolly definition on which you are forced to rely give rise to doubt as to the reliability of your feelings on the matter? Or do you refuse to entertain doubts about such feelings? Are feelings so important to you that you are prepared to argue for them to the exclusion of any other explanation? Is it possible that you are imposing the existence of a 'thing' to explain a feeling which you seem incapable of expressing otherwise in language?

 

[Richo83]

The intelligent design wins the day.

That was rather stupid.

Okay likka, assuming you do have a mother do you love her?

And this is an irrelevant point. As I said, emotion and thought doesn't disprove the no-self theory.

 

[likka]

Please tell me you're not going to ask where that love comes from and try to paint it as an entity....

Sad, isn't it.

Now they are trying to correlate the existence of emotions with the existence of a soul.

FWIW I love my dog!

 

[Mario the Lothario]

That was rather stupid.

It's a joke.

And this is an irrelevant point. As I said, emotion and thought doesn't disprove the no-self theory.

I don't care what you "have said". You have no idea where I'm going with this. Please shut up.

 

[Karl Pilkington]

Sad, isn't it.

Now they are trying to correlate the existence of emotions with the existence of a soul.

FWIW I love my dog!

I don't think I've done that at all.

 

[Mario the Lothario]

Sad, isn't it.

Now they are trying to correlate the existence of emotions with the existence of a soul.

What are you so afraid of? After all, you were happy to come in here, play John Wayne and bludgeon Karl over the head with your opionions!

FWIW I love my dog!

I don't believe you, prove it?

 

[sherrinorburley]

Apparently the Godfather Of Soul to some.

Not sure what it is the great man had/has in his music.

Possibly soul. Maybe to only those who have one?

ps. if you dont like James Brown you must have no soul

 

[Karl Pilkington]

That the soul is not a physical construct would indicate that it has no presence as extention. It would also appear, from what you said, that all attempts to locate it have failed. The only clue you are able to provide to its probable location is a feeling you have. You say the body and soul are separate. If this be so, where is the soul, if not in the body?

To refer to 'a soul', as you have, would indicate that you think the soul has an element of thingness to it. Yet you are unable to assert that this existing thing has any extention or specific location. What kind of a thing is that?

These are all excellent points skilts. The thingness one in particular stumps me. The best way I can explain it, is that to give it a word (like soul, for example) is to cheapen what it really is, or at least, to not describe it properly.

Is it possible that the thing you refer to as 'soul' is something else altogether, or indeed, nothing at all? Have you entertained that possibility? Given your certainty of its existence, does not the woolly definition on which you are forced to rely give rise to doubt as to the reliability of your feelings on the matter? Or do you refuse to entertain doubts about such feelings? Are feelings so important to you that you are prepared to argue for them to the exclusion of any other explanation? Is it possible that you are imposing the existence of a 'thing' to explain a feeling which you seem incapable of expressing otherwise in language?

Well, existence itself is only perception. Even scientific facts are only facts because of the way we percieve the measures we use to define them.

Defintely not afraid to entertain other explanations - I think the thread topic is kind of misleading as neither ID or evolution are absolute explanations for humankind.

The bolded is 100% possible, and very likely.

Scientifically, in this thread, we have established that the atoms that make up the body are eternal, right? And if those atoms are responsible for the 'soul' or consciousness, then that would mean that consciousness must also be eternal, evne if it is broken up or ceases to function in the way we are aware of it right now, no?

 

[skilts]

Apparently the Godfather Of Soul to some.

Not sure what it is the great man had/has in his music.

Possibly soul. Maybe to only those who have one?

ps. if you dont like James Brown you must have no soul

Didn't he write that famous best-selling book, 'A Soul's Journey'? Only in America.

 

[likka]

What are you so afraid of? After all, you were happy to come in here, play John Wayne and bludgeon Karl over the head with your opionions!

Because he is stating his opinion as if it were fact. It is not. It is not even logical. He has taken a random emotion or feeling within his brain and used this as proof of an independent entity he likes to call a soul.

I don't believe you, prove it?

It is an emotion in my brain which indicates a fondness of my dog, it is not an independent entity. Just like your mythical soul.

If you want proof then document my caring and nurturing behavior with my dog over the next 12 months.

 

[Karl Pilkington]

Because he is stating his opinion as if it were fact. It is not. It is not even logical. He has taken a random emotion or feeling within his brain and used this as proof of an independent entity he likes to call a soul.

I am only stating my perception of it as fact or real, not as a scientific fact.

This feeling is anythingbut random, I have to concentrate very hard to access this feeling. It isn't an emotion though, it is more of an awareness.

 

[Mario the Lothario]

It is an emotion in my brain which indicates a fondness of my dog, it is not an independent entity. Just like your mythical soul.

I don't believe you, prove it?

You have the answers, I need to read them.

 

[sherrinorburley]

Didn't he write that famous best-selling book, 'A Soul's Journey'? Only in America.

As far as i know....no he didn't.

His music/voice/actions has/have something that is obviously FELT and/or DISPLAYED as SOUL.

I'm convinced. As are millions of others.

You either get it or you dont.

 

[Richo83]

It's a joke.

I don't care what you "have said". You have no idea where I'm going with this. Please shut up.

Alright, okay, lets see where you go with this then.

 

[Mario the Lothario]

Scientifically, in this thread, we have established that the atoms that make up the body are eternal, right? And if those atoms are responsible for the 'soul' or consciousness, then that would mean that consciousness must also be eternal, evne if it is broken up or ceases to function in the way we are aware of it right now, no?

I think you might be on to something there.