judy@ut-ngp.UUCP (05/01/84)
I am curious. Do any of the atheists or agnostics out there believe that man has a soul? You know, as in "an eternal spirit"? If so, what leads you to this belief? And if not, why not? See, I feel that there are so many things in this world that science has not explained, and to refuse to acknowledge this is like putting on blinders (the kind that race horses wear so they won't get distracted). It's not that I don't think science is capable of explaining these things, it's just that science has found it difficult, so far, to conduct experiments on paranormal occurrences. Sometimes I think that our technology has made it more difficult to keep in touch with our fellow man - how much more it must affect our ability to sense the non-physical! Do any of you believe in the existance of telepathy, ESP, precognition, ghosts? Note that these things are independent of a belief in God, even though many belief systems include explanations of them. Judy
pso@utastro.UUCP (P Samuel Odoms) (05/02/84)
Yes, I think that such things as ESP, telepathy, precognition, and even ghosts are possible. But I do not believe in a soul in the religious way. There may actually be some sort of an after-life or again-life but not because of a god. Sam
labelle@hplabsc.UUCP (05/03/84)
1) No, I don't "believe" in "souls". Reason- same that I don't think there is a God- no evidence and no logic for it! 2) As far as ESP precognition, etc., not sure yet. I do believe in coincidence though. the eternal atheist GEORGE
liberte@uiucdcs.UUCP (05/09/84)
#R:ut-ngp:-56700:uiucdcs:33000052:000:1017 uiucdcs!liberte May 8 18:35:00 1984 As an agnostic-agnostic (I am not sure that I cant know - in fact, I am beginning to believe I can know) I do believe in the existence of souls. This is not to say that I know it for sure. I am just entertaining the possibility. Experimental belief, it's called. The reasons I give for this belief are the result of years of consideration. Evidence from ESP research indicates the existence of something beyond the mind/body. Evidence of memories of past lives being substantiated supports the belief of reincarnation of some continuous memory entity. Evidence of the workings of astrology (not daily horoscopes) and its link with reincarnation points to non-physical causal connections. I dont have any religious beliefs in the usual sense of the word. Anything I choose to believe must eventually be supported scientifically. Until then my beliefs are open to reevaluation and change. Daniel LaLiberte, U of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Computer Science {moderation in all things - including moderation}