Welcome to the QDP!OMG! A topic!
Ooo, let's talk about life, the universe and everything like I did in my last update.
I believe that we have souls, people are a bunch of chemical responses but that does not explain why 2 people in frighteningly similar situations will deal with them completely differently. I believe that there is a higher power, I am actually Catholic (priest issues aside) this gives me something to believe in. I have questioned my faith, and the existence and or overall temperment of that higherpower. When the asshole that hit me in my wreck walks down the aisle of church not weeks after said wreck and says, "That's the bitch that hit me" , that made me wonder. I wasn't sure that there was a God and if there was what kind of sick bastard would allow that to happen to me after my week's stay in the hospital and all the rehab etc in front of me? As they say, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I found that when the doctors told me by some miracle I would walk again though they had thought I never would, I figured there must be something out there watching over. If there wasn't people could of even should have died that night of the wreck.
If nothing else, look at it this way, you believe in a higher power all of your life and there isn't one what do you lose. If there is one and you don't believe, you may be screwed.
"Her evidence for the existence of a soul is that we occupy these shells, but they're merely tools for us to survive and reproduce, etc."
Don't you mean her theory for the existance of a soul 
Now how did you read that sentence without reading the sentence that immediately preceeded it?
hmm, evidence is too strong of a word, but I'll use it as long as we all agree that it means "strong suggestion"
It's amazing. I've been writing this website for a few years now, and every time I approach a subject gently it doesn't matter how many warnings and disclaimers I write, someone will be completely blind and ignore them just so that they can read what they want to read. No Matt, I don't mean "theory". I mean "evidence". It's her belief, so to her it's evidence. And if you'd read the entire paragraph even you wouldn't be able to dispute that we have souls. If you'd reread the paragraph, you'd see that in this case, the definition of "soul" is, essentially, "life".
Sorry if this sounds like I'm getting pissy and defensive, but I chose my words in that post very specifically so that no one could come along with a "I'm an athiest so immiately this is bullshit" attitude and ruin it. I'm as much of an athiest as you can get, but what interested me in this conversation was something that anyone can talk about: "What is life?" If you're going to be close minded and immediately shoot down anything the other person says just because they use the term "soul" (a largely religious concept) then there's no point in having the conversation. You're obviously not goibng to back down, so what's the point? This is why I don't talk about religion unless in very careful company. Too many people can't accept that other people have their own beliefs and refuse to allow a healthy conversation to develop. I can't stand that attitute, really.
So, consider this a warning (though, as message boards go, I'm sure it'll probably be the last message in the thread, what with everyone too afraid to speak and all). Don't be close minded. This is not an unmoderated newsgroup where silly, immature flames (things like making fun of punctuation or spelling) and immediately nay-saying will be tolerated.
That said, I apologize to Matt. You've touched a nerve, man.
Q I understand your reasoning, but Matt has always seen things this way, his comments are not surprising,at least since high school. Don't be too offended or upset like you said everyone has different views and people tend to be very passionate about those beliefs. Both sides have a right to there own belief systems. This is one of the touchiest subjects you are going to have some issues. Try to be calm and deal more lightly with the fall-out.
It's not the subject or the beliefs that have me bothered. It's the attitude. I've seen it in a hundred message boards and newsgroups. My problem is that it's not debate, it's just inciting others and flaming. I've got no problem at all with debate - as long as it's respectable.
I don't see what the big deal is. Be it my "evidence" or my "theory"... Who really cares? It's mine, isn't it? I'm never one to argue the existence of God. No one REALLY knows if He exists or not, you just chose to believe or not. If believing brings you comfort, go you! If you'd rather not, go you too! If you live your life as a good person I think that's all that really matters. If you don't believe, God will just bop you on the head when you get to heaven and say, "See! I told you I was real!" As far as my "theory/evidence" on what you "soul" is. Everyone has their own belief system there too. So, hugs to everyone that hasn't killed anyone yet or spit in anyone's drink before serving it. You've got a ticket to heaven, and if for some reason there isn't one, you can die at least thinking you'll go there.... and if you don't believe in heaven, then you really don't care, do you? 
Hugs to all anyhow!
Vic
Quentin, I typed a few sentences, and you made a bunch of claims against me. Couldn't you have politely responed with something simple?
I'm not even here to debate. I simply responded very subtly to your first comment.
No Matt, I don't mean "theory". I mean "evidence". It's her belief, so to her it's evidence. And if you'd read the entire paragraph even you wouldn't be able to dispute that we have souls. If you'd reread the paragraph, you'd see that in this case, the definition of "soul" is, essentially, "life".
Sounded more like a theory to me.
I don't think beliefs are evidence of anything. If they were then I could say that I believe the Bengals just won the Superbowl, and it would be evidence that they won. But did they?
And secondly, when did I say I could dispute that we have souls? And you know the kind of soul I'm talking about. You obvoiusly do, otherwise you wouldn't try to assume I knew what you meant by the word "soul," right? You never even stated that "soul" meant "life."
Sorry if this sounds like I'm getting pissy and defensive, but I chose my words in that post very specifically so that no one could come along with a "I'm an athiest so immiately this is bullshit" attitude and ruin it.
I was simply responding to your semantics. I didn't mean to offend you.
If you're going to be close minded and immediately shoot down anything the other person says just because they use the term "soul" (a largely religious concept) then there's no point in having the conversation. You're obviously not goibng to back down, so what's the point? This is why I don't talk about religion unless in very careful company. Too many people can't accept that other people have their own beliefs and refuse to allow a healthy conversation to develop. I can't stand that attitute, really.
Close minded? I wasn't shooting anything down. I was responding to you because I didn't agree with your definition of a word. How is that shooting anything down?
I do accept that other people have their own beliefs. I didn't come into this discussion trying to disprove anyones' beliefs. I didn't even think you could disprove beliefs. 
Is everyone calmed down now?
If believing brings you comfort, go you! If you'd rather not, go you too! If you live your life as a good person I think that's all that really matters.
Well spoken Vic!!!!!!!
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THEY FUCKING ROCK!
Thank you, Drizzt!Post new comment
"Her evidence for the existence of a soul is that we occupy these shells, but they're merely tools for us to survive and reproduce, etc."
Don't you mean her theory for the existance of a soul