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Re: Questions about souls... Joel Send a noteboard - 12/04/2011 05:44:53 PM
I'm writing a story and have been asking people to answer some questions. If you don't mind, it would help me greatly!

In my story, souls have been proven to exist by science. However, souls have a biological origin. Also, science has proven that souls can be and do get reborn.

How would your religious beliefs be changed by this, if at all?

The rebirth issue would be bigger than the biological one. Purely natural ex nihilo creation has always been the theist argument most compelling to me; otherwise I tend to endorse the view that natural laws were devised so that the universe doesn't need constant micromanaging. Setting aside how I feel about this statement itself, I find the notion of endless transmigration implausible, if only because of sustainable issues.
For Christians, would the news possibly make you change your beliefs? Lose faith? Or would it be met with continued faith and belief that it's all part of God's plan? Or outright disbelief? Something else?

A biological origin for souls would be unexpected in the sense of giving a physical analog to something generally understood as spiritual, but Christians obviously believe the spiritual can produce the physical, and a biological origin for souls is just as obviously not an origin for existence. Thus I'd still be left with a choice between ex nihilo creation or a supernatural First Cause of the natural universe; no change there. If you treat transmigration to mean brain death isn't actual death (since the souls life could continue) it's not hard to reconcile with core Christian doctrine (obviously the more beliefs you add to that core the more controversy is likely) so that wouldn't change much in itself either. The end game, if any, is what's relevant. Spirituality aside, the First and Second Law of Thermodynamics don't lend themselves to things like Big Bounces or ex nihilo creation. Even if souls were found to be tangential to or entirely irrelevant to those issues the issues themselves would remain. It might, however, convince some people to change religions if they couldn't see a way to reconcile the new findings with their current religion.
Responses from all religions (or lack there of) are welcome.

Thanks!

Welcome.
Honorbound and honored to be Bonded to Mahtaliel Sedai
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Questions about souls... Antigone - 12/04/2011 03:06:54 AM 2326 Views
Re: Questions about souls... @my - 12/04/2011 03:23:00 AM 1302 Views
All right. Vivien - 12/04/2011 05:50:08 AM 1285 Views
Re: Questions about souls... temeraire - 12/04/2011 06:27:14 AM 1262 Views
It would really depend on the mechanism Isaac - 12/04/2011 06:28:24 AM 1152 Views
You assume we all know, and agree on, what "soul" means. Tim - 12/04/2011 08:42:47 AM 1173 Views
It is what hope, which is a thing with feathers, perches on. Vivien - 12/04/2011 07:32:07 PM 1253 Views
But seriously, what does it do? Aeryn - 12/04/2011 11:01:58 PM 1249 Views
It makes poems pretty. Vivien - 13/04/2011 07:00:03 PM 1254 Views
Re: Yeah, exactly. Gaps - 15/04/2011 02:43:24 AM 1226 Views
Just going off the 'reborn' thing.. MightyYT - 12/04/2011 08:53:28 AM 1151 Views
Hm. nossy - 12/04/2011 03:22:01 PM 1255 Views
Agreed. Joel - 12/04/2011 05:49:11 PM 1128 Views
it wouldn't change much for me, but I'm pretty flexible in my spiritual beliefs LadyLorraine - 12/04/2011 04:23:34 PM 1282 Views
This. *NM* Avendesora - 13/04/2011 04:15:11 PM 658 Views
Re: Questions about souls... Joel - 12/04/2011 05:44:53 PM 1359 Views
What a fantasy. Vivien - 12/04/2011 07:57:38 PM 1210 Views
What happened to two? *NM* Ghavrel - 12/04/2011 08:20:41 PM 692 Views
Thanks, I fixed it. *NM* Vivien - 12/04/2011 08:29:20 PM 675 Views
Your comments, or mine? Joel - 13/04/2011 01:24:53 AM 1680 Views
You get one guess. Vivien - 13/04/2011 07:09:01 PM 1397 Views
One dismissive answer deserves another. Joel - 24/04/2011 12:54:44 AM 1285 Views
I'm a Christian who is partial to reincarnation, so I do not think much would change. Ghavrel - 12/04/2011 06:21:36 PM 1222 Views
*is disappointed* *NM* Vivien - 12/04/2011 08:01:05 PM 596 Views
You'd be surprised how frequently I get that from both sides. Ghavrel - 12/04/2011 08:22:24 PM 1195 Views
I bet you do! Vivien - 12/04/2011 08:47:59 PM 1172 Views
Re: I bet you do! Ghavrel - 13/04/2011 04:02:07 AM 1182 Views
Does it really? Joel - 24/04/2011 01:09:34 AM 1102 Views
OMG! Vivien - 14/04/2011 06:19:50 PM 1190 Views
Go expand his worldview. *NM* Ghavrel - 14/04/2011 06:56:03 PM 624 Views
I think we are similar in some respects philosophically. everynametaken - 13/04/2011 05:59:38 AM 1155 Views
That's pretty much how I feel. Being a universalist helps in that respect. *NM* Ghavrel - 13/04/2011 06:25:34 AM 671 Views
Who says.... Jeordam - 13/04/2011 07:11:24 PM 1119 Views
So then my question is.... Jeordam - 13/04/2011 07:08:42 PM 1108 Views
Because I believe that Jesus was an incarnation of the λόγος. Ghavrel - 14/04/2011 12:36:36 AM 1152 Views
*heh* Jeordam - 14/04/2011 04:12:32 PM 1254 Views
I think I answered it pretty clearly in my post title. *NM* Ghavrel - 14/04/2011 06:59:47 PM 677 Views
Actually, you didn't. Jeordam - 15/04/2011 12:12:42 AM 1216 Views
Re: Actually, you didn't. Ghavrel - 24/04/2011 09:04:04 AM 1192 Views
I think that, like a lot of other people responding, I would want and need more information. Tom - 12/04/2011 07:13:14 PM 1155 Views
Speaking of the agnostic/atheist thing Vivien - 12/04/2011 07:40:04 PM 1212 Views
99% that there is no God... LadyLorraine - 12/04/2011 08:08:42 PM 1245 Views
Technically, no, atheists simply lack belief in a God. Ghavrel - 12/04/2011 08:19:15 PM 1197 Views
Whoah there, Stephen - 12/04/2011 08:26:43 PM 1155 Views
Okay, I have to admit I wasn't expecting to get called out on that. Ghavrel - 13/04/2011 04:03:08 AM 1262 Views
no I think that's just the literal definition... LadyLorraine - 12/04/2011 11:19:18 PM 1098 Views
Isn't that what "technically" would imply? Ghavrel - 13/04/2011 04:04:42 AM 1303 Views
And that's why I don't quibble with %'s, I just say I'm an atheist *NM* Vivien - 12/04/2011 09:45:31 PM 717 Views
It certainly doesn't mean you can't make conclusions. Tom - 12/04/2011 08:09:41 PM 1290 Views
Re: Campbell: Gaps - 12/04/2011 08:42:09 PM 1264 Views
Self-identification is an interesting point here. Tom - 12/04/2011 09:00:46 PM 1213 Views
Re: Agree Gaps - 12/04/2011 09:22:22 PM 1213 Views
Sadly enough, one of my favorite explanations of religion came from someone discussing a video game. Ghavrel - 13/04/2011 04:12:23 AM 1217 Views
Re: I'm basically a Magi. I'm going to travel to Brazil and then take over the world. *NM* Gaps - 13/04/2011 04:18:25 AM 721 Views
Either you meant "Magus" or you are a schizophrenic wizard. Both are acceptably awesome. Ghavrel - 13/04/2011 05:37:34 AM 1192 Views
Re: I think it was Jarod Diamond... Gaps - 14/04/2011 03:39:32 AM 1184 Views
You didn't understand the comment. Tom - 14/04/2011 05:22:46 AM 1048 Views
Re: Ah, gotcha. I'm not always that bright. *NM* Gaps - 14/04/2011 02:08:03 PM 513 Views
Answers. Vivien - 12/04/2011 09:05:38 PM 1155 Views
That's not a compelling counter-argument for me. Tom - 12/04/2011 11:22:21 PM 1341 Views
Never mind. Aeryn - 12/04/2011 11:34:46 PM 1137 Views
be sure to post if it does happen *NM* random thoughts - 12/04/2011 11:56:17 PM 617 Views
Have you had any vivid dreams that came true? Tom - 13/04/2011 01:16:59 AM 1095 Views
My mom used to have dreams like that, usually about relatives. Joel - 13/04/2011 02:25:45 AM 1303 Views
I can easily believe that. Tom - 13/04/2011 06:14:51 AM 1119 Views
Taking things at face value is usually unwise, but the face value can still be correct. Joel - 24/04/2011 12:11:51 AM 1053 Views
Minivans can fit lots of useful stuffs, like furniture. *NM* Aeryn - 13/04/2011 03:47:04 PM 673 Views
So can gas-guzzling SUVs, and full trucks. *NM* Tom - 13/04/2011 05:13:20 PM 627 Views
for that matter, you can fit a surprising amount even in a baby truck! *NM* LadyLorraine - 13/04/2011 06:36:58 PM 608 Views
I'd find it quite comforting ßelals Girl - 12/04/2011 07:40:09 PM 1151 Views
Well, as I said in my census form on Sunday Stephen - 12/04/2011 08:36:05 PM 1289 Views
Pythagoras was a total nut. Vivien - 12/04/2011 10:05:42 PM 1244 Views
True Stephen - 12/04/2011 10:13:43 PM 1137 Views
It would upset my belief in science random thoughts - 12/04/2011 09:39:39 PM 1301 Views
There's so much wrong with that statement. Vivien - 12/04/2011 09:55:45 PM 1303 Views
If science proved there really was an Easter Bunny would it affect your believe in science? *NM* random thoughts - 12/04/2011 10:30:09 PM 722 Views
*is both bored and annoyed* Vivien - 12/04/2011 11:03:10 PM 1163 Views
right. Aeryn - 12/04/2011 11:18:31 PM 1360 Views
and what if science proved that science was false? random thoughts - 12/04/2011 11:48:32 PM 1245 Views
I think that's kind of the point; it can't. Joel - 13/04/2011 01:33:44 AM 1112 Views
Did you read my original post? random thoughts - 13/04/2011 03:13:34 AM 1076 Views
I did, yes. Joel - 13/04/2011 03:32:18 AM 1113 Views
Yes it would upset my belief in science, why is that so hard to accept random thoughts - 13/04/2011 01:56:59 PM 1238 Views
Well, if that's all it is, we know that a lot of that broad base is wrong. Joel - 24/04/2011 01:18:05 AM 1359 Views
What's a soul? Aeryn - 12/04/2011 10:51:39 PM 1142 Views
I can only give you my personal take. Joel - 13/04/2011 01:47:39 AM 1264 Views
Actually the reason you don't revive people denied oxygen half an hour is due to chemical processes. Ghavrel - 13/04/2011 04:08:37 AM 1202 Views
True, but even well preserved brains require more than a jump start to resume life. Joel - 23/04/2011 09:20:42 PM 1058 Views
so did this guy took a railroad spike through the head random thoughts - 13/04/2011 01:58:52 PM 1292 Views
Nah, he just got someone else's added to him. But now Ruin can influence him. *NM* Ghavrel - 13/04/2011 06:38:31 PM 677 Views
Thanks a lot random thoughts - 13/04/2011 07:02:29 PM 1143 Views
I'm really happy you've read them and got the reference. Phineas Gage, Steel Inquisitor. *NM* Ghavrel - 14/04/2011 12:29:01 AM 601 Views
No. Joel - 23/04/2011 09:15:16 PM 1159 Views
but we know personality can be draticaly altered by physical means random thoughts - 24/04/2011 03:28:36 AM 1479 Views
"We" don't know that; that's the problem. Joel - 24/04/2011 07:02:49 AM 1308 Views
Can one have an identity without memory? *NM* Aeryn - 13/04/2011 03:46:16 PM 646 Views
Sure. Joel - 23/04/2011 08:53:51 PM 977 Views
I assume you're implying time travel between past-life or future-life experiences. Burr - 12/04/2011 11:26:19 PM 1196 Views
Re: My question about souls: who will save your souuuuls? *NM* Gaps - 13/04/2011 04:04:21 AM 646 Views
I would becoming interested in tracing people's souls across time/space Helene - 13/04/2011 04:00:51 PM 1143 Views
Re: I would becoming interested in tracing people's souls across time/space Antigone - 14/04/2011 03:29:55 AM 1230 Views
Sorry :-) Helene - 14/04/2011 10:15:30 AM 1226 Views
Interesting concept.... Jeordam - 13/04/2011 07:28:42 PM 1137 Views
Heh. Loose faith. LadyLorraine - 14/04/2011 02:32:27 AM 1125 Views
It kinda still works though....doesn't it? Jeordam - 14/04/2011 04:14:19 PM 1151 Views
it does work. well in fact! *NM* LadyLorraine - 24/04/2011 03:24:25 AM 655 Views
Oooh... Burr - 14/04/2011 04:31:30 AM 1203 Views
Who says..... Jeordam - 14/04/2011 04:26:31 PM 1266 Views
Wow, thanks for all the responses!! Antigone - 14/04/2011 03:42:38 AM 1291 Views
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