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Interesting concept.... Jeordam Send a noteboard - 13/04/2011 07:28:42 PM
For anyone who doesn't know me, I'm a fairly concervative Christian...literal, infallable Bible believeing Christian. I am also a Scientist, with my degree and career in science. As such, I find myself squarely in both worlds on a daily basis.

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.

Interesting concept. The first thought that comes to mind is the scientific definition of a soul. And then if it is biological in origin, the mechanism (when/how/why) of the souls origin. This idea has some very interesting implications....abortion & euthenasia being the two topics that come to mind.

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

It would certainly complicate things, but not in an earth shattering way. Let me provide this example.

Carbon dating, a nice scientific test/mechanism, indicates that the earth/whatever is old....very old. This doesn't sit well with my belief that the world/universe isn't that old. How do these two thoughts co-exist in the same mind? Faith (on both sides). Faith that carbon decays at a steady rate, despite the fact that we have no real time data over eons proving as such, and instead it is calculated off of mathmatics. Faith that when God created the universe, it didn't just pop into existence and the clock started ticking then, but instead everything had an age already associated to it (as in, when God created a dog, it wasn't puppy, but instead was fully matured).

These two faiths then work in concert to create an atmosphere where I cannot know everything to both sides, but they are not mutually exclusive either.

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?

Define "change your beliefs" please. The core of what I believe does not change. The little fascets of my belief system does change...and has changed...over time and my experience with life and my relationship with Christ. My faith has strengthened and matured over the years. A find of this magnatude (as in your story) would require me to contemplate my faith.

Loose faith...never.

My faith would continue and it would definatley be seen as part of God's plan. I believe that my God only wants the best for me. That best does include challenges to who I am and what I believe as well. If I was never challeneged, then how am I to grow?

This is an interesting topic. I look forward to more discussion.
~Jeordam
ex-Admin at wotmania (all things wot & art galleries)
Saving the Princess, Humanity, or the World-Entire since 1985
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Questions about souls... Antigone - 12/04/2011 03:06:54 AM 2239 Views
Re: Questions about souls... @my - 12/04/2011 03:23:00 AM 1212 Views
All right. Vivien - 12/04/2011 05:50:08 AM 1187 Views
Re: Questions about souls... temeraire - 12/04/2011 06:27:14 AM 1168 Views
It would really depend on the mechanism Isaac - 12/04/2011 06:28:24 AM 1055 Views
You assume we all know, and agree on, what "soul" means. Tim - 12/04/2011 08:42:47 AM 1092 Views
It is what hope, which is a thing with feathers, perches on. Vivien - 12/04/2011 07:32:07 PM 1156 Views
But seriously, what does it do? Aeryn - 12/04/2011 11:01:58 PM 1150 Views
It makes poems pretty. Vivien - 13/04/2011 07:00:03 PM 1173 Views
Re: Yeah, exactly. Gaps - 15/04/2011 02:43:24 AM 1140 Views
Just going off the 'reborn' thing.. MightyYT - 12/04/2011 08:53:28 AM 1070 Views
Hm. nossy - 12/04/2011 03:22:01 PM 1192 Views
Agreed. Joel - 12/04/2011 05:49:11 PM 1039 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 1184 Views
This. *NM* Avendesora - 13/04/2011 04:15:11 PM 624 Views
Re: Questions about souls... Joel - 12/04/2011 05:44:53 PM 1249 Views
What a fantasy. Vivien - 12/04/2011 07:57:38 PM 1105 Views
What happened to two? *NM* Ghavrel - 12/04/2011 08:20:41 PM 627 Views
Thanks, I fixed it. *NM* Vivien - 12/04/2011 08:29:20 PM 638 Views
Your comments, or mine? Joel - 13/04/2011 01:24:53 AM 1580 Views
You get one guess. Vivien - 13/04/2011 07:09:01 PM 1301 Views
One dismissive answer deserves another. Joel - 24/04/2011 12:54:44 AM 1198 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 1141 Views
*is disappointed* *NM* Vivien - 12/04/2011 08:01:05 PM 564 Views
You'd be surprised how frequently I get that from both sides. Ghavrel - 12/04/2011 08:22:24 PM 1121 Views
I bet you do! Vivien - 12/04/2011 08:47:59 PM 1086 Views
Re: I bet you do! Ghavrel - 13/04/2011 04:02:07 AM 1099 Views
Does it really? Joel - 24/04/2011 01:09:34 AM 1023 Views
OMG! Vivien - 14/04/2011 06:19:50 PM 1112 Views
Go expand his worldview. *NM* Ghavrel - 14/04/2011 06:56:03 PM 589 Views
I think we are similar in some respects philosophically. everynametaken - 13/04/2011 05:59:38 AM 1075 Views
That's pretty much how I feel. Being a universalist helps in that respect. *NM* Ghavrel - 13/04/2011 06:25:34 AM 632 Views
Who says.... Jeordam - 13/04/2011 07:11:24 PM 1033 Views
So then my question is.... Jeordam - 13/04/2011 07:08:42 PM 1029 Views
Because I believe that Jesus was an incarnation of the λόγος. Ghavrel - 14/04/2011 12:36:36 AM 1061 Views
*heh* Jeordam - 14/04/2011 04:12:32 PM 1176 Views
I think I answered it pretty clearly in my post title. *NM* Ghavrel - 14/04/2011 06:59:47 PM 645 Views
Actually, you didn't. Jeordam - 15/04/2011 12:12:42 AM 1130 Views
Re: Actually, you didn't. Ghavrel - 24/04/2011 09:04:04 AM 1113 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 1061 Views
Speaking of the agnostic/atheist thing Vivien - 12/04/2011 07:40:04 PM 1121 Views
99% that there is no God... LadyLorraine - 12/04/2011 08:08:42 PM 1166 Views
Technically, no, atheists simply lack belief in a God. Ghavrel - 12/04/2011 08:19:15 PM 1103 Views
Whoah there, Stephen - 12/04/2011 08:26:43 PM 1085 Views
Okay, I have to admit I wasn't expecting to get called out on that. Ghavrel - 13/04/2011 04:03:08 AM 1191 Views
no I think that's just the literal definition... LadyLorraine - 12/04/2011 11:19:18 PM 1022 Views
Isn't that what "technically" would imply? Ghavrel - 13/04/2011 04:04:42 AM 1218 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 678 Views
It certainly doesn't mean you can't make conclusions. Tom - 12/04/2011 08:09:41 PM 1187 Views
Re: Campbell: Gaps - 12/04/2011 08:42:09 PM 1177 Views
Self-identification is an interesting point here. Tom - 12/04/2011 09:00:46 PM 1126 Views
Re: Agree Gaps - 12/04/2011 09:22:22 PM 1116 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 1130 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 679 Views
Either you meant "Magus" or you are a schizophrenic wizard. Both are acceptably awesome. Ghavrel - 13/04/2011 05:37:34 AM 1118 Views
Re: I think it was Jarod Diamond... Gaps - 14/04/2011 03:39:32 AM 1099 Views
You didn't understand the comment. Tom - 14/04/2011 05:22:46 AM 971 Views
Re: Ah, gotcha. I'm not always that bright. *NM* Gaps - 14/04/2011 02:08:03 PM 470 Views
Answers. Vivien - 12/04/2011 09:05:38 PM 1075 Views
That's not a compelling counter-argument for me. Tom - 12/04/2011 11:22:21 PM 1250 Views
Never mind. Aeryn - 12/04/2011 11:34:46 PM 1050 Views
be sure to post if it does happen *NM* random thoughts - 12/04/2011 11:56:17 PM 579 Views
Have you had any vivid dreams that came true? Tom - 13/04/2011 01:16:59 AM 1018 Views
My mom used to have dreams like that, usually about relatives. Joel - 13/04/2011 02:25:45 AM 1211 Views
I can easily believe that. Tom - 13/04/2011 06:14:51 AM 1026 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 964 Views
Minivans can fit lots of useful stuffs, like furniture. *NM* Aeryn - 13/04/2011 03:47:04 PM 640 Views
So can gas-guzzling SUVs, and full trucks. *NM* Tom - 13/04/2011 05:13:20 PM 593 Views
for that matter, you can fit a surprising amount even in a baby truck! *NM* LadyLorraine - 13/04/2011 06:36:58 PM 575 Views
I'd find it quite comforting ßelals Girl - 12/04/2011 07:40:09 PM 1049 Views
Well, as I said in my census form on Sunday Stephen - 12/04/2011 08:36:05 PM 1209 Views
Pythagoras was a total nut. Vivien - 12/04/2011 10:05:42 PM 1169 Views
True Stephen - 12/04/2011 10:13:43 PM 1061 Views
It would upset my belief in science random thoughts - 12/04/2011 09:39:39 PM 1214 Views
There's so much wrong with that statement. Vivien - 12/04/2011 09:55:45 PM 1190 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 684 Views
*is both bored and annoyed* Vivien - 12/04/2011 11:03:10 PM 1078 Views
right. Aeryn - 12/04/2011 11:18:31 PM 1277 Views
and what if science proved that science was false? random thoughts - 12/04/2011 11:48:32 PM 1157 Views
I think that's kind of the point; it can't. Joel - 13/04/2011 01:33:44 AM 1027 Views
Did you read my original post? random thoughts - 13/04/2011 03:13:34 AM 993 Views
I did, yes. Joel - 13/04/2011 03:32:18 AM 1037 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 1145 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 1278 Views
What's a soul? Aeryn - 12/04/2011 10:51:39 PM 1063 Views
I can only give you my personal take. Joel - 13/04/2011 01:47:39 AM 1193 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 1122 Views
True, but even well preserved brains require more than a jump start to resume life. Joel - 23/04/2011 09:20:42 PM 974 Views
so did this guy took a railroad spike through the head random thoughts - 13/04/2011 01:58:52 PM 1208 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 647 Views
Thanks a lot random thoughts - 13/04/2011 07:02:29 PM 1069 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 568 Views
No. Joel - 23/04/2011 09:15:16 PM 1084 Views
but we know personality can be draticaly altered by physical means random thoughts - 24/04/2011 03:28:36 AM 1399 Views
"We" don't know that; that's the problem. Joel - 24/04/2011 07:02:49 AM 1227 Views
Can one have an identity without memory? *NM* Aeryn - 13/04/2011 03:46:16 PM 610 Views
Sure. Joel - 23/04/2011 08:53:51 PM 914 Views
I assume you're implying time travel between past-life or future-life experiences. Burr - 12/04/2011 11:26:19 PM 1115 Views
Re: My question about souls: who will save your souuuuls? *NM* Gaps - 13/04/2011 04:04:21 AM 612 Views
I would becoming interested in tracing people's souls across time/space Helene - 13/04/2011 04:00:51 PM 1067 Views
Re: I would becoming interested in tracing people's souls across time/space Antigone - 14/04/2011 03:29:55 AM 1146 Views
Sorry :-) Helene - 14/04/2011 10:15:30 AM 1155 Views
Interesting concept.... Jeordam - 13/04/2011 07:28:42 PM 1048 Views
Heh. Loose faith. LadyLorraine - 14/04/2011 02:32:27 AM 1046 Views
It kinda still works though....doesn't it? Jeordam - 14/04/2011 04:14:19 PM 1066 Views
it does work. well in fact! *NM* LadyLorraine - 24/04/2011 03:24:25 AM 588 Views
Oooh... Burr - 14/04/2011 04:31:30 AM 1129 Views
Who says..... Jeordam - 14/04/2011 04:26:31 PM 1184 Views
Wow, thanks for all the responses!! Antigone - 14/04/2011 03:42:38 AM 1190 Views
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