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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 2427 Views
Re: Questions about souls... @my - 12/04/2011 03:23:00 AM 1390 Views
All right. Vivien - 12/04/2011 05:50:08 AM 1386 Views
Re: Questions about souls... temeraire - 12/04/2011 06:27:14 AM 1359 Views
It would really depend on the mechanism Isaac - 12/04/2011 06:28:24 AM 1248 Views
You assume we all know, and agree on, what "soul" means. Tim - 12/04/2011 08:42:47 AM 1276 Views
It is what hope, which is a thing with feathers, perches on. Vivien - 12/04/2011 07:32:07 PM 1341 Views
But seriously, what does it do? Aeryn - 12/04/2011 11:01:58 PM 1335 Views
It makes poems pretty. Vivien - 13/04/2011 07:00:03 PM 1346 Views
Re: Yeah, exactly. Gaps - 15/04/2011 02:43:24 AM 1317 Views
Just going off the 'reborn' thing.. MightyYT - 12/04/2011 08:53:28 AM 1247 Views
Hm. nossy - 12/04/2011 03:22:01 PM 1357 Views
Agreed. Joel - 12/04/2011 05:49:11 PM 1220 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 1372 Views
This. *NM* Avendesora - 13/04/2011 04:15:11 PM 756 Views
Re: Questions about souls... Joel - 12/04/2011 05:44:53 PM 1490 Views
What a fantasy. Vivien - 12/04/2011 07:57:38 PM 1317 Views
What happened to two? *NM* Ghavrel - 12/04/2011 08:20:41 PM 745 Views
Thanks, I fixed it. *NM* Vivien - 12/04/2011 08:29:20 PM 720 Views
Your comments, or mine? Joel - 13/04/2011 01:24:53 AM 1816 Views
You get one guess. Vivien - 13/04/2011 07:09:01 PM 1513 Views
One dismissive answer deserves another. Joel - 24/04/2011 12:54:44 AM 1380 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 1310 Views
*is disappointed* *NM* Vivien - 12/04/2011 08:01:05 PM 643 Views
You'd be surprised how frequently I get that from both sides. Ghavrel - 12/04/2011 08:22:24 PM 1297 Views
I bet you do! Vivien - 12/04/2011 08:47:59 PM 1294 Views
Re: I bet you do! Ghavrel - 13/04/2011 04:02:07 AM 1275 Views
Does it really? Joel - 24/04/2011 01:09:34 AM 1250 Views
OMG! Vivien - 14/04/2011 06:19:50 PM 1280 Views
Go expand his worldview. *NM* Ghavrel - 14/04/2011 06:56:03 PM 670 Views
I think we are similar in some respects philosophically. everynametaken - 13/04/2011 05:59:38 AM 1271 Views
That's pretty much how I feel. Being a universalist helps in that respect. *NM* Ghavrel - 13/04/2011 06:25:34 AM 737 Views
Who says.... Jeordam - 13/04/2011 07:11:24 PM 1212 Views
So then my question is.... Jeordam - 13/04/2011 07:08:42 PM 1208 Views
Because I believe that Jesus was an incarnation of the λόγος. Ghavrel - 14/04/2011 12:36:36 AM 1277 Views
*heh* Jeordam - 14/04/2011 04:12:32 PM 1364 Views
I think I answered it pretty clearly in my post title. *NM* Ghavrel - 14/04/2011 06:59:47 PM 730 Views
Actually, you didn't. Jeordam - 15/04/2011 12:12:42 AM 1310 Views
Re: Actually, you didn't. Ghavrel - 24/04/2011 09:04:04 AM 1287 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 1260 Views
Speaking of the agnostic/atheist thing Vivien - 12/04/2011 07:40:04 PM 1315 Views
99% that there is no God... LadyLorraine - 12/04/2011 08:08:42 PM 1335 Views
Technically, no, atheists simply lack belief in a God. Ghavrel - 12/04/2011 08:19:15 PM 1298 Views
Whoah there, Stephen - 12/04/2011 08:26:43 PM 1277 Views
Okay, I have to admit I wasn't expecting to get called out on that. Ghavrel - 13/04/2011 04:03:08 AM 1369 Views
no I think that's just the literal definition... LadyLorraine - 12/04/2011 11:19:18 PM 1184 Views
Isn't that what "technically" would imply? Ghavrel - 13/04/2011 04:04:42 AM 1403 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 768 Views
It certainly doesn't mean you can't make conclusions. Tom - 12/04/2011 08:09:41 PM 1387 Views
Re: Campbell: Gaps - 12/04/2011 08:42:09 PM 1359 Views
Self-identification is an interesting point here. Tom - 12/04/2011 09:00:46 PM 1303 Views
Re: Agree Gaps - 12/04/2011 09:22:22 PM 1307 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 1314 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 768 Views
Either you meant "Magus" or you are a schizophrenic wizard. Both are acceptably awesome. Ghavrel - 13/04/2011 05:37:34 AM 1313 Views
Re: I think it was Jarod Diamond... Gaps - 14/04/2011 03:39:32 AM 1311 Views
You didn't understand the comment. Tom - 14/04/2011 05:22:46 AM 1145 Views
Re: Ah, gotcha. I'm not always that bright. *NM* Gaps - 14/04/2011 02:08:03 PM 571 Views
Answers. Vivien - 12/04/2011 09:05:38 PM 1249 Views
That's not a compelling counter-argument for me. Tom - 12/04/2011 11:22:21 PM 1433 Views
Never mind. Aeryn - 12/04/2011 11:34:46 PM 1233 Views
be sure to post if it does happen *NM* random thoughts - 12/04/2011 11:56:17 PM 682 Views
Have you had any vivid dreams that came true? Tom - 13/04/2011 01:16:59 AM 1185 Views
My mom used to have dreams like that, usually about relatives. Joel - 13/04/2011 02:25:45 AM 1411 Views
I can easily believe that. Tom - 13/04/2011 06:14:51 AM 1217 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 1150 Views
Minivans can fit lots of useful stuffs, like furniture. *NM* Aeryn - 13/04/2011 03:47:04 PM 721 Views
So can gas-guzzling SUVs, and full trucks. *NM* Tom - 13/04/2011 05:13:20 PM 679 Views
for that matter, you can fit a surprising amount even in a baby truck! *NM* LadyLorraine - 13/04/2011 06:36:58 PM 655 Views
I'd find it quite comforting ßelals Girl - 12/04/2011 07:40:09 PM 1249 Views
Well, as I said in my census form on Sunday Stephen - 12/04/2011 08:36:05 PM 1372 Views
Pythagoras was a total nut. Vivien - 12/04/2011 10:05:42 PM 1420 Views
True Stephen - 12/04/2011 10:13:43 PM 1246 Views
It would upset my belief in science random thoughts - 12/04/2011 09:39:39 PM 1393 Views
There's so much wrong with that statement. Vivien - 12/04/2011 09:55:45 PM 1403 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 770 Views
*is both bored and annoyed* Vivien - 12/04/2011 11:03:10 PM 1271 Views
right. Aeryn - 12/04/2011 11:18:31 PM 1451 Views
and what if science proved that science was false? random thoughts - 12/04/2011 11:48:32 PM 1345 Views
I think that's kind of the point; it can't. Joel - 13/04/2011 01:33:44 AM 1201 Views
Did you read my original post? random thoughts - 13/04/2011 03:13:34 AM 1223 Views
I did, yes. Joel - 13/04/2011 03:32:18 AM 1207 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 1346 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 1459 Views
What's a soul? Aeryn - 12/04/2011 10:51:39 PM 1234 Views
I can only give you my personal take. Joel - 13/04/2011 01:47:39 AM 1369 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 1331 Views
True, but even well preserved brains require more than a jump start to resume life. Joel - 23/04/2011 09:20:42 PM 1154 Views
so did this guy took a railroad spike through the head random thoughts - 13/04/2011 01:58:52 PM 1392 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 723 Views
Thanks a lot random thoughts - 13/04/2011 07:02:29 PM 1244 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 650 Views
No. Joel - 23/04/2011 09:15:16 PM 1252 Views
but we know personality can be draticaly altered by physical means random thoughts - 24/04/2011 03:28:36 AM 1594 Views
"We" don't know that; that's the problem. Joel - 24/04/2011 07:02:49 AM 1418 Views
Can one have an identity without memory? *NM* Aeryn - 13/04/2011 03:46:16 PM 693 Views
Sure. Joel - 23/04/2011 08:53:51 PM 1084 Views
I assume you're implying time travel between past-life or future-life experiences. Burr - 12/04/2011 11:26:19 PM 1294 Views
Re: My question about souls: who will save your souuuuls? *NM* Gaps - 13/04/2011 04:04:21 AM 693 Views
I would becoming interested in tracing people's souls across time/space Helene - 13/04/2011 04:00:51 PM 1239 Views
Re: I would becoming interested in tracing people's souls across time/space Antigone - 14/04/2011 03:29:55 AM 1321 Views
Sorry :-) Helene - 14/04/2011 10:15:30 AM 1314 Views
Interesting concept.... Jeordam - 13/04/2011 07:28:42 PM 1240 Views
Heh. Loose faith. LadyLorraine - 14/04/2011 02:32:27 AM 1225 Views
It kinda still works though....doesn't it? Jeordam - 14/04/2011 04:14:19 PM 1241 Views
it does work. well in fact! *NM* LadyLorraine - 24/04/2011 03:24:25 AM 700 Views
Oooh... Burr - 14/04/2011 04:31:30 AM 1297 Views
Who says..... Jeordam - 14/04/2011 04:26:31 PM 1358 Views
Wow, thanks for all the responses!! Antigone - 14/04/2011 03:42:38 AM 1392 Views
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