Do atheists have souls?

[three4jump]

Do you, as an atheist, believe you have a non-material soul? I always assumed that atheists do not attribute souls to themselves, since it would be a supernatural phenomenon not supported by direct evidence, but it came up in another thread that some atheists might retain their souls. Since "atheist" only refers to belief in God, it doesn't really say anything about the soul.

I have a metaphorical soul: I have emotional responses to art and nature that feel as if a soul inside me is stirring, but I know that it is just a feeling, an illusion. That doesn't count for the purpose of this poll.

I was thinking of writing a book called Chicken Soup for the Atheist's Soul. Probably been done already.

[Ab_Normal]

I voted "no". "I" am a complex electro-chemical process that stops when the meat supporting it stops, and is strongly influenced by the meat (PMS, anybody?). Nothing more.

[Shadowy Man]

No. Nobody does.

(in my opinion - as far as it has ever been proven to me - as if the word 'soul' even has a clear definition)

[Heathen Dawn]

No. So-called evidence for life after death (NDEs, mediumship and reincarnation) is anecdotal and inconclusive. In contrast, the evidence for the dependence of the mind upon the brain is abundant. Cognitive functions have been mapped to specific areas of the brain. The personality itself splits into two when the corpus callosum joining the two halves of the brain is severed.

I fervently wish to be wrong about this. But wishing it does not make it so.

[livius drusus]

As this thread is about a religious concept and MD is for discussions of non-religious topics, I am moving it to GRD.

[Queen of Swords]

Originally posted by three4jump
I was thinking of writing a book called Chicken Soup for the Atheist's Soul. Probably been done already.

I doubt that, but if you are thinking of writing such a book, I'd love to contribute to it. It could be the perfect antidote to all the syrupy stuff out there.

[DarkBronzePlant]

I'd like a definition of "soul" here, please. If it describes some intangible attribute, some synergy whereby the sum of all of the parts of a person is greater than the individual parts, I'd vote yes (of course, by that definition, would might argue that, say, an automobile has a soul.)

If it describes some invisible being that makes up a person, that lives independently of the physical body, and will exist forever, presumably either in some "heaven" or some "hell", then I would vote no.

If it describes either the ability to dance really well, or to play a funky slap bass line, I'd vote maybe. ;)

[Shadowy Man]

Originally posted by DarkBronzePlant
If it describes either the ability to dance really well, or to play a funky slap bass line, I'd vote maybe. ;)

If that were the case, the question would have been phrased as:

Do atheists have soul?

[mecca777]

Originally posted by three4jump
Do you, as an atheist, believe you have a non-material soul?No. I sold it for ten quid when I was about eleven, and spent the money on role-playing games.

[Gothic_J]

good answer.

I dont think I have a soul. reason? the personality attributed to a soul has a remarkable ability for changing with the brain is bashed in. a long line of chemical reactions seems more realistic then a personality with no meat to back it.

[AmbiguousUbiquity]

How about calling the book Chicken Soup For The Atheist's (Undetermined Scientific Evidence For A) Soul, (Or Lack Thereof) ?

:D

Anyhoo, no souls for me!

Lauren

[King Rat]

I've got sooo-ooo-oul, and I'm supah-bad!

However, I get the impression you are talking about something else.

[Dreaming Skin]

No. The only reason I'd want one would be to come back and terrorize the people who annoyed me in this life. What a great afterlife that would be.

[Weltall]

No, now here's a question back to you. What leads you to believe that anyone has a soul?

[Leah]

"mind" and "body" would sound right to me. ("mind" including emotions)
So in a way, via internet we get to know and like or even care for minds, while in real life we give the bodies a lot more importance.

I do believe that people create a lot of postive or negative energy and attract such again in respect of their original output.

"you reep what you seed" (not a bible quote, but rather a field study ;) )

[three4jump]

Originally posted by Weltall
No, now here's a question back to you. What leads you to believe that anyone has a soul?

Nothing at all. The reason I was asking was that I was a little surprised to find that some people who are atheists--meaning they do not believe any god exists--also believe, sometimes rather vaguely, that they have or might have a soul. In an essay by Ed Weathers (http://www.memphisflyer.com/MFSearch/full_results.asp?xt_from=2&aID=2277) that was received well by many atheists, including some at this board, he is fairly certain no god exists but somewhat hazy on an afterlife:
And I too hope. I hope, for example, that I will see my dead father and my dead friends in some next life, and that we will all be free from worry and pain forever. But it’s just hope, and it’s awake and open-eyed. It’s not faith, which is sleepy and blind. I don’t depend on my hope, and I wouldn’t base my living actions on it. It’s a hope that does not grow out of dogma, and I would never try to impose my hope on someone else. Pure hope never yet has led to war. The same cannot be said of dogma. If I were to found a religion, I would call it “The Church of the Hopeful Few.” Hope would be its only doctrine, and I think it would be a peaceful church

I would not hope for an afterlife. What would be the point of it? I assumed most atheists would not hope for one either, but since I found this contradiction, I just wondered how many others felt that way.

[Calzaer]

Ooh! I know! Maybe atheists don't have souls, and that's why they don't believe in god!

:rolleyes:

[Invisible Insanity]

Buddhists have a concept called an-atman which means no-soul. This an-atman is not permenant and does change which allows for the idea for rebirth (not to be confused with reincarnation). when anything dies, it can take a different form or many forms. The reason I bring this up is because many Buddhists are atheists as well. In Buddhism the notion of the omni-god or (Isvara) which Hindus believe in (And I guess many Christians, Muslims too) was refuted by Buddha. Buddha never claimed, as far as I know, of being God or son of God. He even went so far as to say that his philosophy wasn't original. Many Buddhas have existed prior to Siddartha and many have claimed elnightenment since. As you can probably tell, I'm a big fan of Eastern Philosophy.

[Asha'man]

Originally posted by three4jump
In an essay by Ed Weathers (http://www.memphisflyer.com/MFSearch/full_results.asp?xt_from=2&aID=2277) that was received well by many atheists, including some at this board, he is fairly certain no god exists but somewhat hazy on an afterlife:

Doesn't seem hazy at all. I see a clear distinction between what he hopes and what he believes.

I hope that I'll sleep with a supermodel tonight, but I don't believe it'll happen. ;)

[mike_decock]

Originally posted by three4jump
I would not hope for an afterlife. What would be the point of it? I assumed most atheists would not hope for one either, but since I found this contradiction, I just wondered how many others felt that way.

When I consider the inevitable dimming of the lights on my short existence, I cannot help but feel a twinge of regret. I don't fear death, I just wish that I could live on to see how life on earth will change after I'm gone. I wish that I could look up old friends who I never got to see again, to rejoin those who have passed away and talk about old times, to move on to another existence and take what I have learned and make different mistakes. To continue to laugh, learn and love beyond this lifetime is a desire I cannot shake.

-Mike...

[Queen of Swords]

Originally posted by Asha'man
I hope that I'll sleep with a supermodel tonight, but I don't believe it'll happen. ;)

Don't you worry, Ash. By the power invested in me by myself alone, I declare you worthy to sleep with one of these fine male supermodels (http://www.supermodels-online.com/m/male.htm) any time you please!

[three4jump]

Somebody is voting yes. Are they really atheists who believe in a soul, or is it just some christians trying to mess up the count? If you're an atheist with a soul, I would like to hear from you, not to argue with you or make fun of you or tell you you're wrong, but just to hear your point of view. Like Invisible Insanity's example.

[reprise]

When I lived in hippyville, I met heaps of people who believed in a soul/spirit but not in a deity. I used to joke that what they believed in was akin to "The Force" from Star Wars, and I guess that's pretty accurate - although most of them would have called that force "the universe"; quite a few others believed very much in something along the lines of the Gaia hypothesis.

[Leah]

Originally posted by three4jump
Somebody is voting yes. Are they really atheists who believe in a soul, or is it just some christians trying to mess up the count? If you're an atheist with a soul, I would like to hear from you, not to argue with you or make fun of you or tell you you're wrong, but just to hear your point of view. Like Invisible Insanity's example.
I voted "no"
But to answer your question: some magicians are atheists. Still magical practises include the opening of gates and calling of the lords of the elements. Astral travels also refer to some sort of soul, I guess, and still are they being practised by atheists.

Which brings us right to my personal lack of understanding. If anyone can enlighten me on this contradiction, ... highly appreciated.

[abe smith]

NO. Not I, and not anyone else human.

[Volker.Doormann]

Originally posted by Ab_Normal
I voted "no". "I" am a complex electro-chemical process that stops when the meat supporting it stops, and is strongly influenced by the meat (PMS, anybody?). Nothing more. I haven't answered, but I wonder, that some people are asking for immaterial justice, if anybody with an imperfect electro-chemical process stops their support of meat, water, food and communication (i.e. polls) about the immaterial.

Volker

[Godless Dave]

Originally posted by three4jump
I have a metaphorical soul: I have emotional responses to art and nature that feel as if a soul inside me is stirring, but I know that it is just a feeling, an illusion. That doesn't count for the purpose of this poll.
I'd buy that definition. I voted NO in the poll.

Originally posted by DarkBronzePlant
I'd like a definition of "soul" here, please. If it describes some intangible attribute, some synergy whereby the sum of all of the parts of a person is greater than the individual parts, I'd vote yes (of course, by that definition, would might argue that, say, an automobile has a soul.)
My Toyota Land Cruiser has a soul, but my Saturn does not. And some musical instruments have souls.

Well, not really, but sometimes it's fun to think so.

[Marduk]

“Are they really atheists who believe in a soul, or is it just some Christians trying to mess up the count? If you're an atheist with a soul, I would like to hear from you, not to argue with you or make fun of you or tell you you're wrong, but just to hear your point of view. Like Invisible Insanity's example”

I’m uncertain. I doubt that I have a personal soul that travels with me after I die with my memories and personality. However there may be something along the lines of one big colossal soul that all sentient creatures share somehow, accounting for consciousness, a sense of self, whatever you want to call it.

[mikester]

since souls don't exist, no. nobody does.

:)

case dismissed.