what do you think about Souls?? what is your take on the subject? What do you think happens when we leave our bodies when we die

Hi Nike, I think it's just a fantasy that makes some feel better about dying and loved ones that have died.
Scared that there is actually an end to life and everything when we die.

Soul, conscience? Some have called it the nervous system. I'm not a moralist, But intuitively people know deep within that there is a quiet voice, our inner silence.

Hi Nike Queen,
I believe the Soul is the immortal part of us, the more than just physical that remains intact, lifetime after lifetime.

I believe it is the cumulative aspect of us, all the knowledge,skills and ability to love that is further enhanced and expanded after each experience.

It is the true us, not confined by physicality.
It is the part of us that is connected to what some call God, or some say connected to the Monad, which is in turn connected to Higher Monads,etc. It is the part that knows right from wrong, the capacity to experience love, the source of creativity,the part of us that exists in different dimensions.
Those are just some of the things I think the Soul is.

Very well put Susan.

I agree...

I agree with Mikey on this.

Our sense of self is created within our minds.
It is dependent on the physical process of neurons.
When the brain dies, our sense of self ends.
Since our sense of self is completely dependent on our unique physio-electric and chemical make up, there will never be another you or another of anyone else that has died.
While we might find associations with mannerisms of others that resemble someone that has died, it will never be them, or you.

My sister believes when she dies, she will get to see all those she loved.
If it gives her peace, I have no problem with that but I do not believe the same.
If everlasting souls gives you peace, I too have no problem with that.

I like how Susan has described 'soul'
That I feel is a good way of putting it although I don't see it beyond the passing of someone.

Everyone is different. It's like being religious.
If it works for you then it's for no one else to say different.

Just a quick note. I personally am not religious in the true sense but when someone dies I will go to the funeral at the church and go through all of service with respect. Does this mean I'm a hypocrite or just being respectful?
And I wonder how many others do this?

Nicely put :)

None of us know for sure if something continues after bodily death.
We can only KNOW through direct experience, Some believe for whatever reason. Belief is second hand knowledge And in this instance won't help us approach the truth of the thing.
We will just have to wait until the veil is drawn aside.

it may be that in most cases, the only option you have, to share/celebrate the memory of the deceased, is a religious service. i mean you don't have a choice.



hypocrite, no.
respectful towards whom, the deceased or the ones mourning/attending ?

my guess, your primary reason might be to pay respects to the deceased and maybe share grief and memories with kin, not respect for a social/cultural/religious practice.

this makes me wonder what religious people would think about attending a non-religious memorial gathering for an atheist/non-religious deceased.

it would be interesting to understand the thought process behind arriving at this.

Thanks 74
Yes it's definitely about paying respect to both the deceased and the family.

As for religious people attending a non religious persons funeral I'd say in my opinion not any different for them because they see us as all gods children.
Maybe different in other religions.

I don't do funerals or visit graves.
I'm not even going to my own.
I do have a really good memory.
I choose to remember lost loved ones alive.
To me, celebrating who they were in life and how they were with me is more respectful than mourning them as dead.
Everything alive, dies. Its the natural way of things.

Here's a question:
When you are anesthetized for surgery, where is your soul? Where are "You"?
When you 'come to', where did your soul 'come to' from?
When you are 'under' for surgery, your body is alive. Your brain has been effected by the chemicals used to knock you out. There is a 'gap' in your soul during that time. Where did you go?

When dead, really dead, your brain no longer functions at all.
Could it be like being permanently anesthetized?
Permanent like you never 'come to'?

I've talked with people that think death is like dreaming.
Thing is, when you dream, your brain is actually functioning.
I liken it to a computer defragmenting.

Essence (soul) is a process of thought.
The brain is the CPU
The nervous system is like the sensors that feel information to the CPU.
The CPU processes this input and sends out signals to the actuators (muscles, organs, glands and such) which cause you to function.
The brain (CPU) stores this information.
As it builds the database of "you" it computes what you are, who you are and you gain a sense of self (soul).
This all started happening as soon as your brain formed (before you were born).

In my youth, I experimented with sleep deprivation and experienced fragmented reality. After I got some sleep, the framentation cleared and I could think clearly again.
During that period, I could no longer define my soul specifically.
I felt like I was part of other things and other lifeforms.
Clinically we determined I entered into a halluciogenic psychosis.

I ask this:
Is it possible we can become more than just one soul?
What would it be called if my soul merged with other souls and essences.
Would I still know this new configuration as 'me'?

Hi Blrguy,
I see you inquired about the thought-process behind some of my beliefs.

It would take too long to go into.
But if you were truly interested, you could start by finding out about Buddhism.

I am not a Buddhist, but many of their beliefs align with mine, also you could possibly look up Ascension on New Age Sites, all kinds of things really led me to my beliefs.

If you were just saying it as in, "How could anyone think this?", well I can't help you there.

Hi Mikey, I do not think it is hypocritical, what so ever, to go to Funeral services for the deceased, if one is not religious.

It is a way of showing respect for the deceased, as well as giving comfort and support to the deceased loved ones.

I agree with Susan.
I was raised catholic and can't agree with everything they say. After the death of my best friend, I read many books and came to my own conclusion.
Buddhism is the closest to what seems realistic to me.

If you don't believe in anything, that's your prerogative, you die and the worms eat you.

If I had my way, throw my corpse in the woods and any critter that is hungry can have something to eat.
But then, I'll already be dead and it won't matter will it?

Thanks for the reply. It warrants some honesty from me, which I discovered an atom of in some dark corner albeit after a while.

When I started typing the question, it was quite a bit like "yeah, right, do you really believe that?". Then I realized, I do actually want to ask you how you got there, not just make a sneaky comment. Hence the wording (believe me, by my standards, it is good :) ).

I am biased against spiritualism, new age and such things, so I might not look up that stuff in a hurry. On the other hand, I might.

Souls?

After 66 years pondering it all, I have arrived at a point where I can confidently say, unequivocally, that I have no friggin idea.

I've been through all sorts of gyrations and iterations over it. I've studied it religiously, spiritually, historically, psychologically, physiologically, and through direct experiences. I know what I've thought about it, I know what I've felt about it, I know what I wish is true.

I FEAR that there are no souls, and that I will die and come to an end, and never know anything more after that. I WISH that that isn't true, or that extended life will be discovered before I reach my end. But I don't have any real HOPE for that.

I've experienced enough "weird"stuff, that I can see possibilities for something more than consciousness being and accident of physics. Lots of those experiences do NOT require the existence of SOULS to explain them; but they certainly do require more than the strictly mundane ideas that most non-believers in "magical" things insist on.

I've completely resolved what to do about religious ideas that would be involved if souls and gods exist.

I haven't at all resolved what to do about my eventual demise.

That's about all I can say about this stuff.

avec le touch de la dramatique (a la l'inspecteur)







sorry, i know it's a serious topic but at this midnight hour it had this effect on me.

suddenly that last bit sounds the saddest part to me though I might intellectually (or otherwise) not be quite there yet to be able to appreciate it enough.

I mean the fact that we might never know everything before we die, is it the saddest part of our lives? I feel like drawing a truth-ish table and rate each case for how sad it would be. Horizontally, we either know everything there is or we don't. Vertically, we remember this fact after we die or we don't. How do the 4 cases rate in sadness?

Sorry if I'm rambling too much.

Your consciousness is your soul. After you die it leaves your body and goes to the after life. There's not enough evidence to confirm nor disprove this 100% either way.

Life force or kennetic energy within your body is your soul. This is more science based in it's belief. When you die the kinetic energy becomes potential energy. What once was you become apart of the continuation of existence in a different form.

When I die I'm going to be torched so my potential energy can be apart of the atmosphere. Then I'll be a lightning strike. Something similar to what people believe about the Aurora Borealis. I don't discount the after life. I just don't count on it.