Can A Non Believer Have An Immortal Soul.

[modeller]

I was speaking to a friend recently who said in a passing comment he didn't believe in "Gods and all that heaven bunkham but did believe in the immortal soul " His words not mine.

The comment came about because his neighbour had had an elaborate funeral despite living on benefits.

I don't get it ! Even if he's right , what's the point. ? Going nowhere, doing nothing , for eternity.


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[VHG]

Many people believe in all sorts of things, even though there is no proof.

Being a human on this earth, with death at the end, can seem scary for some people so they need to believe that they (and their love ones) are somewhere else after they die as it makes them feel better.

The church has been conning people for centuries that if you give them money they will look after you after you die. Load of scam artists if you believe them. In fact it could be argued the church and religion is the biggest scam in the world, all based on "blind faith" (as they said in Father Ted on TV).

I am not religious at all, and dont believe in any of it, but my wife is, and it makes her feel better to know her mum is in "heaven" rather than just a pile of ash after a cremation.

[goodlife]

If you believe the Bible No, simble.

[coccinelle]

I believe we have an energy, a force call it what you want, in us all. Our bodies die at death but this energy doesn't and this energy is what is used to create life and make things grow. This is my own opinion. I used to call this energy God but nowadays just call it a force. We as humans can get access to this force to help us along, we just need to ask for it in a kind of prayer like 'give me the force to get through this'.
I don't believe in any religion after studying the Bible and reading into others.

[modeller]

cocc: This force of yours what do you think happens to it after death ?

[naomi24]

I don't understand the question. If we assume the existence of the soul, why would some human beings possess one and some not? Or do people only acquire one when they find faith? Bit like Tesco's reward points?

[modeller]

The question related to my friend an avowed atheist who also said he believed in the immortal soul. It doesn't make sense to me.

It's not a question of whether the soul ( or force ) as coccinelle suggests exists , in this life but why a non believer would think it immortal.

If there's no hereafter where would it go ?

[boxtops]

Yes, many people believe there is something after death - not material, not reincarnation in a human form - but don't know what it is. Something goes on. IMO.

[atalanta]

Why would any atheist want an immortal soul ?
Just imagine umptillions of years being harangued by religious immortal souls who obviously would have nothing better to do - except singing hymns, maybe.
And you'd get so sick and tired of asking them to put a sock in it.

[RATTER15]

I dont see why your friend shouldn't believe it, some people believe in some very strange things indeed. Some people believe in a man in the sky that made the earth, if you can believe that you can believe almost anything!

[modeller]

boxtops #Yes, many people believe there is something after death #
Do you think that is belief, hope or not willing to accept it's the end ?

[naomi24]

I think it's possible that something of the person remains after death - some kind of energy that's been generated during life perhaps - but I'm not sure about 'eternity', and I don't see what religion has to do with it at all. If it happens, there's a natural explanation for it.

[chrisgel]

We are immortal in as much as when we die the chemicals and elements that make up our body remain. These same elements are recycled over and over as they have been since shortly after the big bang.
If you stop and think about it, that last glass of water you drank may have had molecules that once passed through Oliver Cromwell, It's the same water recycled over and over again.

[TheHangman]

I will wait and see, I like a good adventure and its nice to think that there may be more waiting, but I,m happy living this one at the moment so there is no hurry.

[saxy_jag]

I'm an atheist, but I do believe that there is something of us that lives on after we die. You see, we all began with two cells from our respective parents. We are essentially part of our parents and they are also part of us, and that's one way in which we live on, physically, after our death. But if they can pass on physical traits then why can they not pass on parts of their character too? Do we not all see in our living friends and relatives the character traits of others long deceased? The there are people whose lives, actions and words inspire generations after them. To me, this equates to our soul living on after our body's death.

[TheHangman]

The church now claims to lean towards and accept Darwin's theory. If Darwin's theory is correct then we will continue to evolve and we are not a finished product, (we are not in Gods image). Those who have already gone are going to be a bit disappointed.

[DaisyNonna]

If one person has an immortal soul then everyone has one.

[sandyRoe]

Even the most vociferous non-believer has a soul. And I suspect that many of the goodly unGodly are good chiefly because of it.
In due course they will be in for a pleasant surprise.

[Old_Geezer]

Why not ? Dieties, heavens, survival, they're all different subjects not reliant on each other.

As for going nowhere doing nothing, isn't that much what folk who disbelieve in any survival of death must feel, albeit on a shorter timescale ?

[FredPuli43]

I do nothing on Earth (according to the domestic goddess here, so it must be right). Can't see any bonus in the same after death.

Perhaps the friend is toying with reincarnation. I don't. I'd come back as a mayfly and be eaten in seconds.

[wildwood]

Nobody can have an immortal soul as there is no such thing.

There are religions that do not subscribe to the god of Abraham but think that they come back as an animal, which is remotely partial possible. [see chisgel's explanation].