Odd Things, Weird Things, God Or What?

[Theland]

So. Many stories of supernatural phenomena are apparent on Answerbank.
So, keeping an open mind, and helping each other understand, let's try and discuss this really interesting subject.
My Christianity, your atheism but belief in, ''something unexplained.''
Surely something to investigate together?

[eve1974]

Im re reading this chat - and im thinking everyone here has had something (or many things for some) inexplicable happen? At some stage?

[pixie374]

No, I understand what you mean, eve. But how can the consciousness continue without a brain?
Does someone know they are dead? How would it work?

[jourdain2]

I have been told that, as a Christian, I am not supposed to believe in ghosts etc.. But this goes against my direct experience of odd events. Another reason why I am a bit of a rebellious church member, I suppose. I can't explain things - but the inexplicable happens...... always unexpectedly!

[tamborine]

Paranormal scares the wits out of me.

[Khandro]

I don't think there are any ghosts on AnswerBank, but there are sure as hell, lots of spooks.

[Zacs-Master]

pixie374: Also zacs, you can't "not quite leave life".

How do you know that?

[naomi24]

Some who have no experience of ghostly encounters have an awful lot to say about them. Odd that.

jourdain2, //I have been told that, as a Christian, I am not supposed to believe in ghosts etc//

Considering that Jesus had a conversation with what could only have been the ghost of Moses - we know he died quite some time previously - have you ever asked why? (I didn't include Elijah there because he allegedly was whisked off in a chariot of fire into heaven and therefore his eventual fate can only be a matter of conjecture).

[Zacs-Master]

Maybe they simply don’t believe people who tell ghost stories?

[Theland]

I concur with Eve at 17:40.
Interesting stuff.
I am often guilty of deluding myself into thinking that I have set final answers to some questions, but logic and reason tells me that just when I think I know it all, that a question has been settled, in fact it hasn't.
There is always more.

[Zacs-Master]

Theland, don’t you find it ‘odd’ that Naomi is trying to convince us of ghosts when there’s Zero concrete evidence, yet she spends a good chunk of her time on here asking you for evidence of your beliefs?

[Theland]

Indeed. We all have individual experiences, and I respect the honesty and integrity of all ABers not to tell porkies.
But regards Naomi, she is torn between her own research for evidence, and her own personal experiences.
And good for her for sharing.

[Zacs-Master]

Very diplomatic ;-)

[Theland]

Like me. I have often said Roman Catholicism is a cult and unbiblical. Yet, it is undoubtedly supernatural. Strange.

[Deskdiary]

I can remember being on a thread about ghosts on AB a few years ago, and somebody getting the hump with me and accusing me of calling them a liar simply because I said there's no such thing as ghosts (they had earlier in the thread described their 'experience' of a ghost).

By them suggesting I was accusing them of lying simply because I said there's no such thing, was tantamount to expecting me to believe in ghosts on the strength of their anecdote.

Ghosts don't exist, neither does the paranormal.

Other things that don't exist...

God.
Leprachauns.
Santa.
The efficacy of homeopathy.
My chance of having a one-nighter with Liz Hurley.

[naomi24]

//But regards Naomi, she is torn between her own research for evidence, and her own personal experiences.//

I’m not torn between anything, Theland. I am aware that sometimes things happen that currently defy rational explanation but I discount the supernatural as a cause because that notion is entirely irrational.

[Theland]

Irrational? Yet science can't explain, and its not good enough to simply say don't know. Imagination and speculation is legitimate, and naturalistic investigations cannot possibly unearth super naturalistic phenomena.

[naomi24]

The result of imagination and speculation upon matters for which there are no definitive answers is just that. Imagination and speculation. We have no alternative but to say we don’t know. It's the only honest response.

[Theland]

Latest research into consciousness and quantum fields is very interesting. A link maybe. More than speculation.

[naomi24]

A link to what?

[pixie374]

Sorry, zacs, missed this
//pixie374: Also zacs, you can't "not quite leave life".

How do you know that?//

By definition. If you aren't dead, you are alive. Also, by definition, ghosts are spirits of dead people, so that doesn't include those still living.