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?

[mibn2cweus]

You want to know what's weird? The more you believe the more likely it is you got something wrong and the less likely you are to consider that a possibility. The word 'weird' isn't even spelt right. One of the weirdest things of all is that given the fallibility of the human mind that we ever manage to get anything right at all. The craziest people are the last to recognise it.

[Paigntonian]

Pixie: I don't think the Christian Church, or churches, has any definitive view on ghosts. Speaking as a Catholic I have never once heard from a priest, or read, anything on the subject. Seems to be frowned upon to even mention. My wife did talk to a friend who was an Anglican vicar. He was a nice chap and didn't bat an eyelid. He said a few prayers in our house mostly, I think, for my wife's peace of mind. It was in no way some kind of exorcism and we were not overly concerned about our spectral friend.

[Paigntonian]

Just to add that we wished we could communicate with our ghost. We tried to talk to her but it was like talking to the TV. She was on a different plane. She was also very determined. She went where she wanted to go, presumably sticking to her habits when she was alive. We did sometimes get the impression that we were living in her house rather than her appearing in ours but, I stress, after a few appearances we weren't overly frightened by her. If I was alone in the house at night, and I sensed her, I did, however, feel uneasy and I did worry that she might turn up in one of the kids' bedrooms when my wife and I were downstairs. It didn't happen. If only she would have been able to communicate with us.

[naomi24]

Jackdaw, the mainstream churches tend to take the view that ‘ghosts’ are the devil’s work, hence attempts to communicate with ‘spirits’ are discouraged. If Eve is taught not to believe in their existence I can only conclude she belongs to a different church.

Paigntonian at 23:03 Fri, I understand what you’re saying but in my opinion you have it the wrong way around. I think to even attempt to ‘understand’ one has to look beyond religion because religion limits the potential of the intellect. Note Theland’s claim //Its wrong to say,''God exists.'' Quite simply, God IS.// That is as far as his thought processes go on that subject.

To those who say this is all ‘psychological’, I would ask how very often the power of the mind manages to interact with and influence solid objects? As far as I’m aware there is no scientific evidence for psychokinesis and yet it's not unknown for such phenomena to be witnessed by several people at the same time. How does that work? Whose 'mind' is responsible?

[Theland]

God, ''is,'' is more accurate than God exists.

[Old_Geezer]

God is what ?

[pixie374]

Paigntonian, as far as I'm concerned, people, whether religious or not, will believe whatever they believe. Fair enough.
It's only when someone tries to add a rational reason, that it can be argued against.
But, it goes without saying, that as the definition of a "ghost" is the return of a dead person, it is only going to be someone who believes in an afterlife. And if you can believe that- with no evidence and nobody returning to tell us- you can probably believe in ghosts.
It's more how you choose to interpret it yourself, than any psychology knowledge or physics etc.

[Atheist]

Theland, could you perhaps expand and explain your post at 13:14?

[Theland]

Yes. ''Exist,'' does not accurately reflect Gods' own description and name for Himself. ''I Am Who I Am.''

[Atheist]

Theland, I'm a simple soul and I don't understand. Doesn't 'I am' really mean the same thing as 'I exist'? Bearing in mind that the bible you read is a translation, surely to claim a distinction between the two terms is a bit iffy, isn't it?
Perhaps Peter Pedant might have an insight.

[Theland]

Hmmm. Perhaps.
So how many angels can dance on the end of a needle?
And other such sayings.
Split hairs?
Oh yeah!
Funny how we believers have to contend with all of the sticking points that unbelievers throw at us.
From the very beginning, believers have doubts that we have to work through.
And so on.

[pixie374]

You don't "have to", theland. You "choose to". I don't envy your dilemmas at all....it just makes me glad that I don't have to keep convincing myself.

[Theland]

Fair comment. Choose then.

[pixie374]

Can I ask why you do choose to? It seems to be difficult and causes a lot of angst.
Honestly, do you think you might be better off without it?

[Theland]

Some people lie in bed thinking, ''that ceiling needs painting,'' and others dream of where it all came from, and why.

[pixie374]

Or both... but "dreaming", thinking, wondering... aren't the same as believing you have the answer. You don't seem absolutely sure you have, so I wonder why you stress yourself to believe something you don't know?
I don't mean that in a rude way... I just wonder it helps or not.

[Theland]

Stress? Maybe sometimes struggling with an idea.
But, its in my DNA that God is there, and my work if you want to call it that, is to know Him.

[pixie374]

Ok, thank you x

[Theland]

And its a nice feeling knowing there is somebody bigger than me, or anybody, in charge of things.
All we do is make a mess.
Good to know there is a plan and a Planner to fix things.

[naomi24]

People who think ghosts exist don’t necessarily believe in the afterlife. They often use the word ghost for want of something more fitting. And as I’ve indicated unexplained happenings do not always involve the appearance of apparitions.