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]

I doubt it wld be POSs to investigate together ... because any one that has a faith in a higher power wld say it was the higher powers cause surely. Whilst any atheist wld say it was some sort of unknown scientific phenomenon .... or am I being to simplistic to concur that the 2 opposites will ever be able to have a good open debate?

[pixie374]

Eve, my reply would be your second part. Theland, there is already a thread on it.
But, out of interest, what is a Christian definition of a ghost?

[Zacs-Master]

If ghosts exist, so does God?

Great basis for a sensible debate.

[rowanwitch]

There is a difference, one manifestation seems to be intermittently visible or audible even to non believers. One is a matter solely of belief. I think that some of what are seen as psychic phenomena will in the future become recorded and evidenced. I cannot however make the jump to thinking that any form of deity can exist . Unless like the American Gods of Neil Gaimans creation it is our belief that brings them into existence not the other way round.

[eve1974]

Ps - as a Christian I neatly categorise things into categories:

1) most unexplained phenomena are of an unknown scientific cause cause.

2) anything not caused by science is either from God or from Satan.

And btw I have experienced a few verrry odd happenings that defy any (currently known) explanation

[pixie374]

If ghosts exist, the afterlife must... so seems rational (for religion, anyway).

[AuntPollyGrey]

Theland, you class AB readers as Christians or Atheists. I think you'll find there are many readers who are neither......

[pixie374]

Eve, I agree with 1 and 3. No need for 2.

[Zacs-Master]

'If ghosts exist, the afterlife must... so seems rational'

really? Not much of a 'life' is it?

[eve1974]

Pixie - I don’t believe that any human can come back from the dead so I can’t believe in ghosts.

I believe ghosts are really demons masquerading to fool people


Or .... alternatively God stirs the imagination so much so they imagine ghosts to get comfort ?

I d

[The Builder]

Theland...
I give you "Rumsfeld's Conjecture"

1 There are things we know that we know.
These are the known knowns.
2 There are the things we know we don't know.
These are the known unknowns
3 Then there are the things we don't even know that we don't know.
These are the unknown unknowns, and by far the most
fascinating.

;o)

[Zacs-Master]

Crikey, Theland, you've brought out some weird and wunnerful 'theories' here.

[pixie374]

No zacs... but "a ghost".is technically, someone who has returned from the dead. You won't believe in them, unless you think people continue after death.
Me neither, eve, although I don't believe in demons either. No reason to.

[eve1974]

Or a 3rd thing is maybe as we all contain energy part us carries on in the form of atoms or something (can u tell I’m no scientist lol) and then our own antenna kinda pick up on this energy: but the energy is not the whole o person whose died .... it’s kinda like a collective cellular consciousness.... I think Jung or Freud said something similar ????

[Theland]

APG - I apologise for that. You are right of course.
I would like to hear from anybody on the broad spectrum of unexplained. Sorry.

[eve1974]

Which then my answer about collective cellular energy brings us nearly bavk yo .... an unexplained scientific phenomena

[Zacs-Master]

'technically, someone who has returned from the dead'

Is it? Is that scientifically proven? I thought they were more people who hadn't quite left life.

[rowanwitch]

My theory denies the existence of ghosts as spirit beings , as nothing more alive than a picture in a book. I suggest the manifestations of old energy are real but not evidence of any form of afterlife.
Believe me, I doubt anyone wishes there was an afterlife and a chance of reunion more than me.

[eve1974]

I bet rowan,
I bet! N btw ty for ur answer to an earlier Q of mine about worry at husbands follow ups. You nailed what I meant in one. X

[Theland]

What has to your knowledge been the boundary of scientific naturalistic knowledge?
For me it is probably Sean Carroll with quantum energy fields, similar to Roger Penrose.
Can these be ghosts?