Do we posess a soul, or is it all chemical?

[Jack_Uzi]

I am not religious, but I do believe in the soul.
And Jack, I haven't seen you in ages! How are you?

I agree. Though I do believe there is more between heaven and earth, I do not believe in the bearded man or woman who comes out in the sled on x-mas eve.
For how things fare with me? Could be better, could be worse. And yeah, I only come out when the moon is in conjunction with the bowl of piclkles I sometimes have on my window still, so no coincidence there. How are you my man?

 

[[guys_its_ok]]

Yeah, chemicals, the mind is physical, and therefore it's possible to program computers to have consciousness, etc, etc. I do believe in God, though.

Spoiler: Slightly off topic, but very much related to the mind being physical, at least.

 

[Blue_vision]

Well, there's definitely more to people than just a big arrangement of different elements. All those chemicals are definitely accounting for plenty of things, but I have to say that there's more to it than just that.

Does it go on to heaven after we die? I don't think so. But I don't think it goes away when a human dies.

 

[BlumiereBleck]

Well.... We have a soul.

 

[YoyoTimes5]

Lol define a soul. Then tell me how a non-physical entity can cause anything to a physical one.

 

[procyonlotor]

It's all chemical. The "Soul" is simply the uniqueness of our DNA,and your mental patterns.
Modern science has proven that no such entity exists that could be compared remotely to what many people believe to be "The Human Soul". Emotion is simply chemical and electrical reactions happening in the brain and the rest of the body. The need for many to believe in a higher power is due to a certain part of the Cerebral Cortex receiving different stimuli,both internal and external.

This, pretty much. It's not an easy realization, nor is it particularly comforting.

(Or maybe it is.)

 

[Danzaivar]

The combination of synpases and chemicals produces something abstract enough to give it it's own name, if you wanna call that a soul then by all means.

Kinda like when someone says your computer is all 1's and 0's; strictly speaking it's true, but it becomes something much more.

 

[Fallen-Angel Risen-Demon]

snip

I'm good thanks, started hanging out in RP now. My post count has started going up faster.
Oh, just finished downloading the last remnant! TO STEAM!!!

 

[Nomanslander]

One unfortunate detail about contemporary science is there are taboos, certain things that would shun credibility if you were to speak of or do research in as a sceintist.

For instance, Steven Hawkings has said for the longest time he and many of his peers had been fearful speaking on the behalf of such theories as time travel, aliens, and alternate dimensions. Of course now you'll see a lot of those taboos have been lifted and just recently Steven Hawking's made a program delving into those matters.

As for the matters of scientifically delving into the concept that life might exist on different levels, it's still considered pretty much to be tabooed and any scientist that has chosen to study parapsychology has...well...=/

I know for a fact it's still a field scientist would like to do research in without the cost of their credibility, but we probably won't see it for another 20 to 30 years I'd say. I mean back in the 90s I remember any mention of aliens, time travel, and alternate dimensions were also met with harsh criticism but recently I've seen a lot of that criticism wane.

As to answer your question, I think there's still a lot we have to learn about the human condition, and how life originated.

 

[PissOffRoth]

Lol define a soul. Then tell me how a non-physical entity can cause anything to a physical one.

Tell me how, when you slam two atoms together, they both disappear. I thought that matter couldn't be destroyed? You mean we aren't all-knowing beings and we don't understand everything that happens, or how? Damn, this is such news to me. I always classified humans as gods of science and the universe. What a let down.

 

[roostuf]

I believe in the soul as energy that circulates through our body when we're alive and disappears when we die, like I always say " The eyes are the windows to the soul but the brain is the blind behind the windows".

 

[Terminate421]

We all have emotions and consider things Humane and Inhumane while also having preferences.

if that doesn't seem soul-like I don't know what is

 

[mjc0961]

A soul is just an idea created by man.

 

[YoyoTimes5]

Lol define a soul. Then tell me how a non-physical entity can cause anything to a physical one.

Tell me how, when you slam two atoms together, they both disappear. I thought that matter couldn't be destroyed? You mean we aren't all-knowing beings and we don't understand everything that happens, or how? Damn, this is such news to me. I always classified humans as gods of science and the universe. What a let down.

Say what now? You can't slam two arbitrary massive objects together and believe they'd annihilate each other. Also, mass isn't conserved, but mass-energy is.

 

[Jack_Uzi]

I believe in the soul as energy that circulates through our body when we're alive and disappears when we die, like I always say " The eyes are the windows to the soul but the brain is the blind behind the windows".

Beautiful saying! I really must remember this one. Thanks for sharing!

 

[superstringz]

From what I understand, my mind is a product of a supercomputer, with about ten trillion processors (10 billion neurons, each one making about a 1000 connection). Each "processor" runs at about 200 cycles/second, running off of a combination of electric pulses and chemical compounds. Someday, I'll be a neuroscientist, and can give you a better answer. Until then, I'd put my money on the "no soul" side.

 

[roostuf]

I believe in the soul as energy that circulates through our body when we're alive and disappears when we die, like I always say " The eyes are the windows to the soul but the brain is the blind behind the windows".

Beautiful saying! I really must remember this one. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks I spend alot of time pondering on the mysteries of life thats how I roll.

 

[L4hlborg]

Lets asume there is a soul. The soul obviously somehow has to communicate with our bodies, since our decissions and shit like that are determined by the soul. But why do substances like alcohol have a direct impact in the way that we think? In this case, physically existing things have an effect on the soul. Wouldn't dieing then kill the soul too?

Now if the soul gets destroyed when we die and can get damaged by the physical realm, then how does it differ from chemicals (and electricity or something. I'm not a brain specialist) in our brains?

 

[zehydra]

A soul is just an idea created by man.

So is the internet. The internet only exists as an idea, but one that we can interact with.