The reason for a belief in ghosts

[Crimsane]

No, It's more because you are blunt. I appreciate bluntness.

I do too. Smash them over the head with a blunt object than stab them in the crotch, that's what I say.

Now I like you. Damn! It's contagious!

 

[Arkhangelsk]

I'm mostly an objectivist, so unless someone catches a ghost in a box Ghostbusters style, or give me other physical proof of it, I don't believe it. Ironically, I'm religious.

 

[Julianking93]

I've never had any experience with a ghost, so therefore, I don't believe in them.

When someone shows me proof, not something from a video, not some story, but real proof that I am physically able to see and if I'm personally at the spot when it happens, then I will believe.

Until then, it makes some good stories!

 

[jboking]

Christ Sanity, relax. I'm not claiming they are, I just wanted to have a discussion that goes a little deeper than "They're naive, gullible, superstitious idiots." You know, maybe see if there was something that kept people attached to this belief even after they realize it is completely unrealistic and likely untrue.

I know. They want to have some hope that there is some life after death, that maybe it's not nothingness, that maybe we will live on in some way. But we won't, we die, that's it. And people hope that their loved ones are still watching them from beyond, but they're not. They're dead.

I agree, and your logic is flawless. However, I can't help but wonder what it is that causes this need inside of people. What makes them yearn for an afterlife? Wouldn't that prospect (at least in the religious moral since of an afterlife) just repress them from doing things they want too?

No, It's more because you are blunt. I appreciate bluntness.

I do too. Smash them over the head with a blunt object than stab them in the crotch, that's what I say.

Gotta love the furry in that statement. lol

 

[similar.squirrel]

I don't discredit their existence.
The residual emotion thing seems a little bit plausible. Kind of like the phantasms in Bioshock, I guess.
A bad mood can leave a miasma in the air. Or tension. That could sort of go on after death.
Perhaps..?

 

[soul_rune1984]

I believe in ghosts and hauntings due to the fact that I've experienced them. My theory is this: A ghost is left over energy. When something or some one dies a part of that energy remains and to a certain extent lives on, a haunting is an imprinted memory like an echo. The imprint is usually of a very strong event with a strong emotion attached to it. These left over energies may manifest in various ways. Orbs, sounds, electrical appliances or equipment going on the fritz, objects moving by themselves and a sudden change in room temperature are a few examples of manifestations. They can also affect the human condition, unexplained illness, headaches, mysterious bruises or cuts. Not everyone is sensitive to such phenomenon which is a good thing. I am somewhat sensitive to such things. It's both a blessing and a curse.

 

[AgentNein]

Christ Sanity, relax. I'm not claiming they are, I just wanted to have a discussion that goes a little deeper than "They're naive, gullible, superstitious idiots." You know, maybe see if there was something that kept people attached to this belief even after they realize it is completely unrealistic and likely untrue.

I know. They want to have some hope that there is some life after death, that maybe it's not nothingness, that maybe we will live on in some way. But we won't, we die, that's it. And people hope that their loved ones are still watching them from beyond, but they're not. They're dead.

Honestly, anyone who chooses to look unflinchingly at how bleak an abyss of a world it actually is has at least some sympathy for those who wish to believe in an afterlife.

It is my experience that those people who look down on such either haven't really fully examined the implications of their beliefs, or they're unsympathetic assholes.

It's a hard road understanding that one lives in a completely absurd world. Not everyone CAN do it.

 

[Nmil-ek]

Because there is some evidence of their existence, I mean not all that much but there are some things out there than really make you wonder...

For me it isn't as deep as that, it's just simply I've seem some evidence that support it and than I've seen some evidence that doesn't soo, who knows

No there's not if there was even a shred, an iota of evidence demonstratable or able to be held up in a scientific review there would be no discussion of this, it would be the biggest thing to hit humanity in its history, there would be no debate we would all instantly billions of us start beleiving or investigating the matter nothing would be as important.

and no personal experiances or stories of people on deathbeds are not reliable scources.

 

[Xvito]

To most people I think belief is a form of Escapism. They're afraid of reality.

To all of these people I would like to say: "Please watch Satoshi Kon's Paranoia Agent."

 

[Bagaloo]

I really hope ghosts do not exist; the idea of myself or a loved one floating around endlessly after they have died sounds dreadful.

I mean really; when you can't interact with the world in any way, it all becomes a bit boring.

On topic; people believe in ghosts because its interesting; the supernatural adds intrigue and adventure to an otherwise monotonous existence.

 

[George Palmer]

Why do you think some people believe in ghosts?

Because they are bored and like stories.

 

[jboking]

Why do you think some people believe in ghosts?

Because they are bored and like stories.

Couldn't you still enjoy the story without believing in it? Wouldn't that even make it more laughable, thus becoming horrifying and hilarious at the same time?

After all, if you actually believed in the story it wouldn't be entertainment anymore. You would spend all of your time over analyzing the stories only to realize that you've wasted precious hours of your life.

 

[jboking]

Christ Sanity, relax. I'm not claiming they are, I just wanted to have a discussion that goes a little deeper than "They're naive, gullible, superstitious idiots." You know, maybe see if there was something that kept people attached to this belief even after they realize it is completely unrealistic and likely untrue.

I know. They want to have some hope that there is some life after death, that maybe it's not nothingness, that maybe we will live on in some way. But we won't, we die, that's it. And people hope that their loved ones are still watching them from beyond, but they're not. They're dead.

I agree, and your logic is flawless. However, I can't help but wonder what it is that causes this need inside of people. What makes them yearn for an afterlife? Wouldn't that prospect (at least in the religious moral since of an afterlife) just repress them from doing things they want too?

I geuss so, but why don't they just spare us the trouble and kill themselves I wonder.

I'm sure it's because they get some sick and twisted joy out of forcing me to think about these things or maybe because they view suicide as a morally wrong choice.

Christ Sanity, relax. I'm not claiming they are, I just wanted to have a discussion that goes a little deeper than "They're naive, gullible, superstitious idiots." You know, maybe see if there was something that kept people attached to this belief even after they realize it is completely unrealistic and likely untrue.

I know. They want to have some hope that there is some life after death, that maybe it's not nothingness, that maybe we will live on in some way. But we won't, we die, that's it. And people hope that their loved ones are still watching them from beyond, but they're not. They're dead.

Honestly, anyone who chooses to look unflinchingly at how bleak an abyss of a world it actually is has at least some sympathy for those who wish to believe in an afterlife.

It is my experience that those people who look down on such either haven't really fully examined the implications of their beliefs, or they're unsympathetic assholes.

Ooh, ooh, can I be in the latter category please?

I'm pretty sure you already are, congratulations!

 

[Nemorov]

I would love to be completely analytical, like there's no solid, demonstrable evidence, blah de blah... however get me in the right setting and bubbles in the pipes become 'AUUUGH FUCKIN' GHOSTS! RUNAWAY!'

But who's to say we really know everything there is to know. Didn't they at one point think physics was perfect? Now look at the mess of new stuff they know. =]

 

[garfoldsomeoneelse]

People believe in ghosts because they're naive, gullible superstitous idiots. They are not real, they do not exist.

I was going to put it in more diplomatic, flowery terms, but yes, this is basically my stance on the matter.

 

[Deacon Cole]

I always saw dualism as the battle between the benevolent and malevolent. Could you stretch a little on how this applies to the belief in ghosts?

Sure, man.

In this case it's a stretching of dualism (philosophy of mind.) Here's a relevant quote:

"Plato and Aristotle deal with speculations as to the existence of an incorporeal soul that bore the faculties of intelligence and wisdom. They maintained, for different reasons, that people's "intelligence" (a faculty of the mind or soul) could not be identified with, or explained in terms of, their physical body."

Philosophy of mind dualism basically states that the mind is (somehow) separate from the body and (somehow) is also non-physical. Some call it a soul or spirit but that's just a different term for the same thing.

Problem is, the mind is not separate from the body. It is a part of the body. The mind is a product of electrical nerve impulses and chemical reactions in the brain. No brain, then no mind, soul, spirit, or whatever term one wishes to use.