quote:

Originally posted by EddieZilker This explanation relies on a vague definition of a spirit as something other than biological consciousness but if spirit is defined as a biological, sentient consciousness, then your explanation is flawed.

Indeed it does (rely on this vague notion), but I think that's precisely what she has in mind by the word "spirit".

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quote:

Originally posted by Sunsnail i don't think spirits exist so n/a /honest

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Scien...le1-547246.aspx

quote:

Originally posted by EddieZilker What is a human spirit? Why is it important to know, in the first place?

Because a close friend buried her young son today.
And I would like to think there is a 'reason' this took place.


..Is that so wrong ???

quote:

Originally posted by Fledz It creates Dark Matter. Everything that exists in the universe only makes up 1%. 29% is dark matter, 70% is dark energy. That should put into perspective how meaningless your question really is

Do you believe in God?

our knowledge, personalities and convictions develop as we learn to adapt to our environment through life. when our bodies are done, what are we? what purpose would morality serve if we had no body that would get punished for breaking the rules... what would our id want with no senses to give it pleasure?

it's seldom doubted that our memories/personalities are contained in our brains ... neuroscience has a long way to go, but the thousands of cases as early as phineas gage prove physical damage to the brain can deteriorate personality and/or memory. how does something that's so fragile and pliable in real life suddenly become invulnerable once you kick the bucket?

and if you're going to say personality and knowledge don't pass on to your spirit/soul... then wtf DOES the soul consist of? someone humour me...

quote:

Originally posted by Lira Indeed it does (rely on this vague notion), but I think that's precisely what she has in mind by the word "spirit".

Discussions like this always remind me of a conversation I had with a guy whose thesis was that consciousness - specifically related to decision making - was nothing more than a spark floating through holes in a box; that its route was basically predicated by our experiences posing Boolean operands in the form of a holes placed through inner walls of the box which could conceivably alter the route of the spark from otherwise just bouncing around the box, and into another part of the box as it encounters a series of holes and walls.

It seems simple enough to defeat but then you start trying to assign complex scenarios suggesting such things as the William Ashley cigarette dilemma - for example - at which point he would point out the route of the spark following an algorithmic trail from one area of the box to another and therefore making his argument valid.

It's so theoretical, however, in that there is no evidence, physical or otherwise, which directly supports such a mechanism in physical reality. It's entirely metaphorical and one could argue along similar lines to our consciousness being nothing more than a hamster in an exercise ball, trotting around a house with five cats and three dogs.

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quote:

Originally posted by chlola Because a close friend buried her young son today. And I would like to think there is a 'reason' this took place. ..Is that so wrong ???

No.

I'm sorry for hers and your loss. I figured it was something along those lines. Unfortunately to give you a definitive answer is only counter-productive. Anything I tell you in any answer to your question could easily be disproved because it remains unproven and only supported by a wide diversity of beliefs ranging from atheistic explanations about an ending of consciousness to more romantic notions of heaven and hell.

There are no easy answers to that question. Unfortunately, I think the answers you will get are radically over-simplified (or even overly complex) yet, not at all provable. When my mother died, a Buhdists Monk said, directly to me, "Today there is been a tragedy. I'm very sorry, but your mother's in a better place."

That is the only answer I can give you - that her son is in a better place. As much as it hurts us, he is in no pain, at all. Where that is or how that manifests is largely a matter of speculation which, if you believe there is a heaven, likely falls woefully short of what Heaven must be like.

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Penis.

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quote:

Originally posted by chlola Because a close friend buried her young son today. And I would like to think there is a 'reason' this took place. ..Is that so wrong ???

No, not really. You can like to think there's a reason, there's nothing wrong with that. Most likely, it's his causa mortis. But, if you think there must be a "higher reason" behind his death, I'm afraid you'll soon find yourself in an infinite regression, always looking for reasons behind reasons.

Are you sure that's the best way to mourn someone's death? If you do think it is, then I'm afraid this forum is not the right place to seek for an answer. This is going to be a highly personal pursuit, for you're the only person that knows what exactly you need.

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Lol, penis.

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