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BlueSkyKing · M
I believe in evidence.
“Don't you believe in flying saucers, they ask me? Don't you believe in telepathy? — in ancient astronauts? — in the Bermuda triangle? — in life after death?
No, I reply. No, no, no, no, and again no.
One person recently, goaded into desperation by the litany of unrelieved negation, burst out "Don't you believe in anything?"
"Yes", I said. "I believe in evidence. I believe in observation, measurement, and reasoning, confirmed by independent observers. I'll believe anything, no matter how wild and ridiculous, if there is evidence for it. The wilder and more ridiculous something is, however, the firmer and more solid the evidence will have to be.”
― Isaac Asimov
“Don't you believe in flying saucers, they ask me? Don't you believe in telepathy? — in ancient astronauts? — in the Bermuda triangle? — in life after death?
No, I reply. No, no, no, no, and again no.
One person recently, goaded into desperation by the litany of unrelieved negation, burst out "Don't you believe in anything?"
"Yes", I said. "I believe in evidence. I believe in observation, measurement, and reasoning, confirmed by independent observers. I'll believe anything, no matter how wild and ridiculous, if there is evidence for it. The wilder and more ridiculous something is, however, the firmer and more solid the evidence will have to be.”
― Isaac Asimov
AkioTsukino · M
@BlueSkyKing I take it that the belief in evidence is your statement and the Asimov quote is supplemental in support of that? Since science neither proves nor disproves, but rather it accepts or rejects ideas based on supporting and refuting evidence, and may revise those conclusions if warranted by new evidence or perspectives, then what exactly is your evidence of ghosts that has led you to your conclusion? If your conclusion is based upon a lack of evidence, it would be inconclusive?
What is that evidence on the subject of ghosts?
What is that evidence on the subject of ghosts?
BlueSkyKing · M
@AkioTsukino Make a clear definition of what a ghost is. Are they made of matter? Emit or reflect light? Leave behind residue?
All that is offered are stories and say so anecdotes. How about something that would stand up in a court of law? I’ll settle for that.
All that is offered are stories and say so anecdotes. How about something that would stand up in a court of law? I’ll settle for that.
AkioTsukino · M
@BlueSkyKing I don't find the topic itself terribly interesting or compelling other than to say, as I have, that it would depend upon the application of the term and that I don't believe in the commonly applied superstitious folklore. But your response I found somewhat interesting because of your reference to evidence and that the Asimov quote you gave made reference specifically to flying saucers and life after death.
True, and I wouldn't perceive those as anything other than that, but when you say "I believe in evidence" it becomes at least a little problematic because that statement itself is anecdotal and your position on the subject isn't offered so much as it is implied.
I would agree with you, most likely, on flying saucers and ghosts if the Asimov quote is any indication of your position on the subject, but my position is based upon an understanding of the Bible (also anecdotal) only with a different explanation than that of common folklore. Specifically, I don't believe, in accordance with the Bible, that the soul or spirit of the dead exists or presents themselves to the living. Of course if they don't exist they wouldn't present, but I included it for context and clarification. Biblically speaking the soul means breather and spirit means invisible active force producing visible results. The soul is the life, life experience of any breathing creature and is represented by the blood of that creature. Spirit (from the Greek pneuma as in pneumatic/pneumonia) can be translated as breath, breeze, compelled mental inclination, God's active force (holy spirit or holy ghost). But also from a supernatural perspective spirit beings such as angels, demons and God himself. Life, experience, blood, breath, wind, mental inclination - these aren't outside the realm of scientific inquiry.
The word ghost comes from Proto-Germanic and is the same as spirit. Although interestingly the early origins had more to do with anger and mental inclination. Casper the friendly ghost is the exception. None of that is, I suppose, particularly relevant to you since the Bible is anecdotal and spirit beings, not unlike those allegedly manning flying saucers, are of extraterrestrial and supernatural origins. Although extraterrestrial aliens and flying saucers are supposedly material rather than spiritual.
All that is offered are stories and say so anecdotes.
True, and I wouldn't perceive those as anything other than that, but when you say "I believe in evidence" it becomes at least a little problematic because that statement itself is anecdotal and your position on the subject isn't offered so much as it is implied.
I would agree with you, most likely, on flying saucers and ghosts if the Asimov quote is any indication of your position on the subject, but my position is based upon an understanding of the Bible (also anecdotal) only with a different explanation than that of common folklore. Specifically, I don't believe, in accordance with the Bible, that the soul or spirit of the dead exists or presents themselves to the living. Of course if they don't exist they wouldn't present, but I included it for context and clarification. Biblically speaking the soul means breather and spirit means invisible active force producing visible results. The soul is the life, life experience of any breathing creature and is represented by the blood of that creature. Spirit (from the Greek pneuma as in pneumatic/pneumonia) can be translated as breath, breeze, compelled mental inclination, God's active force (holy spirit or holy ghost). But also from a supernatural perspective spirit beings such as angels, demons and God himself. Life, experience, blood, breath, wind, mental inclination - these aren't outside the realm of scientific inquiry.
The word ghost comes from Proto-Germanic and is the same as spirit. Although interestingly the early origins had more to do with anger and mental inclination. Casper the friendly ghost is the exception. None of that is, I suppose, particularly relevant to you since the Bible is anecdotal and spirit beings, not unlike those allegedly manning flying saucers, are of extraterrestrial and supernatural origins. Although extraterrestrial aliens and flying saucers are supposedly material rather than spiritual.
BlueSkyKing · M
@AkioTsukino I like Shakespeare a lot but I don’t care for is many of his plays get pushed along by using ghosts. Routine use of time travel in movies and television rubs me the wrong way too. It’s all fiction though, knowing the difference counts.