I see it exactly in the reverse. IMO, reality from necessity is based on simple mathematical functions and interactions of the *stuff* which makes up our universe. Granting that we do not know everything that make up this stuff and their mathematical functions and interactions, humans can and do imagine things which are not mathematically possible. A sentient and motivated God is but one example of a mathematically impossible human imaginary construct, IMO. The fact that many people believe in such a construct is due to a human need to make sense of those things we do not yet understand. In the past Gods were part of our everyday life, but as we learn and understand more and more of universal functions all those gods have fallen by the wayside, until there was only an Image (Tulpa) of a single God, which already has become a *God of the gaps*, due to our ever expanding knowledge of the stuff and their mathematical functions and interactions in this universe.
In context of the popularity of * ghoulies, ghosties, and things that go bump in the night*, allows us to entertain these improbable subjects and *hidden* living entities among us. I am a Fantasy fan, but also a Realist and try to keep the two separated.
Is that the difference between a Fantasy Realist and a Magical Realist? Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
The distinction is important but why does a living being have to be just like us to exist? What makes us the only definition of real or existing?
Things don't have to be like *us* to exist. Inanimate matter is also real, just not sentient, IOW, it does NOT know it exists.
He was inferring to a living being, not inanimate matter. I thought his point valid: who's to say we are the only expression of living existence?
There can be many kinds of life-form, but they all have to adhere to the laws of physics, chemistry and biology. Ghosts and ghouls don't. What goes bump in the night is probably an overambitious rat or clumsy cockroach, depending on the amplitude of the *bump!*.
Only to the laws of physics as we currently know them. The Big Bang, black holes, and quantum entanglement are phenomena that don't adhere to our known laws either. Whose to say that ghosts and other energy entities aren't in that same category?
We have evidence of these natural events which obviously are/were NOT sentient, but NO (reliable) evidence of *immaterial* sentience. That belongs in the realm of *spiritualism*, which is trying to give *meaning* to the mathematical nature of the universe. But our brain is so esily fooled, its almost pathetic. We *perceive* tghings that don't exist and *fail to perceive* things right in front of us. It's called *selective attention*. Interesting experiment: The original selective attention task; http://www.theinvisiblegorilla.com/videos.html Do try it, it a remarkable example of how our brains work.
We have mountains of evidence for ghosts and paranormal phenomena. Go thru the list of about 50 threads posted in this forum if you have any doubts. Here's one now! http://www.sciforums.com/threads/gettysburg-ghost-tours.141951/
I used to be an avid photographer and developed my own pictures. The link you gave does not provide evidence of *living ghosts*.
Yes it does. And there are tons of eyewitness accounts of the same. It is what it is. Sorry if that bursts your bubble.
Your definition of "mountains" or "evidence" (or both) are vastly different than mine. Maybe you are referring to "mountains" on a neutron star, which might be a neutron or so high. And by "evidence" you must be including hearsay, fuzzy pictures, fuzzy videos, and crackpot testimonies. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
You don't impress me as anyone who has ever in his life researched the evidence for paranormal phenomenon. Maybe you should stick to something you know, like penis jokes. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
So, you're the one that was offended. I understand now. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Right. Me the avid gun control advocate was offended by a post about gun nuts' privates. Paranoid much?
Me? You're the one seeing ghosts everywhere. Do you also see fairies? Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
I've never encountered a ghost. But then I've never encountered a duckbilled platypus either. Such are the drawbacks of judging reality based on one's limited experiences.
That has to be the dumbest argument ever for ghosts existing. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! "Because platypuses exist, so do ghosts." You're too funny.