what you or I believe is not really on the table here.
Clear the table and lay out the facts Jan.
I make my assessment on the basis of the facts before me and so I have a reasonable claim to believe there is no soul.
If you wish to believe there is a soul then is it not reasonable to ask upon what facts do you rely upon otherwise your belief can not extend beyond a fantasy.
Either of us could be wrong but without facts what need do you satisfy if you simply make something up.
Making something up does not make it real ... but it takes so much away from who we could be.
What do you mean?
Perhaps you mean...just because you have no evidence you are not going to believe any made up stories...yep here we go.
Everything stops because you don't believe the soul exists.
Nothing has to stop Jan but lets no travel too far without something that in even some small way lends validity to the reality that you claim that there is a soul.
Perhaps seeing you like the idea you could define what you call the soul and a reason that causes me to accept there could be a soul.
As you well know Jan I am very open minded and will hear you out if you care to present a reasonable proposition.
I bet you didn't have to do anything to believe that the soul doesn't exist, outside of the proclamation of not seeing one with your eyes.
The fact the notion comes from religion certainly destroys my ability to say..yes this seems reasonable..and see it? Can you see a soul?
My understanding so far is you cant see the soul and that would support non existence I expect.
But as I said explain or define the soul and why I could accept the notion.
There is a soul because.....
By ''choosing my words carefully'', do you mean choosing words that conform to your belief?
Well er yes...
Why would I choose words that somehow do not fit my belief.
Do you choose words that don't fit your belief if so why would you?
Entirely reasonable Jan and most importantly an honest approach.
What in the circumstances would you consider reasonable Jan using words that dont fit my or your belief?
Note that you claimed ownership of your body, which kind of means you are separate from your body.
Kind of does not.
Your logic leaps from no facts to a solid conclusion faster than a heart beat and you wonder why you suffer in arguement.
Nevertheless I do wonder where "I" is sometimes...its a thought somewhere in my brain. But even wondering where that function takes place offers no conclusion that there is a soul.
Others may explain what is going on but to call it a soul is an un necessary and unwarrented leap.
You may as well say ..oh I am thinking ...
that is my soul...who else could it be? No Jan.
No you have just made up the soul nothing more.
Spiritually, that's what death is. The death of the mortal body. But the ''I'' does not die.
If you are confident that is the way of it jump out in front of a bus and get back to me...we can go to your funeral together.
I know you can't believe that, and I'm not asking you to. But if you can comprehend the concept, it will give you a little understanding of theism
I think I understand Jan.
That only means I can think about things without accepting any notion that arrives with that understanding.
You are afraid of dieing I suspect and you need a reason as to why you are here.
It seems unacceptable that one day it all ends and anything, even sheer nonsense, is acceptable if it offers you hope and purpose.
I get it.
I choose to live outside of such delusion.
I exist in my own personal eternity for I dont know when I got here and I wont know when I leave.
My consciousness has no personal limit and I dont fear death...mind you I keep out of the way of buses.
As to purpose let me share mine although it is somewhat contrived.
I like to believe I help others close to me simply by showing strength of character in adverse situations and humility in moments of success.
I am there for others and that makes me feel good...there is no sense behind that but that is how I manage the realisation that I have one life, that it is not a rehearsal and I better make the most of it and do my best.
I do the right thing because I want to respect myself and never feel guilty that I have been less than decent.
Clearly I see folk who need a God as weak and although I dont feel superior to them I do wish they could enjoy my strength of character and avoidance of escapism.
Alex