2006-06-25 05:02:18 · 15 answers · asked by nomar 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Actually this comes from experiments in the early part of the 20th century, by a Dr. Duncan McDougal.
Being interested in the idea, he made a set of scales, and found some subjects on their death bed. The first such incident, upon death, he found that the subject weighed 3/4 ounce (approx 21 grams) less than when alive a moment earlier.
There is some controversy about the validity of the experiments (even at the time), and I do not think it has been repeated in the modern era, so there is no real incontrovertible proof that it is valid or not.
2006-06-25 05:20:15 · answer #1 · answered by s.wade 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
21 grams is based on a very unscientific study of body weights immediately before and after death. In the early 1900s, an experimenter did a very poor job in eliminating other sources of weight loss, ie body fluids, air, etc. Even for the experimenter, the findings were inconsistent and non-repeatable. But he settled on 21 Grams somehow. It's never been substantiated by any properly done experiment. If it was true, you'd see books of information published by now. Every religious person in the world would be using it to 'prove' existence of a soul. But it makes for a good movie title.
2006-06-25 12:15:05 · answer #2 · answered by freebird 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is only its Ideal weight, you know like after it has been on a spiritual diet and had aerobic training. Considering how obesity is now a epidemic I would think most souls would weigh in at at least 27, maybe as high as 30 grams
2006-06-25 12:08:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do your thoughts, morals, values, emotions, beliefs, and relationships all add up to 21 grams?
2006-06-25 12:05:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could be possible because when people die they are usually 21 grams lighter.
2006-06-25 12:05:42 · answer #5 · answered by jessigirl00781 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a soul is not a physically existing thing, it has no weight.
2006-06-25 12:07:07 · answer #6 · answered by anonymous 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
gotta check with James Brown, he's full of soul!!!
2006-06-25 12:06:44 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope.
2006-06-25 12:04:37 · answer #8 · answered by J P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
naah! mine weighs 5 pounds
2006-06-25 12:05:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
my c*m weighs 21.3 grams
2006-06-25 12:30:34 · answer #10 · answered by aipac 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋