I mean if we don't have souls, then technically we are just a mass of atoms right? And if this is so, then techically nothing matters becuase emotions are just liquid chemicals and feelings are just "messages" sent to the brain. If this is the case then what is the point in anything? hmmm...
2006-10-13 08:36:27 · 10 answers · asked by harlequingirl1 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
How do you know you don't have a soul? Can anyone prove it? Do you just unquestioningly accept the Naturalistic Philosophy pushed on you by our culture that tells you that you are a lump of matter and any meaning you may happen to find is just a spurt of chemicals? If this is true, then there is no objective basis for morality. Everyone says you should choose love and not murder. Maybe its just convenient for them to be loved and not murdered so they tell you how to act? I think not. If we are all just cells then why do almost all (healthy) people highly value love, kindness, and selflessness? Why are these things beautiful to us? Where does intuition come from? Do you love movies involving love, honor, maybe someone with the courage to die for what they believe in? Self sacrifice makes no sense for a mass of cells intent on survival and evolution. So why is it such a popular theme? How do you explain ghost stories or miracles? If you don't believe in these, just start asking around, you'll find lots of people with firsthand experiences. Talk to someone from Africa...
So why not do an experiment and find out for yourself? Pretend you have a soul, ask it what it's purpose is for being here in this crazy life, and ask it where it comes from. Ask for truth and you will begin to find it. If you can do this sincerely and be patient, I you WILL meet up with the reality of your soul. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I have one, so I'm sure you do too. :)
Have the courage to be intellectually honest and question ALL assumptions, especially where the meaning of life is at stake. If you just make up meaning for your life, you will always know that it is just subjective meaning anyway and therefore will probably still feel that it is pointless. You're worth a lot more than any old mass of atoms, and so is everyone else. If you happen to believe in loving others as you love yourself, you have to explore the value and beauty of your own soul to appreciate the value of others.
On a philosophical note, “A strict materialism refutes itself for the reason given long ago by Professor Haldane: ‘If my mental processes are determined wholly by the motions of atoms in my brain, I have no reason to suppose that my beliefs are true...and hence I have no reason for supposing my brain to be composed of atoms.’ (C.S. Lewis, Possible Worlds, p. 209)”
2006-10-13 09:41:56 · answer #1 · answered by keshet 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have the sequence a little off. First there is thought then there is emotion. Emotion, 99.9% of the time follows thought. The only time it doesn't is if you are suffering from some kind of psychiatric pathology. So. An example of how emotion follows thought?
You are at work. While you're there, a fire breaks out in your 3 year old's day care center, burning the place down. Two children die in the fire and several are seriously burned. Your 3 year old is in the hospital, right now, having his burns attended to. But you're not reacting to this horrible event because you don't know about it. The "thought" hasn't entered your mind because at this point in time, the information hasn't reached you. Consequently you are not at all upset about this event and you continue doing the job you're hired to do. You will not have the opportunity to react to this event emotionally until such time as you are informed and your thought processes have been engaged. Further...
It is my firm belief, whether right or wrong, that the human being is made up of a combination of mind, body and spirit. All three are equally important for full actualization and our charge in this life is to attempt to balance these attributes. This is one of the many "points" to us being here.
2006-10-13 15:55:06 · answer #2 · answered by gjstoryteller 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question. But I have to ask, what is point of emotions if we AREN'T just a mass of atoms? If there was a creation and a god, why does that give any more meaning to one flash of anger or love? Maybe I'm missing something. Even if you believe in creationism, you know that drugs can affect your emotions. Doesn't that "prove" that emotions ARE just chemicals? If the emotions wer tied to your soul and not the physical body, why would drugs affect your mood?
But anyway, no, they don't mean anything. When a dog has his tail between his legs in fear or lowers his front end in "play mode" does it "mean" anything? or is it just a temporary wash of chemicals? I say a temp flood of chemicals. Same for humans
2006-10-13 15:40:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Bingo! Welcome to the real world.
Feelings are biochemically based. If you doubt that, watch what happens when someone has a brain injury or stroke in the frontal cortex. No matter what their feelings prior to the injury, they are altered by the changes in the brain.
And meaning is something decided upon, not assigned to you. Generally most people accept the meaning that the culture hands you, but not everyone. It's difficult to swim upstream against the cultural current, but doing so allows you to consider more options and to decide what is meaningful for you.
2006-10-13 15:39:52 · answer #4 · answered by NHBaritone 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Interesting theory. Let me hand you a thought..
Let's say emotions are a mass of chemicals. Have you ever wanted to kill some one in the same room as you but didn't? I mean, if you had the knife on the table next to you, and you really hated this person for what ever reason. All you had to do was grab the knife and push. Then this person would no longer bother you, problem solved.
But you don't. You chemical emotions are compelling you to kill. But what is counting the effect of your chemical emotions?
I hope this helps :)
2006-10-13 15:41:30 · answer #5 · answered by Odindmar 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The only point is what we do with what we are given.
You're right. We are nothing but a collection of atoms and energy. So what? Does that somehow take away your ability to experience that flow of chemicals that creates the sensation of love?
Go with it. Create your own meaning. It's not that hard.
2006-10-13 15:41:11 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
"All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered, the point is to discover them." Galileo Galili.
Great theory, pursue it prove it, and you may win a peace prize. But yes everything is made up of atoms. The point in life is to love unconditionally, the best chemicals your brain has to offer.:o]
2006-10-13 15:41:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
We're very real! This is why we are capable of so very much!
2006-10-13 15:40:24 · answer #8 · answered by Allison 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have feelings, but we are not our feelings. We have thoughts, but we are not our thoughts.
2006-10-13 16:12:39 · answer #9 · answered by Yogini108 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"We do not have a soul. We are a soul, we have a body" - C.S. Lewis.
2006-10-13 15:38:19 · answer #10 · answered by sarcrl 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋