What are your thoughts?
2007-01-02 07:00:24 · 14 answers · asked by mrfame1017 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I don't think there can be a blanket statement that they do or don't believe such things across the board. I know atheists who don't believe in God but do believe in things like ghosts and ESP. I am an atheist and I don't tend to believe in things until we have some sort of credible, verifiable proof for them. I don't think that we currently have any credible evidence for consciousness existing outside the physical body as of date. I think many atheists are going to be of this frame of mind as they tend to be scientific and skeptically minded until there is proof of something. This is a generalization though.
2007-01-02 07:05:03 · answer #1 · answered by Zen Pirate 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some do and some don't. Probably most don't. I have a slightly different take on this which is completely physical yet slightly different than most who haven't thought about the implications of quantum theory too deeply. I believe like most atheists that ones identity is determined by the configuration of some subset of the neurons in your brain. What makes my take on this just a little different is that I believe if the multiverse is infinite then we have not just one physical brain but an infinite number of nearly identical physical brains dispersed in vastly different regions of reality. So while the consciousness is not outside of the physical bodies, I believe we don't have just one physical body. I believe this is the simplest explanation for quantum mechanics. Quantum Indeterminism comes from never knowing which copy of ourselves we are. So for instance in the famous quantum double-slit where we observe an electron seem to pass through two distinct slits, what I believe happens is that for some copies of us an electron passes through the top slit and for other copies of us an electron passes through the bottom slit. Whenever we make an observation, the observation modifies our memories one way or the other, causing a split of our conciousness. This would explain the mechanism of the collapse of the quantum wave function.
2007-01-02 07:18:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.
I believe consciousness is solely a product of the physical so the idea of a soul doesnt even make sense.
I am THIS consciousness inside THIS body. If you could save my personality it wouldnt be me for this reason - even a 'soul' wouldnt be me. It only makes sense to think of ourselves as what we are, physical beings. For those people who really believe our souls rather than brains provide feelings such as love etc - how do they explain the ability of drugs to alter our moods so radically - can illegal narcotics effect your soul?
2007-01-02 07:08:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some do. Many atheists believe in metaphysical or spiritual concepts, but not in a deity per se. For example, I consider myself an atheist for this reason, but I am also a Taoist. I have a spiritual philosophy - it just doesn't include deities.
Others won't because their belief structure is based on the physical only. Empirical logic and reason is their guide.
2007-01-02 07:07:01 · answer #4 · answered by KC 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Some might do but the same type of thinking that leads to atheism (show us the evidence) would generally lead to a rejection of that hypothesis. I am not aware of a single instance where there is genuine evidence.
2007-01-02 07:02:37 · answer #5 · answered by fourmorebeers 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As an atheist yes it is called astral projection. Your consciousness can exist outside of your body but only while it still has the body as an anchor.
2007-01-02 07:03:28 · answer #6 · answered by JimE 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
only while on drugs. just kidding. i don't believe it. i haven't seen it and it really does not make any sence for an athiest to believe in something metaphysical. i'm accually not sure i understand your question though. are you talking about like a spirit or a sixth sense? either way, no i don't believe in it. cool question though
2007-01-02 07:13:27 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Everyone in my family has consciousness. Why?
2007-01-02 07:05:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
it somewhat is soooo pathetic. they have invented this video thingy youtube. it somewhat is crawling with, get this, public atheists. we are spreading like the plague too. Do you truly accost human beings in public and handle them on your rude evangelizing innovations? each and all of the atheists i understand, and that i understand many, are way too well mannered to pester human beings on the line.
2016-11-25 23:00:41 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some do. Some don't. Even atheists are not always immune to irrational beliefs.
2007-01-02 07:43:06 · answer #10 · answered by mickingundagai 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋