What is an atheists take on the soul? Is there any belief in a soul?
2007-01-26 04:05:23 · 18 answers · asked by Fin 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I do not believe in a soul, but I cannot speak for all atheists.
Semantically speaking, a theist believes in a god or gods. An atheist does not, and this is the extent to which his/her spiritual position is defined by the title. Atheists could technically believe in magic, spirits, souls, etc.
For example, Buddhists are atheists, and they believe in the continuation of the soul after death via the mechanism of reincarnation.
2007-01-26 04:24:08 · answer #1 · answered by einzelgaenger08 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a Buddhist (atheist) we believe that the MIND is similar to the concept of "soul" as the "thing" which arises due to causes and conditions, perceives things in conjunction with the brain and sensory organs and what "moves on" after the physical body is dead, and takes rebirth (or not, depending on whether the mind is in a state of confusion, anger, attachment and remains like a "spirit" or achieves "enlightenment" after having cultivated a calm mind free of attachments, aversions, etc.).
No "soul".
_()_
2007-01-26 13:41:40 · answer #2 · answered by vinslave 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atheism is non belief in things supernatural, including Gods, afterlife and souls that have a separate existence to your corporeal being.
We look upon these things as fanciful delusions and would much rather present us with evidence of thes things than proclaim they exist, as if it were solid undeniable and eminently proved truth.
And then smugly ask us to disprove these fantasies.
It is not what we dis- believe, it is a fact until you can prove otherwise, there is no such thing as a soul.
2007-01-26 12:13:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know. It would be nice to think we have a soul that lives on after we die, but in reality it probably just isn't true. It's not something I dwell on. I live my life for the present and the future. I don't worry about death.
2007-01-26 12:10:58 · answer #4 · answered by Stormilutionist Chasealogist 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A soul is consciousness. Hard to define. But yes, we believe in a soul, but we don't usually believe the soul survives the body's death.
2007-01-26 12:10:14 · answer #5 · answered by WWTSD? 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Some think of it as a felt sense of social identity. The reason it's tempting to think of it as "immortal" is that it's survival often supersedes the survival of the body for many (most) individuals. For example, parents will sacrifice their physical existence to save their children - and many soldiers will do the same to save their comrades.
In these cases, the social identity, our "essence," must survive, even as we give up our lives. It's as if it would die if we survived. So we've abstracted this into something that's independent of our physical existence, and lives on after our physical death.
2007-01-26 12:21:45 · answer #6 · answered by JAT 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some do, some don't. Like Christians, there are all kinds and varieties.
My ex had a great idea. He thought that people may develop one through time by the different events in their life and in turn affected the choices they make.
2007-01-26 12:15:03 · answer #7 · answered by strpenta 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do, actually. As a Taoist, I believe that the soul is part of the energy that is the Tao.
2007-01-26 12:16:17 · answer #8 · answered by KC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most atheists I have met do believe in a soul. Just they do not want "God" to interfere..... and, considering how "God" is presented in a lot of cases, I can't say I blame them!!!
2007-01-26 12:10:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not in general, no.
However, since atheism is one thing and one thing only: "there are no deities," it is conceivable that an atheist could potentially believe in a soul of some sort but still not believe in a deity.
2007-01-26 12:08:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋