you have soul and why. And if you say you do not have a soul what would happen to you would you perish and gone just like the dust
2007-02-05 03:06:20 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I truly have a problem understanding what your meaning is, as far as if I don't believe I have a soul, would I "perish & be gone just like the dust." Pure speculation, but you seem to imply that without a soul, this is the only conclusion. It would also be interesting to know your definition of "after life." Heaven or hell, reincarnation, further journey in the evolution of our "energy"--? No. I do not believe I have a "soul." I do believe I will continue. Without philosophical thought, feelings, or premises, your question can't be answered.
2007-02-10 10:47:45 · answer #1 · answered by Valac Gypsy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a Buddhist of the Theravada tradition I am categorized as an Athiest and I'd like to provide an answer to this well posited and insightful question from a Buddhist perspective if I may be so permitted.
As a Buddhist then I do not so much as not believe there is no God but understand that there are Gods and superhumans inhabiting higher Realms of existence and that they have no interest at all in this Realm nor do they have or ever had any influence in the creation of this Universe. It is therefore a little ridiculous for a Buddhist to even contemplate worshipping such a one. That said it is perfectly acceptable to me that others would do so as it an acceptable part of other folk's religious dogma to do so and I accept their belief as perhaps even more valid than my own poor understanding of the Universe.
A being's Life to a Buddhist consists of 5 impermanent, temporary and ever changing Aggregates or Skandhas or Parts. They include the Form which includes the body and sense organs, Sensations, Perceptions, Mental Habits including ideas, opinions and compulsions, and Consciousness of which there are 89 kinds.
On death the body including the above 5 Parts dissolve away. If there is unresolved Karma especially negative Karma then under the Laws of Karma, the 5 Parts are reformed in different measure around the essential essence of the Being forming a new Life. This being is then Reborn with a different consciousness, different body, different perceptions and habits, and different opinions, ideas and sensations. This is why the reborn person is different than the previous person.
As can be seen above there is no soul Part. The essence of the person is an elusive and insubstantial part which is the true nature of the Being. This insubstantial essence is surrounded by the 5 Parts or aggregates and forms the new person but the essence of the Being is the only permanent Part if you will. It has no name and is definitely not the soul. This term has connotations of permanency and transmigration and therefore personality and gender and therefore is not an appropriate term for the essence spoken of here.
I hope this gives some insight into a Buddhist perspective on death and rebirth in relation to the well posited question. Forgive me if it is implied that Christian belief is brought into question, it is not my intent to offend others by implying that these concepts are difinitive, on the contrary, it is my opinion that Christians and other Faiths beliefs are just as valid if not more so than my humble and inadequate explanation here.
Peace my friends from a Buddhist in the continuing season of joy.
2007-02-05 15:25:55 · answer #2 · answered by Gaz 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I kind of like the idea of reincarnation. If we have souls, they get recycled like old newspaper. But as far as reincarnation on any kind of "rewards & punishments" type level, that I just don't know about. That would certainly imply some kind of judge, like God for example, who is able to decide if our lives were good or bad. It would be nice to think that there's something after this life, and that it could be better. But I just don't believe it's a once-around kind of ride. In the end, none of us knows diddly about what's to come, and I don't care what the near-death-experience people say.
2007-02-05 11:39:13 · answer #3 · answered by sacredvanity 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://joshuakane.diaryland.com/older.html
http://www.positiveatheism.org/mail/eml8611.htm
http://atheism.about.com/library/weekly/aa110100a.htm
although it is not true that all atheists and all theists will answer the same way, it is a fact that most atheists and most theists will come down on opposite sides of the matter. Most atheists - at least in the West - don't believe in any sort of souls or afterlife. Most theists, including those involved in more modern "New Age" beliefs, believe in some sort of soul and afterlife.
2007-02-12 11:38:38 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know if I would be considered an atheist... I don't believe anything any religion has to say, but I do believe that NOBODY know what might comes next... NOBODY.
2007-02-05 11:14:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No afterlife, no soul. Yes dust.
2007-02-05 11:09:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The inevitable conclusion to life is death then decomposition then nothing. One life is all I need.
2007-02-05 11:12:39 · answer #7 · answered by glitterkittyy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i hope there's some type of existence after life and i hope I'm wrong about the entire god thing, but I'm 99.999 percent sure I'm not
2007-02-05 11:12:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
there is nothing to support your idea of life after death other than wishful thinking.
2007-02-05 11:15:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm comming back as a panty.
2007-02-05 11:14:26 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋