Can an Atheist believe in Ghosts?

Question

I consider myself to be an agnostic atheist, meaning I believe that the theist God(s) doesn't exist, but I don't deny any supernatural beings possible existence.

There is this guy at my job that is an atheist. He doesn't believe In God or religion. However, he claimed that he has a ghost living in his house and said that other people saw it too. He said that it could be some sort of energy left by some person, because we humans are a walking ball of energy.

You have to understand that this guy is a freakin genius, he is very strange, yet the smartest person I've ever met face to face. I asked if he did drugs or suffered from schizophrenia but he doesn't as far as he knows. So I asked if I could come over and see his ghost. I wonder if he was joking with me, but he said he wasn't.

What do you guys think could be the explanation for such a phenomenon scientifically? Considering that he doesn't have any illness or drug problems? What is your theory on ghosts?

Answer 1

No they don't believe in anything.

Answer 2

Here's what I think about ghosts. There's a theory that ghosts are actually the result of emotional energy that has somehow been stored by the surrounding environment, and then played back when the conditions are right. So in other words, when you see a ghost, you're not seeing that actual person; you're seeing a recording. As far as I know, there's no evidence to support this theory, but it makes sense for this reason: If you think about it, where do most ghost reportings come from? They come from places where there was a high level of stress or anxiety, like a room where someone was murdered or a battlefield where many soldiers were killed. I believe that the people who claim to see ghosts really ARE seeing something, but to me, that explanation makes more sense than the supernatural explanation.

To answer your first question... yes, atheists can believe in ghosts, although the number who do is probably pretty low.

Answer 3

I am an Atheist and do not believe in ghosts. I acknowledge that something is there just not sure what.. and never will until it is proven without a doubt. I think our brains are far more powerful than we will ever come to know and it might have something to do with "occurances" or possibly as your friend said, energy of some sort. I know other Atheists that do believe in ghosts.. as in, spirits caught in limbo etc. Everyone is different, no matter your religion or lack there of. Nobody knows what ghosts are, so we will all have our own theories I suppose and in the end, we could all be very wrong

Answer 4

This is from a christian's view:

People claim to see their old relatives all the time. Even though there is a lot of wishful thinkin involved it would be ignorant to dismiss all cases. Some, could be hallucinations, but others, people that came down from heaven to let their loved ones know that it is ok. Or angels that take the form of the people to also comfort the people.

But people do claim that ghosts are evil. But this to me is nothing more than that of demons and of Satan. Demons are angels but fallen ones and throughout the Bible they are mentioned so there is no doubt in my mind that the ghosts are demons, and they are spiritual beings, and thus ghosts were formed. I do not believe that most come back, such as people that are not saved. because i do not believe that God would let them out of hell to come back and haunt people.

i once again say that the evil spirits are nothing more than demons, and the good ones are angels here to comfort you.

Answer 5

It's perfectly fine to believe in both Ghosts and atheism, based exactly upon his theory. If you assume that there is some sort of life force, some soul-like object that is manifest in humans, then you could also assume that said life-force could continue to reside on the Earth despite the presence of a human, physical body. And you can believe that without believing in a God or Gods. All you really have to believe is that there are aspects of the universe which we are currently unable to scientifically observe, some of which can be explained by so-called psychic phenomenon.

Answer 6

There are some Christians that do not believe in ghost. My whole things is certain subjects tend to have believers in them and it is up to the individual. I don't know if I believe or not but it if something once had life it may be able by some will and energy to keep it going that is a possibility.

Answer 7

Hmmmm... It might be that an instrument in his house is producing a frquency that causes the eye of a human to resonate and cause some problems with vision so the eye copes up with this by extracting visions of ur memories, imaginations or etc. Hehehe my stupid theory....

Ask them if they saw the ghost with their peripheral vision (the vision at the very corner of the eye). This kind of vision usually is tricky. It is unreliable as it might show images that are not even there.

Answer 8

An athiest who believes in ghosts cancells himself out. He cannot believe in a ghost because then he would have to believe that there was a life after death, that we have souls and thats getting into religion and the belief of afterlife, Heaven, etc. Because a soul that can exists apart from the flesh has to come from somewhere and go to somewhere. The guy is either insane or a hyocrite.

Answer 9

Why could an atheist not believe in ghosts? What does believing in God have to do with ghosts?

Answer 10

Ghosts have nothing to do with religion. I lived in a haunted house when I was younger and have seen ghosts and experience spirits/entities many times throughout my life. I know that they exist, because I've seen them.

Seeing is believing. You many not believe, but don't criticize him because you've never seen a ghost.

Answer 11

As an atheist, and a Buddhist I say that depending on how you're referring to "ghosts", such things have a logical explanation to them.

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