Question about afterlife for atheists, but would like to hear from theists, too?

Question

I have asked for some views about no afterlife from atheists and have received many intelligent and thought-provoking answers. I would like to hear atheistical opinions on the following scientifically documented physical phenomenas. I don't offer this as proof of an afterlife, simply inquisitive to hear the atheistic point of view on such physical phenomenas. For the theists, many have told me they don't believe in ghosts, so would you comment, too? 1)A woman claims she sees the spirit of a little boy, who eventually bites her on the leg. A photo is taken and it is proved to be the bitemark of a human mouth, but not of her own children. 2) Family claims spirit of small girl in house causes scratches on the father, Discovery Ch. documents this on film as it happens, with several witnesses to the event. 3) Audio tape records voice in a graveyard, plainly audible and coherent, but could not have been made by any living human voice. I don't feel that magnetic resonance would explain these.

Answer 1

I agree that there's some credible evidence to support some claims of "paranormal" events. I saw the Discovery Channel show you referred to and it was very convincing. And I've heard some first hand accounts from people whose judgment I trust. I do think there's something to it.

Answer 2

All this kind of stuff breaks down when you actually have skeptics involved. The problem is the Discovery Channel is looking for ratings, not doing a skeptical scientific investigation. The woman was probably lying about the bite. And most of those audio tapes that I have heard are pure crap.

Attention seekers make it up, and people play jokes all the time. If there were really spirits there, it would be very easy for one to do something that was repeatable and verifiable. There would be clear evidence, not crap that no one can check out.

Answer 3

I start off by asking myself, can I propose a different solution that is simpiler, and that does not require unknown / unknowable assumptions.

1.) Someone other that one of her family members bit her. Perhaps she has a cast of a human jaw, and self inflicted the mark for attention (which she obviously got).

2.) I think I saw this episode. Perhaps the wound was self inflicted and it slowly raised to the surface as the camera was taping. I.e. he scratched himself out of sight, and then quickly claimed a ghost got him, just in time to watch the marks raise.

3.) I would have to hear the sounds to be certain, but it could be wind moving between the gravestones, animals in the distance, or maybe a fault on the recording.

Although these explanations may or may not be correct, they are FAR simpiler than claiming that humans have souls, souls can exist and be trapped on earth after death, souls are capable of interacting with the living (all of which are unprovable).

Answer 4

people have made up ghost stories and showed them to be almost believable for ever. That in no way makes them real. The discovery ch makes shows to get people to watch they don't always claim that their shows are 100% factual. Ghost are at best in the supernatural realm or in the minds of men. Just like the afterlife It is in the supernatural realm and there is no proof only faith that it exists.

Answer 5

1. I need sources. A woman saying so is hardly evidence.

2. I need sources. Why didn't anyone claim James Randi's money?

3. I need sources. Why could it not have been made by a living human?

Until I see the actual evidence, all of these are merely anecdotal claims.

Answer 6

I suspect that when all the electro-chemical activity in the brain stops, life ends. The "soul" is the sum total of the physiological activity in the brain. When the brain is no longer a living thing, the soul also ceases to be.

Answer 7

None of those is a scientifically documented physical phenomenon. There are no controls, no protocols, no hypotheses being tested. They are anecdote with no reliable evidence at all.

Answer 8

Hoaxes, misunderstandings etc.. these things always turn out to have rational, mundane explanations. No reason to invoke a whole new supernatural realm of existence to explain them.

Answer 9

I feel that imagination can explain it, moreover I want proofs not claims.

Answer 10

Are these reports from a peer-reviewed scientific journal, or from the watchtower? (It's kind of important)