Atheists, what do you think about ghosts?

Question

I'm an atheist, but I do believe in ghosts though I have my own ideas about what they really are. But, I want to know what you think.

Before last week I had only encountered one 'ghost' in my lifetime. Here's what happended: My gf was doing some homework and her dog was startled and started growling and barking at something near her bed. The dog raised the hair on her back and took off to hide under a cabinet in the laundry room. Incidentally, my girlfriend just happened to have a tape recorder nearby that she used to record lectures, so she inserted a fresh tape and started asking some questions like "Who are you? What is your name? Why did you just scare my dog? Why are you here?"

There was nothing but silence for a few seconds, and then very clearly, you hear a little girl's voice respond "I'm just so....lonely"

The voice is completely unmistable. It is definitely NOT my girlfriend because she has a very loud, distinct voice. There are no children in the house.

I'm definitely an atheist. I don't believe in gods or spirits capable of rational thought. Still I recognize that there are things I don't understand, and this is an example. I'm sure primitive folks standing at the precipice of a canyon who heard their voices echo throughout didn't understand all the concepts of soundwaves and reflections. Certainly the voice itself didn't have a mind of it's own. Perhaps this is similar, and perhaps it is not? The only reason I used the term "ghost" is because I don't know what else to call it. So I'll have my "atheist" label back thank you very much :-)

Answer 1

Personally, I do not believe in the existence of the "soul", which is what ghosts are allegedly supposed to be: conscious human souls. So the short answer is that in addition to not believing in deity (which by definition is atheism), I don't believe in ghosts either.

However, I'm not so quick to dismiss the whole phenomenon as being "pure bunk" or all believers as being "purely deluded, and that's that". MAYBE there is something to it that we don't scientifically understand yet. But again it doesn't have to include souls. For example, (just to pick some hypothetical idea) maybe consciousness leaves an imprint of sorts on space-time that can be observable under the right conditions. Who knows.

Unfortunately, nobody has been able to reproduce "ghost" results at predictable times in a controlled experiment. And anecdotes don't prove anything. So science can't confirm anything at this time, because it's not an objective, testable phenomenon.

One of the much most interesting studies I've read on this is what the "Law of the Trapezoid" essay by Anton LaVey. He proposed that the psychological affects generated by geometric figures largely contributed the ghost-believing sort of mind set. For example, in allegedly haunted rooms where people felt uncomfortable inside without knowing why, he'd take measurements of the walls and often find that the ceilings, walls, and floor didn't really meet at right angles like they should. This gives at least one plane a trapezoidal shape, which is just asymmetrical enough to make you feel uncomfortable. Mix in other archetypes (creepy old house, "somebody died here years ago", being up late at night, being over sensistive to every sound) and the human mind can play tricks on you.

Answer 2

I don't know about Atheists, but as an Agnostic, I think the jury is still out. Most "Hauntings" turn out to be illusions, either optical or auditory. I want to stress the word "Illusion" here, because people really do hear and see these things--but they have natural causes. Most Athiests don't believe in ghosts, because that would require them to believe in souls.

The case you described is fairly common. Again, the prevailing theory is that the cause is a natural one, but not clearly understood at this point. The theory is that strong emotions leave a residue. If they are strong enough and continue long enough they can remain for quite some time and those who are sensitive can perceive them. There's no actual entity involved. Just a "recording" that plays over and over again. Sometimes, the "recordings" generate a strong enough magnetic field to show up on magnetic tape.

Please be aware that this is only theory. We're going to have to learn a lot more about other things before we can even understand what to measure, let alone do proper scientific tests.

There are cases, that so far, can only be explained by ghosts--who seem to be souls for some reason are prevented from moving on. But those are pretty rare.

Answer 3

Atheist or no longer I admit i have continually been fascinated contained in the idea of the magical and love the coach Ghost Hunters. LOL I fairly like that they wrestle to locate logical motives. And that each and every little element isn't blown out of share. i'd not say I *trust* it... very reliable skeptic by nature. yet a minimum of "ghosts" are depending on the idea of folk who did exist at one time. And hence... who desires defenses. If ghosts were authentic, then that they'd in simple terms be human beings. None of that praying, psychics, meditation, mediums and so on. And none of that demons and "inhuman entities" junk... i for my area imagine it really is ridiculous if human beings take god or Jesus into it to attempt to "rid a house of spirits." I recommend... what if the ghost isn't Christian? they could no longer care. lol

Answer 4

When I was a kid we played so many ghost jokes on people that I lost count.

One of my favorite was the wire attached to our neighbors house then attached to pretty much whatever would make noise. We woke those poor people up at all hours of the night.

Careful what absurdity you accept without proof. The first absurdity you accept makes the next just that much easier.

Answer 5

As an atheist I would like to believe, I've seen videos and pictures but both can be fabricated evidence. As a skeptic I guess that I'll just have to see one to make me acknowledge their existence.

Answer 6

i have had a few experiances that cannot be explained.

as for ghosts i dont believe theyre the spirits of the dearly departed but some kind of energy.

so i am open to the possibility, unfortunatly most "evidence" has been tampered with, or are false possitives.

Answer 7

I'm Christian, and I believe there are things that exist but cannot always be seen or heard. Animals have the ability to sense these things better than we can.

Answer 8

It is possible that you had an audio hallucination. Surely as an atheist you know that ghosts are in the same realm as imaginary friends like god, jesus and mohammed?

Answer 9

I consider myself to be atheist, and I don't believe in ghosts or that we have souls.

Although if what you say happened to your GF is true, and it happened to me I may have to reconsider. Not being an atheist, but the whole ghost thing.

Answer 10

I thought I saw one once.
(It was just a flash of white, but I had just been running around the living room).

I can't say that I think that they're real, though.