How do atheist deal with the idea of death?

[ShailsTDSPT]

Because the obvious question would be why do you believe in a soul, but not in a god? Why is one belief credible and the other one isn't?

Neither of them are credible. There is no scientific proof of either. That doesn't stop christians of believing in God and I of believing in reincarnation with no god. If you ask someone why they believe in God, they probably will not answer that question (or, at least, most won't). I also can not explain why I believe in souls - I just do. Just like most believe in God because they just believe on God, because they feel he exists - I feel souls exist.

[Phoenix]

But my question is, if you're willing to ignore reason on souls, why exactly don't you believe in a god?

[Orion]

I myself, although atheist, believe in reincarnation. I had some christians going WTF at me because of that. What is stopping me of believing that a soul, after leaving a body, can enter another one without influence from any kind of god?

Because it anything, there is more theoretical/logical proof for the existence of a god than there is even for souls. Literally, given the arguments and evidence we have right now, a god is more likely to exist than souls are. At least a god could potentially be considered necessary when it comes to creation, morality, etc. Souls don't.

Besides that, reincarnation is still the essential you dying. Your experiences, memories, relationships, etc. You are more than just the intangible 'energy' (or whatever) of a soul that would go from a dead person to a newborn.

[KingdomKey]

Jumping into this, since I found it a fascinating conversation and wanted to put in some input.

So, then if you don't believe souls exist. How does one come to be in this body we call a vessel? I've tried to wrap my head around any possible and numerous ways of existing inside this body, but the soul is the only thing that sounded plausible to me. However, I don't know how a soul could inhabit this body or where it would come from to do so. Our brains control everything in are bodies, but there has to be something controlling it in order for it to work, right? So, why would a soul be so hard to believe in?

Would also like to know what evidence there is, of a god existing.

Over all, I'm not a hundred percent certain of souls existing and I can think of a few reasons why they wouldn't be. But, with that said, if we don't have souls..what are we then? How do we explain our whole entire beings? (I've thought about this plenty of times already, but would like to hear someone elses answer).

[Forever Atlas]

Or (throws a curve out there) there are people who believe in God but not in a spirit/soul. (Me)

But the fundamentals of believing in soul do rest in believing in a god or gods. So, it is a little peculiar when one claims to be atheist but believes in spirits.

[Xenjin]

So, it is a little peculiar when one claims to be atheist but believes in spirits.

Could these spirits be considered as deities, though? I always saw atheism as not believing in deities/god-like beings that are somehow above everything else. Idk if souls/spirits of the 'lesser' kind count or if this is just a matter of how people define the term.

/twocents

[kazukifafner]

I've always thought that the concept of the "divine" was broad enough to not require that a specific deity exist.

Such as the idea of a vague "force" or "energy" from which a "soul" could be created.

Or the idea that the "soul" itself is a "god," "a part of god," or "a part of the divine essence."

So believing in a soul and not a god doesn't strike me as being any stranger than any other belief.

[HadesDragon]

Our brains control everything in are bodies, but there has to be something controlling it in order for it to work, right?

you're asking a strange question. We have a pretty good idea of how the brain works with the rest of the body, and we don't need a "soul" to explain any of it.

[Xenjin]

you're asking a strange question. We have a pretty good idea of how the brain works with the rest of the body, and we don't need a "soul" to explain any of it.

Well, I do somehow sense a weird paradox. The brain is controlling itself, kind of? Or is it? I mean, the brain has to have its own orders and shit too, it needs to know how to make the body work - is the brain making itself work at the same time as well?

Feels weird to think about.

[KingdomKey]

Your right, it is peculiar to believe in souls/spirits, because that leads to believing in heaven, god, and reincarnation. I don't really believe in those things at all. I was wrong to think of it the way I had, thank you for pointing that out Forever Atlas.

However would like to ask, does a soul/spirit have to necessarily come from god? Can't it just be made of atoms?

you're asking a strange question. We have a pretty good idea of how the brain works with the rest of the body, and we don't need a "soul" to explain any of it.

Edit: Your right, that is a strange question. When I think of someone in a coma, essetinal the brain is still working on its own. So a soul wouldn't be necessary.

[kazukifafner]

However would like to ask, does a soul/spirit have to necessarily come from god? Can't it just be made of atoms?

Well, here's the thing.

When you start delving into it (and especially while trying to incorporate science), there arises a need to define your terms better.

And the "soul" is a very vague thing that's good at evading strict definition.

[Cosmic+Amarna]

[Orion]

Our brains control everything in are bodies, but there has to be something controlling it in order for it to work, right?

Electrical and biochemical processes and interactions~

So, why would a soul be so hard to believe in?

Because the idea of a soul has all sorts of holes in it, and aside from which runs contrary to our understanding of how life and matter work.

Would also like to know what evidence there is, of a god existing.

There's no real evidence that can be claimed to only affirm the existence of a god, but there are many, many logical arguments for god/s which some apologetics philosophers think prove that, at the very least, god can exist.

Your right, it is peculiar to believe in souls/spirits, because that leads to believing in heaven

Belief in souls does not necessitate a subsequent belief in heaven, hell, or even a conscious afterlife.

god

As Nyangoro has said, for the sake of talking about souls, 'god' can pretty much be substituted for 'divine' and mean just as much.

reincarnation

Sure, but if it's not your actual consciousness being transferred wholly to a new being, it's not really you at all.

However would like to ask, does a soul/spirit have to necessarily come from god? Can't it just be made of atoms?

The classical idea of a soul has always been something intangible. But even then, were it to exist as a physical, material thing, there'd be no reason to call it a 'soul'. It would literally just be the brain in that case.

But, with that said, if we don't have souls..what are we then? How do we explain our whole entire beings? (I've thought about this plenty of times already, but would like to hear someone elses answer).

Souls or not, it doesn't really change what we ultimately are, we're still the same person. On a psychological (and material) level, we're pretty much the result of thousands of minute and significant influences on our lives. When we simplify things, soul or not, we're kind of like super advanced computers.

40 minute video.

Holy crap dood don't you know our attention spans don't last that long?