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Is life worth living without a soul? |
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 Replies: 17 — Last Post Nov. 20, 2008 8:07am by Chava
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( Atti )
Enlightened One
 Patron
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I've been struggling with the question of the existence of a soul for a long time. And I've come to a tentative personal conclusion that I don't believe a soul exists. In me, in you, in anyone.
I think it's all chemical. Everything we experience, thoughts, feelings, love, hate, happiness, sadness.
It's all just chemical reactions in our brains, all biologically determined. I was talking to a friend about this the other night, and he said that he couldn't believe that, since life without a soul would have no meaning.
And I started thinking... if you feel that it's real, and you're experiencing it as if it's real, why would it have no meaning?
A forgery of the Mona Lisa is wouldn't be any less beautiful. If you can't tell one from the other, why should the origin matter?
Even if it's not produced the way you thought (ie - chemical vs. perpetuated by the "soul"), why would it be any less real? I feel love; happiness; anger; compassion... they're just as real to me without the belief in a soul. It doesn't make it any less real or relevant to how I live and what I choose to make of life, just because I don't think it's the work of a soul. What do you think?
If you were confronted with irrefutable evidence that the soul does not exist, would it change your perception of the worth of life?
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Rid yourself of doubt... Or should you?
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5:39 pm on Sep. 17, 2008 | Joined Sep. 2007 | 278 Days Active
Join to learn more about Atti Virgin Islands (British) | Questioning | 8256 Posts | 14899 Points
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Pisciculus
Connoisseur
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It would for sure effect how i see things, but it would have the same amount of meaning....
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"We're like two children on the playground of the unconfessed souls
abandoned by our mothers and our lovers and our foes..."
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( Atti )
Enlightened One
Patron
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Quote: from HeartofJuyoMk2 at 1:41 am on Sep. 18, 2008
 Life without free will is not life. Free will is a function of our cosciousness, and I believe you are right, though you couldn't use a more subjective term than "soul". 
How can the concept of a soul not be subjective? Every great religion speaks of the soul, yet every person's definition of such varies, even if only a little. By soul, I was referring to the replier's personal concept of the soul, and what it would mean to them if it did not exist.
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Rid yourself of doubt... Or should you?
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5:44 pm on Sep. 17, 2008 | Joined Sep. 2007 | 278 Days Active
Join to learn more about Atti Virgin Islands (British) | Questioning | 8256 Posts | 14899 Points
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tell me again
Guru
Patron
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What does it matter whether what you are is made of scientifically-explanable parts, or not? It doesn't bother me whatsoever whether I am made of matter/chemicals, or if there is an insubstantial part of me called the "soul".
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Bobman21
Dairy Product Addict
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Who says life has to have inherent meaning? As far as I'm concerned, life has only the meaning that we give it. So no, it doesn't matter that 'life without a soul would have no meaning,' because with or without a soul, life still has no meaning. Even if we have a soul, what difference does that make? Our meaning in life is to fulfill "god's" plan? I don't think so.
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As I walk through the valley of death, I fear no one, for I am the meanest mother fu*ker in the valley. -Gen. Patton
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allsmiles
Soothsayer
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Life is worth living without a soul. Certainly, for me anyway. I do not require nor expect a meaning of my life. I simply desire to live it. Everything save consiousness, sapience, and self is superfluous. I feel that the soul only exists if you require its existence. Ie, it's a mental construct, guardian angel, whatever you want to call it... something to prop you up against self annihilation.
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When they leave me, they're all smiles.
When they leave you, they're in tears.
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the seer
Dairy Product Addict
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i think that without a soul (though this isn't my personal belief) life has even more importance because without an afterlife you actions in this life count for so much more. just my thoughts though.
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those who martch in rank and file have my contempt
for they where given a brain by mistake when a spinal cord would suffice
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MotoMojo
Dairy Product Addict
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While I agree with the seer, I would have to say the existence of a "soul" is insignificant in my views of life. To me, this is the same as if you grew up your whole life thinking that purple was called "rentle", only to later find out it's not rentle at all -- it is purple. Though the symbolic way you think of the object or concept has changed, its perceived and physical properties would remain the same.
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This is my signature.
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sadnessness
Wealthy Hobo
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I dont believe in souls, and i dont believe that my life has a purpose. Nothing of me will survive after my body gives out, and sometimes that depresses me, sometimes it inspires me.
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dont wonder why im not smiling, wonder why you are.
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