The soul and religion
Mar. 23rd, 2012 03:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fajrdrakoWerner von Braun said, "I believe in an immortal soul. Science has proved that
nothing disintegrates into nothingness. Life and soul,
therefore, cannot disintegrate into nothingness, and so are immortal."
I don't see the logic here. Sure, nothing disappears into nothingness, but nothing stays the same, either. Bodies decay into constituent atoms, mix with other atoms to make new material, including new life. What would souls change into?
In an online discussion about the Bujold novels last week, I was struck by a line from a Miles Vorkosigan: "I've always thought of myself as agnostic. It's only lately that I've come to need for men to have souls."
That seemed odd to me - the idea that a belief in God (or a god or gods) is necessary for a belief in the soul. I think I might believe in souls but not in God... Though so much depends on how you define these terms. I tend to define God as "that which I worship" - but then, "worship" is a tricky word, too, and the logic becomes circular again.
And if I believe in worship, and souls, why is it that I identify with the atheists and usually describe myself as such?
Because pantheism lies outside the usual boundaries, of course.
Still thinking...
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
nothing disintegrates into nothingness. Life and soul,
therefore, cannot disintegrate into nothingness, and so are immortal."
I don't see the logic here. Sure, nothing disappears into nothingness, but nothing stays the same, either. Bodies decay into constituent atoms, mix with other atoms to make new material, including new life. What would souls change into?
In an online discussion about the Bujold novels last week, I was struck by a line from a Miles Vorkosigan: "I've always thought of myself as agnostic. It's only lately that I've come to need for men to have souls."
That seemed odd to me - the idea that a belief in God (or a god or gods) is necessary for a belief in the soul. I think I might believe in souls but not in God... Though so much depends on how you define these terms. I tend to define God as "that which I worship" - but then, "worship" is a tricky word, too, and the logic becomes circular again.
And if I believe in worship, and souls, why is it that I identify with the atheists and usually describe myself as such?
Because pantheism lies outside the usual boundaries, of course.
Still thinking...
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
