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  4. The Concept of the human Soul is a religious concept, which has no basis in fact, and does not exist

The Concept of the human Soul is a religious concept, which has no basis in fact, and does not exist

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  • B Bram van Kampen

    Well Folks We all write programs. The question is: where do your efforts go, when halfway through a debug, your system locks up, and, the only way out is to re-start your computer. Your efforts evaporated, and, increased the entropy of the universe. The Human brain is an incredibly complex computer, which we have not yet mastered to fully understand. It is certainly not Binary. It has it's own system of messaging and information storage. We do not (yet) understand the precise details of the How, but, we can live with the concept. That magnificent but Ill understood Computer runs a program, that gives us our self awareness, our agency to make decisions, and, outside of our awareness, runs the power plant to keep us alive, the digestive system, etc. The concept of Information Technology is relatively New. Until recently, the concept of life with agency could only be explained by means of a Divine Spark of Life, given out by a God of local choice. Furthermore, that imagined spark of life would be eternal, and, Life should should go on somewhere after the demise of the body. A Heaven or Hell, dependent on the religion one practices. The concept of an 'Hereafter' goes back thousands of years. (and as Soul that somehow lives on beyond death) Well I would state that there is no such thing as a soul. When an individual dies, ultimately the Brain is Shut Down, and the information contained therein, goes to increase the enthrophy of the universe. The Concept of a Soul is a medieval construct to explain the things that at the time could not be understood. I think we are in a position to know better now. I for one am not afraid of dying. I will simply cease to exist. This has nothing to do with believing, it has to do with Knowing.

    Bram van Kampen

    N Offline
    N Offline
    Nathan Minier
    wrote on last edited by
    #20

    Bram van Kampen wrote:

    The Concept of a Soul is a medieval construct to explain the things that at the time could not be understood. I think we are in a position to know better now. I for one am not afraid of dying. I will simply cease to exist. This has nothing to do with believing, it has to do with Knowing.

    These sound a hell of a lot like articles of faith to me, making you just another religious nut-job that refuses to embrace science. The distinction between faith and science is that science is, by definition, falsifiable. Faith, however, is "Knowing".

    "Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by stupidity." - Hanlon's Razor

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    • N Nathan Minier

      Bram van Kampen wrote:

      The Concept of a Soul is a medieval construct to explain the things that at the time could not be understood. I think we are in a position to know better now. I for one am not afraid of dying. I will simply cease to exist. This has nothing to do with believing, it has to do with Knowing.

      These sound a hell of a lot like articles of faith to me, making you just another religious nut-job that refuses to embrace science. The distinction between faith and science is that science is, by definition, falsifiable. Faith, however, is "Knowing".

      "Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by stupidity." - Hanlon's Razor

      Z Offline
      Z Offline
      ZurdoDev
      wrote on last edited by
      #21

      Nathan Minier wrote:

      faith and science

      Ironically, you have faith in science. :-D Faith is believing in something that can't be seen. You believe what science teaches you without actually verifying the results yourself, which means you are taking their word for it on faith. We ALL use faith every day in all that we do. It's not a bad thing nor just a religious thing.

      Social Media - A platform that makes it easier for the crazies to find each other. Everyone is born right handed. Only the strongest overcome it. Fight for left-handed rights and hand equality.

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      • Z ZurdoDev

        Nathan Minier wrote:

        faith and science

        Ironically, you have faith in science. :-D Faith is believing in something that can't be seen. You believe what science teaches you without actually verifying the results yourself, which means you are taking their word for it on faith. We ALL use faith every day in all that we do. It's not a bad thing nor just a religious thing.

        Social Media - A platform that makes it easier for the crazies to find each other. Everyone is born right handed. Only the strongest overcome it. Fight for left-handed rights and hand equality.

        L Offline
        L Offline
        Lost User
        wrote on last edited by
        #22

        ZurdoDev wrote:

        Ironically, you have faith in science. :-D Faith is believing in something that can't be seen. You believe what science teaches you without actually verifying the results yourself, which means you are taking their word for it on faith.

        No, we rely on other scientists to validate the claims. Not by looking, but by measuring. With unbiased tools. Science does not require any belief at all, and you can verify and dispute every claim made.

        Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^] "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

        Z 1 Reply Last reply
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        • D Dar Brett 0

          Not all, we know that printer drivers go to Silicon Hell.

          L Offline
          L Offline
          Lost User
          wrote on last edited by
          #23

          You mean this? [Office Space - Printer Scene (UNCENSORED) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9wsjroVlu8) :)

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          • B Bram van Kampen

            Well Folks We all write programs. The question is: where do your efforts go, when halfway through a debug, your system locks up, and, the only way out is to re-start your computer. Your efforts evaporated, and, increased the entropy of the universe. The Human brain is an incredibly complex computer, which we have not yet mastered to fully understand. It is certainly not Binary. It has it's own system of messaging and information storage. We do not (yet) understand the precise details of the How, but, we can live with the concept. That magnificent but Ill understood Computer runs a program, that gives us our self awareness, our agency to make decisions, and, outside of our awareness, runs the power plant to keep us alive, the digestive system, etc. The concept of Information Technology is relatively New. Until recently, the concept of life with agency could only be explained by means of a Divine Spark of Life, given out by a God of local choice. Furthermore, that imagined spark of life would be eternal, and, Life should should go on somewhere after the demise of the body. A Heaven or Hell, dependent on the religion one practices. The concept of an 'Hereafter' goes back thousands of years. (and as Soul that somehow lives on beyond death) Well I would state that there is no such thing as a soul. When an individual dies, ultimately the Brain is Shut Down, and the information contained therein, goes to increase the enthrophy of the universe. The Concept of a Soul is a medieval construct to explain the things that at the time could not be understood. I think we are in a position to know better now. I for one am not afraid of dying. I will simply cease to exist. This has nothing to do with believing, it has to do with Knowing.

            Bram van Kampen

            L Offline
            L Offline
            Lost User
            wrote on last edited by
            #24

            "The One" got bored and decided to play hide-and-go-seek with self. Wouldn't be a very good game if one was aware of that.

            "(I) am amazed to see myself here rather than there ... now rather than then". ― Blaise Pascal

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            • L Lost User

              ZurdoDev wrote:

              Ironically, you have faith in science. :-D Faith is believing in something that can't be seen. You believe what science teaches you without actually verifying the results yourself, which means you are taking their word for it on faith.

              No, we rely on other scientists to validate the claims. Not by looking, but by measuring. With unbiased tools. Science does not require any belief at all, and you can verify and dispute every claim made.

              Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^] "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

              Z Offline
              Z Offline
              ZurdoDev
              wrote on last edited by
              #25

              Eddy Vluggen wrote:

              we rely on other scientists to validate the claims. Not by looking, but by measuring. With unbiased tools.

              Correct. And then you have faith that they did it correctly.

              Eddy Vluggen wrote:

              With unbiased tools.

              Global warming. Wine. Eggs. Ice ages. :laugh:

              Social Media - A platform that makes it easier for the crazies to find each other. Everyone is born right handed. Only the strongest overcome it. Fight for left-handed rights and hand equality.

              L 1 Reply Last reply
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              • Z ZurdoDev

                Eddy Vluggen wrote:

                we rely on other scientists to validate the claims. Not by looking, but by measuring. With unbiased tools.

                Correct. And then you have faith that they did it correctly.

                Eddy Vluggen wrote:

                With unbiased tools.

                Global warming. Wine. Eggs. Ice ages. :laugh:

                Social Media - A platform that makes it easier for the crazies to find each other. Everyone is born right handed. Only the strongest overcome it. Fight for left-handed rights and hand equality.

                L Offline
                L Offline
                Lost User
                wrote on last edited by
                #26

                ZurdoDev wrote:

                Correct. And then you have faith that they did it correctly.

                No, I don't. And "they" are not a bound group, it includes us.

                ZurdoDev wrote:

                Global warming. Wine. Eggs. Ice ages. :laugh:

                Angels, prayers, unicorns; "superstition".

                Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^] "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

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                • L Lost User

                  ZurdoDev wrote:

                  Correct. And then you have faith that they did it correctly.

                  No, I don't. And "they" are not a bound group, it includes us.

                  ZurdoDev wrote:

                  Global warming. Wine. Eggs. Ice ages. :laugh:

                  Angels, prayers, unicorns; "superstition".

                  Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^] "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

                  Z Offline
                  Z Offline
                  ZurdoDev
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #27

                  Eddy Vluggen wrote:

                  No, I don'

                  Then what would you call it?

                  Social Media - A platform that makes it easier for the crazies to find each other. Everyone is born right handed. Only the strongest overcome it. Fight for left-handed rights and hand equality.

                  L 1 Reply Last reply
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                  • N Nathan Minier

                    Bram van Kampen wrote:

                    The Concept of a Soul is a medieval construct to explain the things that at the time could not be understood. I think we are in a position to know better now. I for one am not afraid of dying. I will simply cease to exist. This has nothing to do with believing, it has to do with Knowing.

                    These sound a hell of a lot like articles of faith to me, making you just another religious nut-job that refuses to embrace science. The distinction between faith and science is that science is, by definition, falsifiable. Faith, however, is "Knowing".

                    "Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by stupidity." - Hanlon's Razor

                    L Offline
                    L Offline
                    Lost User
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #28

                    Falsify this: [Many-worlds interpretation - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Many-worlds\_interpretation) (I have ten other fundamental theories after you finish with this one) :)

                    N 1 Reply Last reply
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                    • Z ZurdoDev

                      Eddy Vluggen wrote:

                      No, I don'

                      Then what would you call it?

                      Social Media - A platform that makes it easier for the crazies to find each other. Everyone is born right handed. Only the strongest overcome it. Fight for left-handed rights and hand equality.

                      L Offline
                      L Offline
                      Lost User
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #29

                      ZurdoDev wrote:

                      Then what would you call it?

                      I don't call it anything; you labelled it "faith", which I have explained is not required. That is one reason why kids do "science" experiments in school; to show them that they get the same result, independent of their beliefs, religions or convictions.

                      Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^] "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

                      Z 1 Reply Last reply
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                      • L Lost User

                        ZurdoDev wrote:

                        Then what would you call it?

                        I don't call it anything; you labelled it "faith", which I have explained is not required. That is one reason why kids do "science" experiments in school; to show them that they get the same result, independent of their beliefs, religions or convictions.

                        Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^] "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

                        Z Offline
                        Z Offline
                        ZurdoDev
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #30

                        Eddy Vluggen wrote:

                        I don't call it anything

                        Interesting.

                        Eddy Vluggen wrote:

                        to show them that they get the same result, independent of their beliefs, religions or convictions.

                        Obviously. But you believe in plenty of scientific statements without having tested them yourself.

                        Social Media - A platform that makes it easier for the crazies to find each other. Everyone is born right handed. Only the strongest overcome it. Fight for left-handed rights and hand equality.

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                        • Z ZurdoDev

                          Eddy Vluggen wrote:

                          I don't call it anything

                          Interesting.

                          Eddy Vluggen wrote:

                          to show them that they get the same result, independent of their beliefs, religions or convictions.

                          Obviously. But you believe in plenty of scientific statements without having tested them yourself.

                          Social Media - A platform that makes it easier for the crazies to find each other. Everyone is born right handed. Only the strongest overcome it. Fight for left-handed rights and hand equality.

                          L Offline
                          L Offline
                          Lost User
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #31

                          ZurdoDev wrote:

                          Obviously. But you believe in plenty of scientific statements without having tested them yourself.

                          No, that is not a belief or faith. I know they are valid, because they are being verified and validated every day, by independent people. That means there's no requirement for me to "believe" or "assume". Seriously, would you have CP judge articles based on "faith" and "belief", or rather have the code verified by everyone who comes across it? Does your code require "faith"?

                          Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^] "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

                          Z 1 Reply Last reply
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                          • L Lost User

                            ZurdoDev wrote:

                            Obviously. But you believe in plenty of scientific statements without having tested them yourself.

                            No, that is not a belief or faith. I know they are valid, because they are being verified and validated every day, by independent people. That means there's no requirement for me to "believe" or "assume". Seriously, would you have CP judge articles based on "faith" and "belief", or rather have the code verified by everyone who comes across it? Does your code require "faith"?

                            Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^] "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

                            Z Offline
                            Z Offline
                            ZurdoDev
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #32

                            Eddy Vluggen wrote:

                            because they are being verified and validated every day, by independent people.

                            You assume. :laugh: :laugh: And you trust/have faith/believe/whatever you want to call it that they are doing it right.

                            Social Media - A platform that makes it easier for the crazies to find each other. Everyone is born right handed. Only the strongest overcome it. Fight for left-handed rights and hand equality.

                            L 1 Reply Last reply
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                            • Z ZurdoDev

                              Eddy Vluggen wrote:

                              because they are being verified and validated every day, by independent people.

                              You assume. :laugh: :laugh: And you trust/have faith/believe/whatever you want to call it that they are doing it right.

                              Social Media - A platform that makes it easier for the crazies to find each other. Everyone is born right handed. Only the strongest overcome it. Fight for left-handed rights and hand equality.

                              L Offline
                              L Offline
                              Lost User
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #33

                              ZurdoDev wrote:

                              You assume. :laugh: :laugh: And you trust/have faith/believe/whatever you want to call it that they are doing it right.

                              No; we did quite some chemistry-tricks in school; you get a list of stuff you need, and then you can verify the results. Same goes for Newtons laws; go measure and verify. Everyone can verify it; if it needed belief, it would not be science, but yet another religion.

                              Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^] "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

                              Z 1 Reply Last reply
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                              • L Lost User

                                ZurdoDev wrote:

                                You assume. :laugh: :laugh: And you trust/have faith/believe/whatever you want to call it that they are doing it right.

                                No; we did quite some chemistry-tricks in school; you get a list of stuff you need, and then you can verify the results. Same goes for Newtons laws; go measure and verify. Everyone can verify it; if it needed belief, it would not be science, but yet another religion.

                                Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^] "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

                                Z Offline
                                Z Offline
                                ZurdoDev
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #34

                                Eddy Vluggen wrote:

                                Everyone can verify it

                                You keep repeating that as if I have disagreed. I have not disagreed. I have simply pointed out that YOU have not verified everything that YOU believe from science, which means you are "taking their word for it." Somehow my point is not getting across. :sigh:

                                Social Media - A platform that makes it easier for the crazies to find each other. Everyone is born right handed. Only the strongest overcome it. Fight for left-handed rights and hand equality.

                                L 1 Reply Last reply
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                                • Z ZurdoDev

                                  Eddy Vluggen wrote:

                                  Everyone can verify it

                                  You keep repeating that as if I have disagreed. I have not disagreed. I have simply pointed out that YOU have not verified everything that YOU believe from science, which means you are "taking their word for it." Somehow my point is not getting across. :sigh:

                                  Social Media - A platform that makes it easier for the crazies to find each other. Everyone is born right handed. Only the strongest overcome it. Fight for left-handed rights and hand equality.

                                  L Offline
                                  L Offline
                                  Lost User
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #35

                                  ZurdoDev wrote:

                                  I have simply pointed out that YOU have not verified everything that YOU believe from science, which means you are "taking their word for it."

                                  I have explained several times how that observation is nonsense. The scientific method is a self-correcting one, validated and verified independently. It has been so since Ibn Alhazen. It is NOT belief in science. It does not require belief. In fact, one is encouraged to doubt everything.

                                  Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^] "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

                                  Z 1 Reply Last reply
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                                  • L Lost User

                                    ZurdoDev wrote:

                                    I have simply pointed out that YOU have not verified everything that YOU believe from science, which means you are "taking their word for it."

                                    I have explained several times how that observation is nonsense. The scientific method is a self-correcting one, validated and verified independently. It has been so since Ibn Alhazen. It is NOT belief in science. It does not require belief. In fact, one is encouraged to doubt everything.

                                    Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^] "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

                                    Z Offline
                                    Z Offline
                                    ZurdoDev
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #36

                                    Ya, you're still not getting it.

                                    Eddy Vluggen wrote:

                                    It does not require belief.

                                    I agree. Truth is truth regardless of belief. We'll try this from a different angle. Do you believe in the theory of evolution? Or in gravity?

                                    Social Media - A platform that makes it easier for the crazies to find each other. Everyone is born right handed. Only the strongest overcome it. Fight for left-handed rights and hand equality.

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                                    • Z ZurdoDev

                                      Ya, you're still not getting it.

                                      Eddy Vluggen wrote:

                                      It does not require belief.

                                      I agree. Truth is truth regardless of belief. We'll try this from a different angle. Do you believe in the theory of evolution? Or in gravity?

                                      Social Media - A platform that makes it easier for the crazies to find each other. Everyone is born right handed. Only the strongest overcome it. Fight for left-handed rights and hand equality.

                                      L Offline
                                      L Offline
                                      Lost User
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #37

                                      ZurdoDev wrote:

                                      Do you believe in the theory of evolution? Or in gravity?

                                      I don't need to. The "theory" of evolution is also not a theoretical thing; it is considered a "theory and a fact". We are drowning in evidence of evolution. Gravity is something you can test for yourself. Go stand near a black hole :)

                                      ZurdoDev wrote:

                                      I agree. Truth is truth regardless of belief.

                                      That's why scientist have to use tools to measure, and why their claims are tested by others using other unbiased tools. The machines dont lie.

                                      Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^] "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

                                      Z 1 Reply Last reply
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                                      • L Lost User

                                        ZurdoDev wrote:

                                        Do you believe in the theory of evolution? Or in gravity?

                                        I don't need to. The "theory" of evolution is also not a theoretical thing; it is considered a "theory and a fact". We are drowning in evidence of evolution. Gravity is something you can test for yourself. Go stand near a black hole :)

                                        ZurdoDev wrote:

                                        I agree. Truth is truth regardless of belief.

                                        That's why scientist have to use tools to measure, and why their claims are tested by others using other unbiased tools. The machines dont lie.

                                        Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^] "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

                                        Z Offline
                                        Z Offline
                                        ZurdoDev
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #38

                                        Eddy Vluggen wrote:

                                        I don't need to.

                                        OK. :rolleyes: Dodge the question.

                                        Social Media - A platform that makes it easier for the crazies to find each other. Everyone is born right handed. Only the strongest overcome it. Fight for left-handed rights and hand equality.

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                                        • Z ZurdoDev

                                          Eddy Vluggen wrote:

                                          I don't need to.

                                          OK. :rolleyes: Dodge the question.

                                          Social Media - A platform that makes it easier for the crazies to find each other. Everyone is born right handed. Only the strongest overcome it. Fight for left-handed rights and hand equality.

                                          L Offline
                                          L Offline
                                          Lost User
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #39

                                          I answered it, but you're too busy convinving yourself that you forgot to read the arguments. The theory of evolution is not a "belief". The fairy-tales without any evidence are. It's that simple :thumbsup:

                                          Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^] "If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.

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