Why do skeptics deny the existance of the soul?

[Question]

I offer for the challenge I did, that I can erase the souls of people by anient tenique by only looking into there eys! I say should I ask fr the prixe? Would Mr. Randi volanteer to have his soul erased? And they deny the existance of the thing! They say provethere is a soul! Why skepics not belive in soul?

[Cain]

What you say!! He set us up the bomb. You have no chance make your time. All your base are belong to us. ha ha ha... For great justice.

[Peter Jenkins]

How do you prove that a soul has been erased?
what effect would it have on a subject?
Do the subjects of this 'soul erasure' become automatons? or do they carry on as normal, but find that dogs bark at them and automatic doors refuse to open. Or, perhaps, do they just loose their appreciation for motown music?
Can a soul be re-installed after it's been erased? Is there a residue from the erasure? as in erasing a chalk board. Or is it more like erasing the data from a floppy disc?
btw, I only deny the existance of an Immortal soul.
I do acknowledge the existance of a uniqueness and personality that is a function of my physical brain process. I would consider this to be my 'soul'. That may be semantics, but you need to be a bit more specific before making sweeping generalisations.
Peter

[Yahweh]

Polaroid camera: Mechanism which captures the soul.

Polaroid film: Substance which houses the aquired soul.

Firecracker: Provides means to which to burn the victims soul.



Fin.

[evildave]

(Dons idiot hat...)

Now, as far as souls go, I've been capturing souls for years with my special camera! I now own the souls of whole stadiums full of people who happened to be present when I took a snapshot. It works through TV sets, too! I could make you one, but it's kind of expensive....

What a LAME "super power" to only be able to "erase" souls, one at a time.

Far more useful to take them and enslave them with dark magicks....

(Removes idiot hat)

I can't speak for anyone else, but I certainly don't want to get close enough to "gaze into your eyes", because, well, I have to admit I'm a bit afraid I'll catch whatever it is that's eating your brain from proximity to your obviously "mental" carcass.

Freakishly insane people really tend to creep me out. Once you're face to face with some "soul eating wonder", you really have to worry about personal safety, like what if he comes unglued and jumps on me and starts trying to rape my ear? Or bite me? Or stab me?

Now then, if you can do it through a pane of plexiglass, no problem. Send out round-trip airline tickets, and pay for my hotel, and you can "erase" away through window, or something. Just so long as you stay in a box or something.

I really have to admire Randi for comming within a city block of some of the people he does.

[exarch]

We don't deny the existence, we just assume there isn't a need for a soul to explain things the way they are.

Originally posted by Question
I offer for the challenge I did, that I can erase the souls of people by anient tenique by only looking into there eys! I say should I ask fr the prixe? Would Mr. Randi volanteer to have his soul erased? And they deny the existance of the thing! They say provethere is a soul! Why skepics not belive in soul?Since we're not even able to sell our souls on e-Bay, I'm not sure if you'd legally be allowed to "erase" it. But by all means, give it your best shot.

You will not get Randi's million though, since you have to prove somehow that you changed anything, and didn't just stare malevolently for a couple of minutes while muttering gibberish.

[Crossbow]

Originally posted by Question
I offer for the challenge I did, that I can erase the souls of people by anient tenique by only looking into there eys! I say should I ask fr the prixe? Would Mr. Randi volanteer to have his soul erased? And they deny the existance of the thing! They say provethere is a soul! Why skepics not belive in soul?

Skeptics do not deny the existence of a soul in people, however they do point out that there is not any objective evidence for the existence of a soul in people.

Multitudes of individuals have tried to find objective evidence for the existence of a soul for thousands of years but have been unable to do so. As such, some Skeptics have become rather cynical on the subject and therefore personally deny the existence of souls. However, I have found that if you press them on the issue, they will eventually say something like "In my opinion, I do not believe in souls since no one has ever been able to present any conclusive evidence for souls; but if someone were to present such evidence, then I would reconsider my opinion.".

Anyway, while your technique of soul stealing is quite charming, it would not provide the required objective evidence, therefore it would not qualify for the JREF prize money.

[Wrath of the Swarm]

It is possible for us to consider the definition of the word 'soul' and reach a conclusion based on that. Some definitions describe things that are logically impossible - we can be as certain as we can be of anything that such things do not exist.

When we look at what people actually mean by the word 'soul', it quickly becomes clear that it's logically impossible for a thing with those properties to exist. There may be other definitions of 'soul' that are compatible with reality, but not that one.

[hawkins_anderson]

If people do not possess a "soul," then do we possess a spirit? Is it called an "essence"? What do we call that which defines each of our unique individualities and dissipates upon the brink of death death? If we are to move beyond defining things in terms of religion and are now apt to define things based upon scientific fact, what are we to label it? We all have something. We all have personalities but when death approaches that flicker of personality vanishes. If it is not a soul, then what is it?

[exarch]

Originally posted by hawkins_anderson
If people do not possess a "soul," then do we possess a spirit? Is it called an "essence"? What do we call that which defines each of our unique individualities and dissipates upon the brink of death death? If we are to move beyond defining things in terms of religion and are now apt to define things based upon scientific fact, what are we to label it? We all have something. We all have personalities but when death approaches that flicker of personality vanishes. If it is not a soul, then what is it?Consciousness. Self awareness.
It's still only a bunch of electrochemical signals, but it gives us the illusion that our mind is separate from our body, which is what the idea of the soul is all about, the wish to keep on existing even after the body has stopped functioning.

It's an elaborate self deceptioned created to deal with the fear of death.

[Tricky]

Originally posted by Yahweh
Polaroid camera: Mechanism which captures the soul.

Polaroid film: Substance which houses the aquired soul.
Fin.
Don't you mean "Soularoid"?

[Upchurch]

Originally posted by Question
I offer for the challenge I did, that I can erase the souls of people by anient tenique by only looking into there eys! I say should I ask fr the prixe? Would Mr. Randi volanteer to have his soul erased?Lemmie guess. You're going to erase Randi's soul and the soul of any skeptic brave enough to volunteer Thursday night (Florida time) during the radio broadcast for all to see?

If so, put me on the list. Work you voodoo and erase my soul. I'm even less worried about losing my soul than I was about losing my sight. At least I have sight to lose.
And they deny the existance of the thing! They say provethere is a soul! Why skepics not belive in soul? Why do you not believe in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny? Fairy tales and children's stories.

[Gestahl]

Originally posted by hawkins_anderson
What do we call that which defines each of our unique individualities and dissipates upon the brink of death death? If we are to move beyond defining things in terms of religion and are now apt to define things based upon scientific fact, what are we to label it?

I have several terms you can try out for what you want to describe:

personality, individuality (you even used it), consciousness, or how about:

person . At least, usually when I refer to a person, as in "he is a strange person", I am not referring to their body...

[Monketey Ghost]

Originally posted by Tricky

Don't you mean "Soularoid"?

HAR! :D Hee hee hee

[Chanileslie]

Originally posted by Question
I offer for the challenge I did, that I can erase the souls of people by anient tenique by only looking into there eys! I say should I ask fr the prixe? Would Mr. Randi volanteer to have his soul erased? And they deny the existance of the thing! They say provethere is a soul! Why skepics not belive in soul?

You can have my soul, and you can do whatever you like with it. Of course, it is completely non-existant, so it (my soul) will take whatever shape you will it and will be banished as you will it. Have to it.

[Yahweh]

Originally posted by Chanileslie
You can have my soul, and you can do whatever you like with it. Of course, it is completely non-existant, so it (my soul) will take whatever shape you will it and will be banished as you will it. Have to it.
*Wears Chani's soul as a funny hat*

Woohoo! I'm wearing your soul! Teeheehee!! I'm Soul Boy! Gimme some candy!

[/AdamSandler]

[Humphreys]

Originally posted by Question
And they deny the existance of the thing! They say provethere is a soul! Why skepics not belive in soul?

Ugh that's awful. Those crazy skeptics.

If the money was mine, I'd definitely give it to you. If you say you can erase souls, that's all that counts.

[exarch]

Originally posted by Yahweh
*Wears Chani's soul as a funny hat*

Woohoo! I'm wearing your soul! Teeheehee!! I'm Soul Boy! Gimme some candy!

[/AdamSandler]Now if you were to announce you'd erase my soul I'd be worried :D

[c4ts]

I have an ancient soul killing technique of my own, but it requires a chainsaw or pointy stick.

[Tricky]

Originally posted by c4ts
I have an ancient soul killing technique of my own, but it requires a chainsaw or pointy stick.
I am developing a training course on how to defend your soul against an attack with fresh fruit.

[Chanileslie]

Originally posted by Yahweh

*Wears Chani's soul as a funny hat*

Woohoo! I'm wearing your soul! Teeheehee!! I'm Soul Boy! Gimme some candy!

[/AdamSandler]

Wow, I never knew that my non-existant soul could look so darned good! Hey, I particularly like the brightly colored feathers.

[Humphreys]

Originally posted by Tricky

I am developing a training course on how to defend your soul against an attack with fresh fruit.

You promised you'd tell us about pointed sticks Tricky.

[Zep]

<h1>Go on, Question! I'm staring at you now! ERASE MY SOUL !!!</h1>
If you dare...

[c4ts]

Aaaaah! My soul! It's dead!!

Wait a minute, my soul has been dead for some time now. I think you must have killed one of those souls I bought on E-Bay.

[evildave]

Originally posted by Tricky

I am developing a training course on how to defend your soul against an attack with fresh fruit.

... and then you eat the banana, thus disarming the attacker.

[Ratman_tf]

Originally posted by Zep
<h1>Go on, Question! I'm staring at you now! ERASE MY SOUL !!!</h1>
If you dare...

Eeeek!

[crocodile deathroll]

Not many skeptics debunk the soul, it is just that they debunk many ancient and new age models of it. A soul that can be objectively observed like a fairy or a ghost. Or a soul that retains memories of it's life after death. A soul that suffers in hell and can remember the sins which caused it to go there. That is where I have a problem with the soul.

CDR

[Eos of the Eons]

***stirs pot***

Okay, I'll step up and deny the existance of souls and spirits. I do feel we are all in possession of a consciousness when our brain is active though.

No brain, no consciousness.

Well, like they say, when you die-it will be just like before you were born.

You will have no brain to interpret sights, sounds, smells, touch, taste, etc. Thus, when you are brain dead, you can see, hear, smell, touch, or taste. So how the heck does this soul get around? It would be this...um...thing that cannot do anything because it cannot percieve anything.

It won't have any memory of anything, because your memory was in your brain.

So if we DID have a soul, it would be no use to us when we die.

When people claim to talk to dead people, then I have to laugh myself silly from my perspective. I'm sure you can understand why.

At the most I see our consciousness working because of the energy we have because of our body working like a machine and using up food to make energy to fuel our nervous system and others.

So, a sould would be this energy, that would disperse when we die. Where to? I dunno, in the form of heat escaping from our bodies when we die. We do get quite cold when we are dead and all.

Now I'm clearly needing some sleep to spare you all my ramblings
:p

[Some Friggin Guy]

You want to get close enough to erase my soul?


http://www.somefrigginsite.lunaticsworld.com/images/jacksit.jpg

[Zep]

:D :D :D

[Eos of the Eons]

***sniff sniff***

urhm. Something smells as bad as it looks :D

[RabbiSatan]

Aagghh! The eyes! Those evil, piercing eyes! Boring into my brain! Aiyeeee!

[crocodile deathroll]

Originally posted by Zep
<h1>Go on, Question! I'm staring at you now! ERASE MY SOUL !!!</h1>
If you dare...

]<h1>You are staring at yourself now! ERASE YOUR SOUL !!!</h1>

I won't erase it, but I can mirror flip it to make it appear a little more realist. this is more of the subjective experience of "you" as you observe yourself through your own reflection and not how other people see you.

CDR

[Eos of the Eons]

Originally posted by crocodile deathroll


I won't erase it, but I can mirror flip it to make it appear a little more realist. this is more of the subjective experience of "you" as you observe yourself through your own reflection and not how other people see you.

CDR :dl:

Oh sure, now it's not so mesmerizing anymore. I'm free! I'm free! mwahhahhaaha!

[Zep]

I'm SO glad I didn't take a GOOD picture of me. I would surely have been left here blathering at the monitor if I had managed to hypnotise myself...


There I was, 10,000 feet over Berlin, upside-down, nothing on the clock and no soul in my body...

[Some Friggin Guy]

Originally posted by Eos of the Eons
***sniff sniff***

urhm. Something smells as bad as it looks :D

Aw, that's not nice. It's not like I'm mean or anything.

Look, I even like puppies!

http://www.frigginguy.mysitespace.com/images/jackdog.jpg

[neutrino_cannon]

Originally posted by Cain
What you say!! He set us up the bomb. You have no chance make your time. All your base are belong to us. ha ha ha... For great justice.

Main screen turn on!

[Samus]

I can erase my own soul, thank you very much...

[Chanileslie]

Originally posted by Some Friggin Guy
You want to get close enough to erase my soul?


http://www.somefrigginsite.lunaticsworld.com/images/jacksit.jpg

Okay, Father Jack, put down the Drain Duck and step away from the bottle. Otherwise, I will have to call Father Ted.

[c4ts]

Originally posted by neutrino_cannon


Main screen turn on!

It's you!

[Eos of the Eons]

Originally posted by Some Friggin Guy


Aw, that's not nice. It's not like I'm mean or anything.

Look, I even like puppies!

http://www.frigginguy.mysitespace.com/images/jackdog.jpg

You like puppies in cream sauce?:(

[Zep]

Looks like puppies in a cream AND BRANDY sauce.

[Some Friggin Guy]

BRANDY?


NAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

http://www.somefrigginsite.lunaticsworld.com/images/jack1.gif

[Rocky]

Does anyone else think that's what Debunk must look like?


:D :D :D

[Zep]

Originally posted by Some Friggin Guy
BRANDY?


NAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

http://www.somefrigginsite.lunaticsworld.com/images/jack1.gif Oh I see! Puppies in a cream and WHISKY sauce. Well, isn't THAT sophisticated!

[De_Bunk]

Drink...Girls...Feck...Nuns....Brick...