Do you believe in past lives?

damngrumpy

damngrumpy

Executive Branch Member
Mar 16, 2005
9,949
21
38
kelowna bc
First of all it must be understood we are collectively an experiment for science on the
desk of a young child. I do hope the little bugger does not drop us on the floor or we
are in trouble.
I tend to believe the human spirit is that remembrance people have of you once you are
gone. If you were nice the memories are nice ones or funny ones. If you were a nasty
person the opposite is true. As for spirits, witches, demons, saints and a host of other
titles, they are the visions of folk lore handed down to the masses like giant bedtime
stories. There is a purpose to all of this, if you focus on something positive you won't
want to overthrow the powerful and the greedy.
Like Christ was trying to tell people make you life journey a positive experience to guide
others and be an example to your children, your memories in history are a record of your
deeds. As for being a rising soul heading for a distant planet without transportation provided
by Branson's Virgin Airlines? About that I am not so sure.
 
Dexter Sinister

Dexter Sinister

Unspecified Specialist
Oct 1, 2004
10,168
539
113
Regina, SK
JLM said:
That may just be part of the process of reaching the right conclusion- the likes of Galileo, Newton and Edison all went through it.
Click to expand...
Don't think so, you're unlikely to reach the right conclusion if you make up an explanation then stop trying to improve your understanding. The essence of the scientific enterprise is that you never stop testing what you think you already know, all knowledge but the trivial is considered provisional to some degree.
 
Nuggler

Nuggler

kind and gentle
Feb 27, 2006
11,596
141
63
Backwater, Ontario.
Dexter Sinister said:
Don't think so, you're unlikely to reach the right conclusion if you make up an explanation then stop trying to improve your understanding. The essence of the scientific enterprise is that you never stop testing what you think you already know, all knowledge but the trivial is considered provisional to some degree.
Click to expand...


Dammit Dexter; that's too much work.

Hand me the remote will ya?

:shaking2:
 
Dexter Sinister

Dexter Sinister

Unspecified Specialist
Oct 1, 2004
10,168
539
113
Regina, SK
Nuggler said:
Dammit Dexter; that's too much work.
Click to expand...
Exactly, that's why most people don't do it, it's not only a lot of work, it's hard work, and not a natural way to think. People find an explanation that satisfies them, for whatever reason, which often turns out to be what Christopher Hitchens characterized as the "first and worst" explanation, and stop thinking about it, so they end up believing a whole lot of things that aren't true.
 
B

bluebyrd35

Council Member
Aug 9, 2008
2,373
0
36
Ormstown.Chat.Valley
Dexter Sinister said:
Exactly, that's why most people don't do it, it's not only a lot of work, it's hard work, and not a natural way to think. People find an explanation that satisfies them, for whatever reason, which often turns out to be what Christopher Hitchens characterized as the "first and worst" explanation, and stop thinking about it, so they end up believing a whole lot of things that aren't true.
Click to expand...


I agree totally. My life has been a continuing learning journey. Experience has been, that there is a small kernel of truth in most stories, legends or remembrances. There is still much more to learn. I am following my own drummer as do you. That my life has been unique as everyone's is, designed to teach what I need to know. So, Bon Voyage everyone and may life's lessons not be too harsh.
 
JLM

JLM

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 27, 2008
75,301
548
113
Vernon, B.C.
bluebyrd35 said:
I agree totally. My life has been a continuing learning journey. Experience has been, that there is a small kernel of truth in most stories, legends or remembrances. There is still much more to learn. I am following my own drummer as do you. That my life has been unique as everyone's is, designed to teach what I need to know. So, Bon Voyage everyone and may life's lessons not be too harsh.
Click to expand...

If there's future lives there has to be past lives. Not sure what the purpose of this life is if it is not striving to improve for the future!
 
C

Cliffy

Standing Member
Nov 19, 2008
44,850
193
63
Nakusp, BC
TenPenny said:
Are you saying that the only reason you get out of bed in the morning is to further whatever overall purpose you believe there is to life?
Click to expand...
Some people get out of bed to find their next fix, some to save the whales or stop wars, others just try to stay alive. Everybody has a purpose in this world.
 
B

bluebyrd35

Council Member
Aug 9, 2008
2,373
0
36
Ormstown.Chat.Valley
TenPenny said:
Why does there have to be a purpose to life?
Click to expand...

No, there probably doesn't. However, where there is change there is growth, with stagnation comes extinction. Generally speaking, purpose in life, for our species, is vital. So.....if exploring the philosophy of life, serves the purpose for some, what makes it worse than saving the whales, fighting for the right to own weapons, reducing the world's population, or feeding it's hungry? Why does speculation of what happens at death, cause such a negative reaction in some.??
 
JLM

JLM

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 27, 2008
75,301
548
113
Vernon, B.C.
Dexter Sinister said:
Because it's often not presented as speculation, it's presented as if there's some good evidence for something happening beyond death, and there isn't.
Click to expand...

Perhaps UNLESS you've had a post death experience. Possibly one of very few people on this forum who can speak wisely on the matter is Cliffy. :smile:
 
MapleDog

MapleDog

Time Out
Jun 1, 2012
1,791
0
36
St Calixte Quebec Canada
What about all these ghost stories(i mean real stories not those told by people who like alege fortune tellers,want to cash in on their stories)there musr be something,and just cause no one came back to say how it is,we can't dismiss it.
 
JLM

JLM

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 27, 2008
75,301
548
113
Vernon, B.C.
MapleDog said:
What about all these ghost stories(i mean real stories not those told by people who like alege fortune tellers,want to cash in on their stories)there musr be something,and just cause no one came back to say how it is,we can't dismiss it.
Click to expand...

Apparently there is/was a house in England supposedly occupied by ghosts where you can/could get paid good money if you could spend the night in it. :smile:
 
C

Cliffy

Standing Member
Nov 19, 2008
44,850
193
63
Nakusp, BC
JLM said:
Perhaps UNLESS you've had a post death experience. Possibly one of very few people on this forum who can speak wisely on the matter is Cliffy. :smile:
Click to expand...
It would seem that first hand experience is not good enough for skeptics. There are thousands of first hand accounts of near death experiences but since it cannot be measured by scientists, it cannot be possible. I have had many experiences that would be considered impossible by science and yet, aboriginal people experience such phenomenon as a matter fact in their daily lives.

To me, the problem lies more in the mindset of the two opposing views. I came to the conclusion that if you think it is possible, you will experience it and if you don't, you won't. And, never the twain shall meet. I feel sad that people will close their minds to any possibility outside their "normal" way of perceiving.

I spent years erasing my preconceived ideas about life just so I could experience other possibilities. It is why the aboriginal people allowed me to experience their world view. I find it far more expansive than the purely materialistic, scientific view. I would not be so bold as to say science is wrong or that anybody who subscribes to it is wrong, but to me it is rather limiting.
 
MapleDog

MapleDog

Time Out
Jun 1, 2012
1,791
0
36
St Calixte Quebec Canada
Cliffy said:
It would seem that first hand experience is not good enough for skeptics. There are thousands of first hand accounts of near death experiences but since it cannot be measured by scientists, it cannot be possible. I have had many experiences that would be considered impossible by science and yet, aboriginal people experience such phenomenon as a matter fact in their daily lives.

To me, the problem lies more in the mindset of the two opposing views. I came to the conclusion that if you think it is possible, you will experience it and if you don't, you won't. And, never the twain shall meet. I feel sad that people will close their minds to any possibility outside their "normal" way of perceiving.

I spent years erasing my preconceived ideas about life just so I could experience other possibilities. It is why the aboriginal people allowed me to experience their world view. I find it far more expansive than the purely materialistic, scientific view. I would not be so bold as to say science is wrong or that anybody who subscribes to it is wrong, but to me it is rather limiting.
Click to expand...
Like for UFOs or cryptozoology,the "skeptics are actually mostly a bunch of debunkers,creating any odd explanation for everything that can't be explained by science.

"Its the planet venus reflecting on swamp gas"
or
"Its not a ghost,its just this or that"

one hint if your pet react to something you can't see in the house,it might be a rat,a burglar or casper.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom