Do you believe in ghosts?

Freebase Dali · 03-07-2011, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nonsubmissivewife

Janszoon...you are awesome. Just wanted you to know that.

Sometimes I wonder if you were beaten with a bible as a child though. You give off very strong anti-religious vibes. (And if you were beaten with a bible as a child...well, I apologize for the comment. :\ )

I understand where you're coming from (I think), but I tend to agree with duga here, about everyone cutting each other some slack, so sometimes I find your vehement opposition a bit disturbing.

Has every religious/superstitious/traditional person you've met been a closed-minded nit?

Honestly I'm just wondering, as this hasn't been my experience.

I can identify with this post, as I was, most definitely, beaten with a bible growing up. Sometimes, almost literally... if you consider a thick leather belt with the word "jesus" engraved on it as the word of god. For a long time I simply hated religion because I was forced to choke on it, but after a while I let that go and just began to realize that the real harm was in the mindset that needed to force itself onto another person.
I'm still learning how to be open minded and not view my own ego as an absolute truth, and it's hard as hell, but I feel better and better about it because I'm learning a lot from people where I may not have been capable of otherwise. While I still contain some fundamental convictions, I'm getting better at allowing them to be challenged and I believe that's necessary if I'm to have any kind of faith in the solidity of my own beliefs.

**Janszoon** · 03-08-2011, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nonsubmissivewife

Janszoon...you are awesome. Just wanted you to know that.

Sometimes I wonder if you were beaten with a bible as a child though. You give off very strong anti-religious vibes. (And if you were beaten with a bible as a child...well, I apologize for the comment. :\ )

I understand where you're coming from (I think), but I tend to agree with duga here, about everyone cutting each other some slack, so sometimes I find your vehement opposition a bit disturbing.

Has every religious/superstitious/traditional person you've met been a closed-minded nit?

Honestly I'm just wondering, as this hasn't been my experience.

Are you a nonbeliever?

**Janszoon** · 03-08-2011, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanwllCorfe

I don't get what it is about the polar extremes. As if I really think you're evil? As if my believing has anything to do with folklore? And as if I think any unexplainable event is an irrefutable fact? Not exactly.

I'm unclear on why you seem to think that my comment was directed specifically at you.

NSW · 03-08-2011, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

Are you a nonbeliever?

I'm...undecided?? If I'm honest the truth is I just don't care enough about it to decide either way.

But, I was raised in an extremely religious family and community. So I have met my fair share of extremists...the people I'm assuming you have beef with here. Just seems like I've met enough people who were willing to live and let live despite their religious views too...enough to balance it out anyway.

I ramble though. The short answer to your question is...I don't know.

CanwllCorfe · 03-08-2011, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

I'm unclear on why you seem to think that my comment was directed specifically at you.

I know it wasn't, but since I am a believer it kind of is directed towards me.

Though for the most part I don't like being associated with believers. Once I say I am, it's almost as if I then must communicate with spirits in my spare time using one of my many Ouija boards. And, of course, am completely devoid of any logic.

**Janszoon** · 03-08-2011, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nonsubmissivewife

I'm...undecided?? If I'm honest the truth is I just don't care enough about it to decide either way.

But, I was raised in an extremely religious family and community. So I have met my fair share of extremists...the people I'm assuming you have beef with here. Just seems like I've met enough people who were willing to live and let live despite their religious views too...enough to balance it out anyway.

I ramble though. The short answer to your question is...I don't know.

The reason I ask is that I've generally found the people who can't understand why someone might be annoyed by religion are people who've never experienced being nonreligious in a religious society.

Has every religious person I've ever met been some horrible person? No, of course not. One of the most important people in my life, my grandmother, was quite religious. My wife is also pretty religious. I myself, at one time, was even considering going to divinity school to become a minister. But none of that particularly enables me to ignore the fact that the overwhelming majority of my fellow Americans take huge dumps on nonbelievers on a very regular basis.

CanwllCorfe · 03-08-2011, 01:12 AM

Wait a minute.. you were talking about believing in ghosts right? Jesus. I hope you weren't talking about religion. Because I definitely am not that kind of believer.

And this is somewhat relevant, but I've found that religious people tend to not believe in ghosts because there really can't be in an between. You die, and then go to heaven or hell.

ThePhanastasio · 03-08-2011, 01:14 AM

I'm not religious, but I think that ghosts and paranormal phenomena is more plausible. I'm kind of iffy on it, but I've had some weirdness personally that I've never been able to quite explain away.

**Janszoon** · 03-08-2011, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanwllCorfe

Wait a minute.. you were talking about believing in ghosts right? Jesus. I hope you weren't talking about religion. Because I definitely am not that kind of believer.

I guess I don't really see the difference.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanwllCorfe

And this is somewhat relevant, but I've found that religious people tend to not believe in ghosts because there really can't be in an between. You die, and then go to heaven or hell.

It sounds like you're talking specifically about Christians, not religious people in general. But even if you restrict the discussion to just them I think you'd find plenty who believe in ghosts, not to mentioned the fact that all of them believe in the holy ghost.

CanwllCorfe · 03-08-2011, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

I guess I don't really see the difference.

Religion is based off of books and stories from thousands of years ago. To experience something unexplained, you can do so firsthand. I don't see how religion and the unexplained are related. On top of that is worship and prayer. And a myriad of other things. Like holidays. And church dinners.

Oh, and the belief in one specific holy.. guy. Who died. Who I guess is supposed to be VERY important.

03-08-2011, 01:12 AM	#77 (permalink)
CanwllCorfe Quiet Man in the Corner Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Pocono Mountains Posts: 2,480	Wait a minute.. you were talking about believing in ghosts right? Jesus. I hope you weren't talking about religion. Because I definitely am not that kind of believer. And this is somewhat relevant, but I've found that religious people tend to not believe in ghosts because there really can't be in an between. You die, and then go to heaven or hell. __________________ Your eyes were never yet let in to see the majesty and riches of the mind, but dwell in darkness; for your God is blind.

03-08-2011, 01:14 AM	#78 (permalink)
ThePhanastasio Killed Laura Palmer Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ashland, KY Posts: 1,679	I'm not religious, but I think that ghosts and paranormal phenomena is more plausible. I'm kind of iffy on it, but I've had some weirdness personally that I've never been able to quite explain away. __________________ Phish: Studio Discography Reviewed 100 Albums I Heartily Recommend My last.fm It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken Perhaps they're better left unsung