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Reincarnation: Soul Evolution?

....I do not know these things, and I do not think any of us can know any of it with certainty. I am trying to find an explanation that fits the supernatural events that have some probability of being genuine (not knowingly fraudulent) and that has no obvious contradictions.

Unfortunately I have to fall back on saying "God controls" for those things that our human history does not give us clues to.

I very much welcome the gradual move away from dogmatic statements and self-serving definitions to a more thoughtful and nuanced approach to the subject, in which the inherent uncertainties are acknowledged, and the alternative explanations are at least given a mention. On my part, I acknowledge that some of my early posts were harsh, (as they will continue to be with anyone who mis-states fact or defines atheism or atheists in a way that suits their argument), and I hope you've noticed that as your posts have mellowed, so have mine. This is an altogether better discussion now.

None of which means I think you are even slightly right, of course ;).
 
I very much welcome the gradual move away from dogmatic statements and self-serving definitions to a more thoughtful and nuanced approach to the subject, in which the inherent uncertainties are acknowledged, and the alternative explanations are at least given a mention. On my part, I acknowledge that some of my early posts were harsh, (as they will continue to be with anyone who mis-states fact or defines atheism or atheists in a way that suits their argument), and I hope you've noticed that as your posts have mellowed, so have mine. This is an altogether better discussion now.

None of which means I think you are even slightly right, of course ;).


I have not changed my position or my beliefs. My "dogma" was a matter of stating what I think is a possibility, and that I choose to believe in God on the basis on my thinking. Once I became an agnostic at about 18, I have always doubted to some degree. I have just chosen to try to doubt less. But there are times I find it very hard to believe that I believe what I am saying.

I might be wrong and you may be right. I think there is the possibility that I may be right and you may be wrong. :eek:

I agree that our later exchanges were good.
 
Imagine yourself alive say 100,000 years ago and you completely lack any understanding of how the human psyche works. You've just awakened from a nights sleep and while asleep you dreamt of a beloved deceased relative. By the way, you have no comprehension what dreams actually are. Now the question is, what do you think the likely explanation would be to explain dreaming of your loved one for anyone alive that long ago? a) it was just a dream and therefore not real?, b) it was the spirit of the loved one?


Easy question. We both know the answer. It is likely to be b).

What does this prove? 100,000 years ago a person sees the image of a deceased person in bright daylight. Would they say that what they saw was due to temporary insanity, or a spirit? And if this happened today? Which is does. Spirit again.
 
What does this prove?
Well, it demonstrates that people used to accept and pass down fairly poor explanations for phenomenon. And that we should probably not consider giving particular weight or value to them.
 
Well, it demonstrates that people used to accept and pass down fairly poor explanations for phenomenon. And that we should probably not consider giving particular weight or value to them.


Yes. And what if there are some that are correct, after physics has explained the ones that it can explain?

Perhaps one is throwing the baby out with the bath-water to extend the analysis to all explanations.
 

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