A Question of Quintessence

[Azaleya]

Being atheist means that you don't believe in god, supernatural entity, or whatever, for whatever reason, correct? Well, i've been thinking on various topics (life, the universe, and everything biggrin ) and i was wondering how many atheists reject the idea of god, but accept the idea of some form or quintessence, either a soul, or spirit, or essence of person, ect. What intruiges me about this is that the acceptance of the idea of quintessence would indicate a belief in something beyond human understanding or control--a god, if you will, something that would create that self. And so, an atheist who accepted quintessence wouldn't really be an atheist--more an agnostic, right?  

[Muaethia]

That's what agnosticism is, contemplating that there might be some sort of higher being. One of my best friends believes in what you just described, another of my friends describes herself as a 'weak athiest', and says she does wonder sometimes, but on the whole she hasn't seen why there would be a god at all.  

[Dathu]

Well, I believe humans have a poor concept of reality, so there is the possibility of things "beyond humanity." But as for a "soul," I don't think so. I have yet to see any evidance that would lead me to think there might be one. As for the "force" or some other mystical life energy, I don't think so for the same reasons.  

[Xanthir]

As soon as something has an effect on the world, it is a part of the world. The idea of some 'higher realm' in any form is silly - it's the old dualism debate in another form. Either something can affect us or it can't. If it can, then we can study it, hypothesize about it, experiment with it, control it, and eventually understand it. If it can't affect us, then it doesn't exist. Simple as that.  

[[s l i n k y]]

Xanthir

As soon as something has an effect on the world, it is a part of the world. The idea of some 'higher realm' in any form is silly - it's the old dualism debate in another form. Either something can affect us or it can't. If it can, then we can study it, hypothesize about it, experiment with it, control it, and eventually understand it. If it can't affect us, then it doesn't exist. Simple as that.

Pictures will fade...

I never quite thought about it that way. That's very...deep.

...But memories will always be.

 

[Xanthir]

SoCkNeSsMoNsTeR

Xanthir

As soon as something has an effect on the world, it is a part of the world. The idea of some 'higher realm' in any form is silly - it's the old dualism debate in another form. Either something can affect us or it can't. If it can, then we can study it, hypothesize about it, experiment with it, control it, and eventually understand it. If it can't affect us, then it doesn't exist. Simple as that.

I never quite thought about it that way. That's very...deep.

Eh, it's materialism. All that is, is. That's it. ^_^  

[Kiron]

It was from the religion my dad is from that Mana come' s from, and that' s a kind of life force I guess.

I don' t think it exist' s .... but having a life force thing would be cool... if you could manipulate it like in star wars XD TEH FORCE