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My mom's belief in religion (especially that the wine and bread were literally the body of Jesus) is what convinced her to stay here on earth with my brother and me. She was the only person who was truly kind to me in my childhood and so the only person who loved me in the way it made sense. Things could have been very different for us if she did not have that faith. While the assumption could be that she would have reached the same conclusion if raised as an atheist or that she could have thought differently altogether without religion, after everything I have learned, I seriously doubt it.
I would not disagree with your basic premise that faith, as in your mother's case, can play a very positive role in our life.
I wouldn't even necessarily say it's based on faith, though. I know this is semantics, but to me, I would say "based on faith" as something that is actually taught by the religion and supported by its texts/known teachings. I would describe what you mention more as being based on "wishful thinking"-- what the person personally hopes will happen, not necessarily what their religion says will happen. "Facts," on the other hand, are harder to come by in religion. It's a fact that churches and temples exist and people go to them. But it's faith that Jesus or Buddha or Vishnu actually exist.
For example, on a Christian front: is there actually evidence in Christianity-- as in, the Bible-- that heaven is going to be like a big family reunion where we will again see everyone we know who has died? There are passages that tell us it's going to be a place of worshiping God and such, but is there anything that says yeah, we'll be hanging out with Grandma again and having the same human relationships we had in life? Yet most people like to think that will be the case. It's certainly not "fact" because we don't for sure that it's true, even if it's taught by Christianity (though of course it would be a "fact" that it's taught, but that means nothing). It may be "faith" if there is indeed scripture that tells us it's the case. Or it may be "wishful thinking" because it's something that makes people feel good to believe even though it actually has no basis in the teachings of their religion.
(I have no idea if any of that made sense to anyone but me.)
It makes sense...in fact I liked especially what I bolded.
I wouldn't even necessarily say it's based on faith, though.
It is 100% based on faith and very bad "science."
People in ancient times developed the concept of a soul because they were completely unaware of the existence of biological cells (and it would 22 centuries before anyone learned that) and they were unaware that the highly specialized brain cells interacted with hormones and enzymes (and it would be another 4 centuries before that was learned).
Because of their lack of knowledge, the only "logical" reason to them as to why humans had a personality and could think is because they were possessed by a soul.
It is no different than you believing that your TV has a soul because it is "alive" and it talks to you only to find out that your TV is comprised of thousands of highly specialized electronic components (brain cells) that actually make it work when electrical current (hormones and enzymes) flows through it.
You may continue to believe that your TV has a soul, or you may enter the world of reality and accept the fact that your TV has no soul.
Should you continue to believe that your TV has a soul, you can scream you're being persecuted by people who try to explain to you how your TV actually works and how they're all going to Hell because they don't believe a TV has a soul.
People in ancient times developed the concept of a soul because they were completely unaware of the existence of biological cells (and it would 22 centuries before anyone learned that) and they were unaware that the highly specialized brain cells interacted with hormones and enzymes (and it would be another 4 centuries before that was learned).
Because of their lack of knowledge, the only "logical" reason to them as to why humans had a personality and could think is because they were possessed by a soul.
It is no different than you believing that your TV has a soul because it is "alive" and it talks to you only to find out that your TV is comprised of thousands of highly specialized electronic components (brain cells) that actually make it work when electrical current (hormones and enzymes) flows through it.
You may continue to believe that your TV has a soul, or you may enter the world of reality and accept the fact that your TV has no soul.
Should you continue to believe that your TV has a soul, you can scream you're being persecuted by people who try to explain to you how your TV actually works and how they're all going to Hell because they don't believe a TV has a soul.
THERE is a whole thread about discussing science in R&S which is not allowed.
Anyway.
What would have been the benefit of inventing the idea of a soul?
Those people who did conclude there is a spirit/soul/inner self were also contemplating the universe and the human body. They knew how the body works and functions and how to heal it. They knew mathematics and algebra and construction, farming and husbandry.
Why did they need a soul?
Those people who went into meditation and declared a soul exists also knew what causes mental trauma and how it can be healed.
They did not sell their discoveries but gave away their possessions and went and lived in forests to teach and meditate some more. Many did not even leave a name or authorship.
What was the cost benefit?
People in ancient times developed the concept of a soul because they were completely unaware of the existence of biological cells (and it would 22 centuries before anyone learned that) and they were unaware that the highly specialized brain cells interacted with hormones and enzymes (and it would be another 4 centuries before that was learned).
Because of their lack of knowledge, the only "logical" reason to them as to why humans had a personality and could think is because they were possessed by a soul.
It is no different than you believing that your TV has a soul because it is "alive" and it talks to you only to find out that your TV is comprised of thousands of highly specialized electronic components (brain cells) that actually make it work when electrical current (hormones and enzymes) flows through it.
You may continue to believe that your TV has a soul, or you may enter the world of reality and accept the fact that your TV has no soul.
Should you continue to believe that your TV has a soul, you can scream you're being persecuted by people who try to explain to you how your TV actually works and how they're all going to Hell because they don't believe a TV has a soul.
But with that sentence, I was not referring to the difference between "faith" and "fact." I was referring to a semantic difference between "faith" as taught by one's religion, and "faith" that comes solely from the person rather than from their religion's teachings. The difference between the TV Cult Religion teaches that the TV has a soul, and one of the TV Cult Religion's followers choosing to believe that the TV has a soul and visits its followers in their sleep, because it comforts them to think so despite the fact that the TV Cult Religion has never taught this.
when you describe the mechanics of a soul which is part of God entering the body when a baby is born and then leaving the body when the physical body dies, that is exactly the mechanics i also understand and describe."
My question was: What is the actual evidence for the bolded?
So, what do you all think? Is there significant evidence for this? Or is this another example of confusing faith and fact?
It's well known that God imparts souls at the quickening, not birth.
I've never heard any Christian (or anyone) say this before. It's well known to that poster maybe.
My mistake...I was simply thinking of god imparting a soul...but I was not thinking about the quickening...a term I actually had to look up.
But that mistake sorta made my point once again. Just cause someone says something they believe...
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It's definitely more than an emotion.
