Do we have a soul and does this continue beyond this life? The buddhist’s believe we are on a wheel of life, starting the next life at a higher lower position than the last, depending on how you lived in the current life. Christian’s believed that after 3 days Christ was reincarnated. Many people believe they were someone else in a past life. So there are a lot of theories and beliefs out there in relation to the concept of reincarnation, none of which I subscribe to.
The reason I don’t believe in reincarnation is I believe the concept of the soul is a myth made up to explain why we think and feel the way we do and in a way to control people. For example your soul will be damned to hell if you don’t believe in god, is a way of forcing people to believe in god out of fear. For me the soul is a concept that explains why we have feelings and emotions and to explain why we feel deep love for someone or deep hurt when we lose someone close to us. Then we believe people’s souls continue beyond death, when it is merely the memories and fondness we had for that person that continues.
I am sure many will disagree with my thoughts or beliefs in this area, but that is fine, we all see the world and how it is in different ways. I won’t dislike or get upset if people disagree with me, but I do not like it when people think other people are stupid or crazy for having a belief they have. I believe what I believe based on my life and the experiences I have had, you believe what you believe from the same basis.
I do have deep and total love for one special person in my life, and all my thoughts and feelings are around her, but I don’t believe that has anything to do with soul.
It is funny though, I have seen young children, my two year old grand daughter for instance, who are so advanced early that you swear they have lived before, even knowing that is not possible ;).
Edgledge's Ramblings 
February 9, 2013 at 9:59 am
Have you ever considered the idea that the “soul” is just our essential energy? The underlying and driving force making us tick? Like, the strings in string theory? Or, the atom before we unearthed the quark? Or, the conscious-like coherence wrapping randomness? I like to think (sometimes) of the soul as some form of cosmic union, that we all share. As though we’re living in an ocean (the soul) where we’re the single drops. I don’t know where I stand – it kinda varies day to day, you know, like crazy people often vary – you got any thoughts on it?
February 9, 2013 at 10:10 am
Hmmm interesting concept. I think we do have a connection, maybe that is just life and its experiences. Like when we first meet people and often we get a connection through a shared experience. I think the concept of some form of cosmic union is interesting, and it extends to animals. But what then makes us give in to primal instincts and forget that soul connection. Though that may suggest we have an age long connection to our cave dwelling ancestors rooted in our beings, sort of contradictory to my thoughts or beliefs…Hmm you got me thinking, thanks.
February 9, 2013 at 11:18 am
haha, yeah; this idea has swallowed my thoughts for the past three months (life time). 95% of my friends are staunch materialists – I am probably the most airy-fairy “materialist” in the lot of them – but I can’t help that think there’s got to be something deeper to this consciousness business that we know nothing about. The fact that we can think in such abstract terms, and connect dots that seemingly don’t connect, is amazing. And to me the simple fact that the universe is as comprehensible as it is is incomprehensible.
February 9, 2013 at 10:46 am
It’s always interesting to hear post death theories. I guess the truth is we will never know.
February 9, 2013 at 10:49 am
You got that right, there is no way any of us will no till the time who is right.
February 10, 2013 at 6:19 am
Our sense of self (or soul) is manufactured by the brain as a reference point, as part of the process of perceiving, understanding and dealing with the outside world. Consciousness is also part of this process – a sort of feed-back device – to enable all the different divisions of the brain / mind system to do their thing, so we can survive from one moment to the next. Learning to focus on the present moment is the key, because in reality that’s all we have.
Getting one’s head around the fact that free will is just an illusion is part of the fun of being alive – thinking about thinking is, for me, a hobby. I reckon when we die the words ‘GAME OVER’ appear … then everything fades to black and off we go ….. back to nothingness …. from whence we came.
But aren’t we all lucky to be around now, with this internet thing, and so be able to muse on such matters with fellow humans, scattered around the globe.
Kind regards.
February 10, 2013 at 6:45 am
Colin, very well put, and I agree with all you say. Thank you.
April 1, 2013 at 3:18 pm
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