Just wondering about this,
I know it's perfectly normal to not believe in a god but believe in stuff like spirits etc... but are most atheists skeptics as well cus that's the impression I get from reading most people's posts on here and on the internet?
Atheism and skepticism follow similar rules though really...
:) you'll find a wide range of folks in the atheist community, who are all over the belief spectrum when it comes to other types of paranormal things like ghosts, aliens, UFO's, etc. Some may be into conspiracy theories, you name it. Being an atheist just means that you don't believe in God, but it doesn't mean you're a skeptic about everything. Being a skeptic, however, means that you're more likely to be an atheist (or at least a liberal believer), and much more likely to think critically about all the other claims too.
Personally I don't believe in any of that stuff. I have seen two weird things that I couldn't explain but they didn't necessarily mean aliens, ghosts or the supernatural, I didn't know what they were and didn't presume when I had no idea. Later I found out what they were and they were rather boring and obvious, it was only a lack of light and distance that made them seem unusual.
I think most atheists would be loth to believe in invisible entities unless they see evidence. The same mind-set that leads them to disbelieve in god would lead them to be wary of such stuff. That's my two-penn'orth, anyway.
For me, I don't believe in paranormal activity or anything like that. I'm also highly skeptical of UFO encounters. I do think their is a high probability of life elsewhere in the universe though. I'm skeptical that they have made any contact with us though, if they even know we exist.
Quote from: ThinkAnarchy on April 26, 2012, 06:46:01 PM
For me, I don't believe in paranormal activity or anything like that. I'm also am skeptical of UFO encounters. I do think their is a high probability of life elsewhere in the universe though. I'm skeptical that they have made any contact with us though, if they even know we exist.
:D I once saw a cartoon where the aliens were watching bombs exploding all over earth, presumably during the last world war, and one says to the other, "No sign of intelligent life here, let's try back in a few hundred years".
So while I absolutely believe there's a high probability of life elsewhere in the universe (if we managed to develop, it's likely that others did too, somewhere), if they were intelligent, they'd be wise to stay away from us. :P
Carl Sagan believed that it was highly probable some form of life existed out there -- hence his work with SETI. But his argument was that the probability of them contacting us, or us contacting them, would be very low. First of all, the distance would make it very unlikely. Secondly, we'd have to have developed as a species, and then developed appropriate technology, at roughly the same time. Thirdly, they'd have to be more intelligent than us, to figure out how to contact us, since we've been unable to contact them. The greater likelihood is that we would have missed one another by millions of miles or years.
I think for some people scepticism has lead to their atheistic world view. But you don't have to be a sceptic to be an atheist because you may never have been exposed to theism in the first place. There are also grades of scepticism ranging from '911 truthers' to the generally accepting who will agree until given reason to doubt. I tend to be on the un-sceptical side of the scale until things start to fall apart.
As far as UFOs go I don't think there are ETs visiting. Anything else 'supernatural' remains so until sufficient evidence has been used to reinforce a reliable/robust/explanatory theory.
Quote from: Amicale on April 26, 2012, 06:54:58 PM
Quote from: ThinkAnarchy on April 26, 2012, 06:46:01 PM
For me, I don't believe in paranormal activity or anything like that. I'm also am skeptical of UFO encounters. I do think their is a high probability of life elsewhere in the universe though. I'm skeptical that they have made any contact with us though, if they even know we exist.
:D I once saw a cartoon where the aliens were watching bombs exploding all over earth, presumably during the last world war, and one says to the other, "No sign of intelligent life here, let's try back in a few hundred years".
Do you remember what movie and was it a comedy? That quote made me laugh.
Quote from: ThinkAnarchy on April 26, 2012, 08:52:18 PM
Quote from: Amicale on April 26, 2012, 06:54:58 PM
Quote from: ThinkAnarchy on April 26, 2012, 06:46:01 PM
For me, I don't believe in paranormal activity or anything like that. I'm also am skeptical of UFO encounters. I do think their is a high probability of life elsewhere in the universe though. I'm skeptical that they have made any contact with us though, if they even know we exist.
:D I once saw a cartoon where the aliens were watching bombs exploding all over earth, presumably during the last world war, and one says to the other, "No sign of intelligent life here, let's try back in a few hundred years".
Do you remember what movie and was it a comedy? That quote made me laugh.
Oh, no, sorry. It was an actual cartoon, like one you'd see in a newspaper. It might have been Far Side or Bizarro...
Quote from: Amicale on April 26, 2012, 09:44:01 PM
Quote from: ThinkAnarchy on April 26, 2012, 08:52:18 PM
Quote from: Amicale on April 26, 2012, 06:54:58 PM
Quote from: ThinkAnarchy on April 26, 2012, 06:46:01 PM
For me, I don't believe in paranormal activity or anything like that. I'm also am skeptical of UFO encounters. I do think their is a high probability of life elsewhere in the universe though. I'm skeptical that they have made any contact with us though, if they even know we exist.
:D I once saw a cartoon where the aliens were watching bombs exploding all over earth, presumably during the last world war, and one says to the other, "No sign of intelligent life here, let's try back in a few hundred years".
Do you remember what movie and was it a comedy? That quote made me laugh.
Oh, no, sorry. It was an actual cartoon, like one you'd see in a newspaper. It might have been Far Side or Bizarro...
Got ya. I read cartoon as movie for some reason. :D
Ghosts, no, absolutely no belief, I would be quite happy to spend the night alone in an alleged haunted house.
Although I do like a good ghost story. 13 Ghosts movie was terrific, I am finding the Unholy Ghosts and Unholy Magic books by Stacia Kane a really good read.
UFOs, it seems near impossible to me that there wouldn't be millions of planets host to intelligent life just in our milky way galaxy, let along our Universe or the probably infinite other universes that there are likely to be (IMHO). The question is, have they actually visited earth? Was Rosewell true? Do they come and randomly anally probe people?
Given the vastness of space and the speed limitations, it seems to me to be extreme to travel for several years to come here and probe some unfortunates rectum.
Paranormal (Ghosts, magic, superstitions), absolutely no belief.
I can verify the existence of alien abductions, having abducted several myself. They are willing workers and cheap to feed, subsisting cheerfully on a diet of custard and carrots.
^ (https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi647.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fuu198%2FRamblingSyd%2FLaughing_RoflSmileyLJ.gif&hash=408f9683dd143fb3e0c4dfb36ccf4b0387222924)
"What do atheists believe about ghosts, UFOs and the paranormal"
It's more a thing that I believe about people, they have a problem or avoid discerning what's real.
Lawrence Leung is cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1wDus5Y3b8
Consider the range of views and beliefs within the religious. You have people who could no longer get along than sharks and herrings, at seeming opposite ends of everything.
The same range exists between atheists. I can attest that I myself am implanted in the leftist socialist camp. My brother is also an atheist, but he eats up every word that Rush Limbaugh says. We don't even know how to talk about politics, we're so opposite. But on religion we agree. We don't go for the clap-trap and dogma, and we'd much prefer to spend a day in the woods rather than church.
I, for one, choose not to hold any evidence dear, and to always treat new evidence with skepticism and inquiry. Therefore, I try not to hold anything dear, as in a personal belief.
Possibility of there being life in other parts of our galaxy or universe? Very likely.
Possibility of it being intelligent enough to send and interpret signals? Not as likely, but if the universe is infinite, then it's bound to happen somewhere else just as it happened here.
I'm very skeptical of stories of alien abductions though.A much higher possibility that it's due to psychological reasons and flaws in perceptions, which are
way more likely and common in humans. ;D
Quote from: En_Route on April 28, 2012, 12:51:03 PM
I can verify the existence of alien abductions, having abducted several myself. They are willing workers and cheap to feed, subsisting cheerfully on a diet of custard and carrots.
LOL
As for ghosts, I would think that it's associated with a belief in the supernatural and afterlife, both of which atheists usually dont subscribe to. Anyone know of an atheist who does believe in the afterlife? ???
Yes, I know more than a few atheists who believe in some form of an afterlife. They don't believe in God, and they don't believe in heaven or anything like that, but they do believe that the energy in our bodies goes on in some form... so they think that energy could very possibly continue on somehow. I know more than a few atheists who, for that reason, think that ghosts and spirits are possible. They make comments like "well, if ghosts exist that's cool, it would just be some form of energy that scientists haven't proven/discovered yet."
For me, the subject of ghosts is a highly debatable one. If scientists came up with a very good, rational explanation for ghost sightings, I'd be willing to examine it. Mostly though, I think people see and hear what they sometimes WANT to see and hear.... and I also don't discount the mind playing tricks on you due to mental illness, or lack of sleep/oxygen/water, etc.
Quote from: Amicale on April 29, 2012, 07:14:48 PM
Yes, I know more than a few atheists who believe in some form of an afterlife. They don't believe in God, and they don't believe in heaven or anything like that, but they do believe that the energy in our bodies goes on in some form... so they think that energy could very possibly continue on somehow. I know more than a few atheists who, for that reason, think that ghosts and spirits are possible. They make comments like "well, if ghosts exist that's cool, it would just be some form of energy that scientists haven't proven/discovered yet."
For me, the subject of ghosts is a highly debatable one. If scientists came up with a very good, rational explanation for ghost sightings, I'd be willing to examine it. Mostly though, I think people see and hear what they sometimes WANT to see and hear.... and I also don't discount the mind playing tricks on you due to mental illness, or lack of sleep/oxygen/water, etc.
How odd, would make for some interesting conversations. ;D I've never met an atheist who also believes in ghosts...
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on April 29, 2012, 06:56:34 PM
Possibility of there being life in other parts of our galaxy or universe? Very likely.
Possibility of it being intelligent enough to send and interpret signals? Not as likely, but if the universe is infinite, then it's bound to happen somewhere else just as it happened here.
I'm very skeptical of stories of alien abductions though.A much higher possibility that it's due to psychological reasons and flaws in perceptions, which are way more likely and common in humans. ;D
I totally agree with you.
As for afterlifes and ghosts...yeah, heh, who believes in those, heh....(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.focusmag.gr%2Fmedia%2Femoticons%2Fsmiley-nervous.png&hash=7fdad31a353542ab54eb38c28b0d7587d118e167)
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.msgking.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F02%2Fonion-head3.gif&hash=5cd4e78de24939609617f1e9f5191d06e1a3dd55)
Well, I
did believe in ghosts, and do in a way fantasize about us having a soul (along with every other living being...or maybe I should say "a repository of our accumulated experiences in life". That might be more accurate to what I mean when saying "soul", as opposed to the usual "copy -paste body in spirit form"...), and that we could be reincarnated. I'm sorry but the idea of being born again on another planet is just too much fun ;D
Those are pretty much what I consider as remnants of my old way of thinking that I have mostly sorted out. But really, it would be so cool to be born as an "alien" or something... :-\
History_geek, don't be hard on yourself for having a good imagination. :) I agree with you that it would be VERY cool if that were possible. There are a lot of things that would be a lot of fun, and really interesting, if only they were true or possible. There's no problem in wishing something were true, or imagining the fun you'd have. It's only when we take those possibilities and turn them into dogmatic certainties that the problems start. ;)
Quote from: Amicale on April 30, 2012, 12:51:23 AM
History_geek, don't be hard on yourself for having a good imagination. :) I agree with you that it would be VERY cool if that were possible. There are a lot of things that would be a lot of fun, and really interesting, if only they were true or possible. There's no problem in wishing something were true, or imagining the fun you'd have. It's only when we take those possibilities and turn them into dogmatic certainties that the problems start. ;)
Well that's certainly true. Thanks Amicale :)
And certainly it is a lot fun to imagine all different kinds of life forms that you might end up as ;D
Until you hit the bug department....or what if I were plant instead :o
I know that Asmo would most likely be a rock looking, carnivorous plant. One moment it looks like a rock, but if you get too close or sit on it, it goes "Nom!" ;D (So stole that from one of the mangas I read a while back, but still :p )
Quote from: history_geek on April 30, 2012, 01:17:14 AM
Quote from: Amicale on April 30, 2012, 12:51:23 AM
History_geek, don't be hard on yourself for having a good imagination. :) I agree with you that it would be VERY cool if that were possible. There are a lot of things that would be a lot of fun, and really interesting, if only they were true or possible. There's no problem in wishing something were true, or imagining the fun you'd have. It's only when we take those possibilities and turn them into dogmatic certainties that the problems start. ;)
Well that's certainly true. Thanks Amicale :)
And certainly it is a lot fun to imagine all different kinds of life forms that you might end up as ;D
Until you hit the bug department....or what if I were plant instead :o
I know that Asmo would most likely be a rock looking, carnivorous plant. One moment it looks like a rock, but if you get too close or sit on it, it goes "Nom!" ;D (So stole that from one of the mangas I read a while back, but still :p )
:D @ "Nom!" - It's a LOLAsmo! "Om nom nom... burp."
And yes, it's REALLY fun to imagine what we could be, or do. For instance, superpowers have always fascinated me. (yes, I'm a nerdy geek, or a geeky nerd, take your pick). It's my most fervent desire to be able to fly. Just lift off the ground and sail through the air. When I was a kid, I was firmly convinced I could do so. In fact, watching the movies "Peter Pan" and "Hook" probably produced an entire generation of children who tried to jump off their porches, roofs or sheds, and fly. I know I did. :D
'Nom!'
*looks to the left...looks to the right*
"Chomp. Chomp."
A fertile imagination is cool, as long as you're not confusing it with what's really out there or what you think is out there.
Just too add: I do believe in UFOs. I know for a fact that Unidentified Flying Objects might be flying out there, I just find it slightly amusing that some people say they know what an unidentifed object is, and what's worse, that it's from outer space and hosts an alien crew. ;D
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on April 30, 2012, 01:28:26 AM
'Nom!'
*looks to the left...looks to the right*
"Chomp. Chomp."
A fertile imagination is cool, as long as you're not confusing it with what's really out there or what you think is out there.
Just too add: I do believe in UFOs. I know for a fact that Unidentified Flying Objects might be flying out there, I just find it slightly amusing that some people say they know what an unidentifed object is, and what's worse, that it's from outer space and hosts an alien crew. ;D
I once was hit hard, in the right shoulder, by an unidentified flying object.
Turns out it was a baseball. It was flying, but I didn't identify it in enough time to either catch it, or get out of the way. :D
Quote from: Amicale on April 30, 2012, 01:50:55 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on April 30, 2012, 01:28:26 AM
'Nom!'
*looks to the left...looks to the right*
"Chomp. Chomp."
A fertile imagination is cool, as long as you're not confusing it with what's really out there or what you think is out there.
Just too add: I do believe in UFOs. I know for a fact that Unidentified Flying Objects might be flying out there, I just find it slightly amusing that some people say they know what an unidentifed object is, and what's worse, that it's from outer space and hosts an alien crew. ;D
I once was hit hard, in the right shoulder, by an unidentified flying object.
Turns out it was a baseball. It was flying, but I didn't identify it in enough time to either catch it, or get out of the way. :D
There you go! :D
Now the only thing missing is the alien snot-nosed youngster who threw it in your general direction...
Call The
History Channel. They might like to shoot a story based on this.
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on April 30, 2012, 02:18:50 AM
Quote from: Amicale on April 30, 2012, 01:50:55 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on April 30, 2012, 01:28:26 AM
'Nom!'
*looks to the left...looks to the right*
"Chomp. Chomp."
A fertile imagination is cool, as long as you're not confusing it with what's really out there or what you think is out there.
Just too add: I do believe in UFOs. I know for a fact that Unidentified Flying Objects might be flying out there, I just find it slightly amusing that some people say they know what an unidentifed object is, and what's worse, that it's from outer space and hosts an alien crew. ;D
I once was hit hard, in the right shoulder, by an unidentified flying object.
Turns out it was a baseball. It was flying, but I didn't identify it in enough time to either catch it, or get out of the way. :D
There you go! :D
Now the only thing missing is the alien snot-nosed youngster who threw it in your general direction...
Call The History Channel. They might like to shoot a story based on this.
Funny you should say this. The last time I turned on the History channel, they were re-running a Star Trek: TNG episode. The next time I turned it on, it was Ice Road Truckers, followed by "World's Deadliest Storms" -- and all of those turned out to be recent. Apparently "History" means "our budget sucks and we have no imagination, so here's some sci-fi, some reality TV and some cheesy narration".
Quote from: Amicale on April 30, 2012, 02:53:26 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on April 30, 2012, 02:18:50 AM
Quote from: Amicale on April 30, 2012, 01:50:55 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on April 30, 2012, 01:28:26 AM
'Nom!'
*looks to the left...looks to the right*
"Chomp. Chomp."
A fertile imagination is cool, as long as you're not confusing it with what's really out there or what you think is out there.
Just too add: I do believe in UFOs. I know for a fact that Unidentified Flying Objects might be flying out there, I just find it slightly amusing that some people say they know what an unidentifed object is, and what's worse, that it's from outer space and hosts an alien crew. ;D
I once was hit hard, in the right shoulder, by an unidentified flying object.
Turns out it was a baseball. It was flying, but I didn't identify it in enough time to either catch it, or get out of the way. :D
There you go! :D
Now the only thing missing is the alien snot-nosed youngster who threw it in your general direction...
Call The History Channel. They might like to shoot a story based on this.
Funny you should say this. The last time I turned on the History channel, they were re-running a Star Trek: TNG episode. The next time I turned it on, it was Ice Road Truckers, followed by "World's Deadliest Storms" -- and all of those turned out to be recent. Apparently "History" means "our budget sucks and we have no imagination, so here's some sci-fi, some reality TV and some cheesy narration".
The Discovery Channel wasn't too far behind when I would watch it, though still superior to the History Channel. To tell the truth I gave up on watching those programs, I just do a YouTube search for documentaries on subjects I like and so am not nearly as disappointed. BBC is the best. ;D
It's funny (and kind of sad maybe) to see what people are wanting to watch in general. These commercial channels usually answer to the public's whims. Evolution or devolution of programming? ::)
What do I believe about aliens or ufo's? I used to believe that there was probably some sort of conspiracy going on with the U.S. government and all that brick-a-brack. Then I learned more about u.s. government and the intelligence level of us as a species and decided that our leaders just aren't that smart.
Same thing with the literati: How could a handful of men, about eight or nine, possibly have it together to span control over all the myriad groups of the earth, with all their diversity? Dass 'sum Buulshit, right dere...
The literate ones? Never heard of those before.
I don't believe that aliens are among us or visiting. Just seems highly unlikely to me, and I agree with Stephen Hawking that if they have the technology to come all the way from wherever it is that they came from, they will see us as insects basically and either enslave us or exterminate us.
I do however believe that there is other life out there. There is no way that out of all the trillions and trillions of galaxies, our planet is the only one with life.
As for ghosts, I have a theory for you all to consider and I want to know what some thoughts are on it. I know a lot of people have seen some strange, unexplainable things in their lives, I am no exception. I see it as it hasn't been explained yet. Now my theory.
Do you think it's possible that when people visit 'haunted places' there is some sort of temporal disturbance that creates a window if you will, into the past. This allows the person to catch glimpses of the past and that sense that they are not alone. When they get the feeling that someone is watching them, or they make direct eye contact with a ghost, the disturbance is so strong that both ends can see through.
What the theory boils down to is there is a perfectly good, scientific explaination for everything and the subject of ghosts is no different. There is so much about the universe and the way things work that we don't know, that will eventually be explained.
As far as if I believe in ghosts as being dead people's spirits floating around? No way. A physical anomoly that can eventually be explained through scientific research and testing? Yes.