rhonjon

But then there is also the aspect of prayer that actually helps people. You hear stories of people who have their prayers answered and truly believe it.

Yes, they truly believe it. I don’t. I don’t believe in the existence of whatever god they think they are communicating with, either verbally or via telepathy.

It is the ritual aspect of prayer…[Read more]

@Reg

No, It absolutely is not the same thing.

If you really think long and hard about it, it is the same thing….

Now that is spiritual 🙂 More

OK, my spellchecker bad. But he is still a proponent of dualism.

What is dualism?

If he ends up in a ward with Nurse Ratched giving him pills for the next 10 years because he “is still there” is it still a spiritual experience. If not, a what point did it stop being spiritual and start to have a natural explanation?

There is a lot we still do not…[Read more]

You guys are great. I respect all of your opinions. I DO think this has generated enough thought to last me awhile, but keep it up. I am enjoying the banter.

@ Regthefronkeyfarmer

Not a psychiatrist. A physiatrist.

OK, my spellchecker bad. But he is still a proponent of dualism.

Ivy wrote:
But when you really drill down on what he is saying and what theists say it’s all the same fucking thing LOL

No, It absolutely is not the same thing.

Maybe. I’m not dismissing the possibility.

If he ends up in a ward with Nurse Ratched giving him pills for the next 10 years because he “is still there” is it still a spiritual experience. If not, a what point did it stop being spiritual and start to have a natural explanation?

@Reg

No. He just invented a completely new definition that has nothing to do with how a theists views it.

But when you really drill down on what he is saying and what theists say it’s all the same fucking thing LOL

@Reg

You have engaged with a modern psychiatrist who believes in the duality of the mind and body?

I don’t know what you mean by duality. But yes it was a medical doctor. Not a psychiatrist. A physiatrist.

I think however you define the soul is dependent upon the lens through which you view the world. Whether you want to define it the way he does, or the way a theist does, I think it’s all one and the same thing.

No. He just invented a completely new definition that has nothing to do with how a theists views it.

For example a psychiatrist

You have engaged with a modern psychiatrist who believes in the duality of the mind and body?

@Reg

Are you saying that is a spiritual experience?

Maybe. I’m not dismissing the possibility.

@Reg

Are you now claiming not to believe in the “soul” in the traditional religious sense of the word

I think however you define the soul is dependent upon the lens through which you view the world. Whether you want to define it the way he does, or the way a theist does, I think it’s all one and the same thing.

It is something you do to yourself that causes a spiritual experience.

I am saying it is a physically experience. It happens in our minds. Say someone has a bummer of a trip and at the time thinks they are going to remain forever trapped in some horrible hallucination that appears vividly real to them. Are you saying that is a spiritual experience?

@Reg

Sounds like Woo to me

It’s not woo. I have experienced it myself. And I have been told by actual medical doctors (For example a physiatrist) Prior to that, I would’ve never thought either but…

In that article he is redefining what tradition idea of the soul. For him it has. nothing to do with a theist soul.

But what if we revisit the definition of soul, abandoning its canonical meaning as the “spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal, regarded as immortal” for something more modern? What if we consider your soul as the…[Read more]

@Reg

Yes, but that to me is a natural human experience.

It’s not really natural if you think about it. Anytime you take a plant or something that exists in the natural world and ingested it in your body, It is something you do to yourself that causes a spiritual experience. There are many people who have done this and swear that it is spiritual. H…[Read more]

I do believe that there is a mind body and spirit, and that many physical illnesses results when the three are not aligned properly.

I have no idea of what that means.  Sounds like Woo to me. Are you talking about Chakras or ideas about Ying and Yang imbalances? Are you saying that you also have a fourth thing called a soul too?