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Atheists/agnostics of Lemmy, do you believe in the existence of souls? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 year ago by azmalent@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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If you do, then what exactly defines a soul in your view?

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[–] Nightwind@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Word games. "God" and "Soul" are so ill-defined you can get literally anyone to agree that those "things" (thinks?) exist. If I define "soul" as "repeating emergent pattern of genetically and environmentally internal state and observable behaviour in a sentient species" I maybe could even get some people in this community to agree that such a concept exists. If I use a more religious definition like "magic non physical entity bestowed by an eternal god" all I would get is a resounding "NOO!". It is the memetics strength of those concepts by being incredibly flexible and vague that will ensure their ongoing use and existence - and questions like this one.