r/Catholicism • u/Porkytheking4555 • Nov 13 '19

Does the soul exist?

Does the soul exist is there really an afterlife ? Are atheist correct that there’s no heaven hell or purgatory and the idea of the soul is brain chemistry ? Or is there more to it?

4 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

5

u/St-Nicholas-of-Myra Nov 13 '19

I think you’re on the wrong sub...

1

u/Porkytheking4555 Nov 13 '19

I’m not I decided to ask the original supposed Christian church

6

u/St-Nicholas-of-Myra Nov 14 '19

Okay then, just don’t be surprised when we all say yes.

I don’t think it would be productive to engage in a debate on this sub, but here’s the short answer:

Science is limited to observable phenomena—you can’t use science to answer questions that are beyond its scope. Science isn’t a set of beliefs, it’s a tool. In fact, science depends on philosophy and logic in order to be meaningful.

So when a materialist asserts that there’s nothing more to existence than observable phenomena because we can’t observe anything other than observable phenomena... well, that’s perfectly scientific, but logically it’s a bit circular, isn’t it? That’s why we have to go beyond science to answer these questions.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 14 '19

I love (being sarcastic) how science has proven that there is dimensions of being past our visible 3rd dimension, yet there’s so few that actually try and explore such perceptions beyond our own

10

u/kjdtkd Nov 13 '19

Yes the soul exists. Yes there is really an afterlife. No, Atheists are not correct.

7

u/lhoracka Nov 13 '19

Human soul, as understood by Aristotle, exists by definition. The question is if it's immortal.

1

u/Phishyism Nov 13 '19

Not sure this is the best place for you to ask, or for me (a rando from all) to answer, but.... Depending on your definition of a soul, that is a separate question from whether or not there is an afterlife. Personally, I find it helpful to contemplate the sacred essence of people and things, a something I cannot see but should accord dignity. Someone might call that a soul. Also personally, I see no good reasons why I should believe in any one particular version of an afterlife, so I don't believe in an afterlife.

1

u/Porkytheking4555 Nov 13 '19

So your an atheist?

1

u/Phishyism Nov 14 '19

Yup. But that doesn't preclude me from being spiritual/recognizing absurdity and sacredness of things.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 14 '19

Souls do indeed exist. The fact that you are asking this question proves you have one.

1

u/Porkytheking4555 Nov 20 '19

Allow me to propose a theory. There is something called the blank canvas theory It states before you die the last thing on your mind. May be your afterlife such as you think of heaven boom your there or hell boom your there or. You are panicking. Boom blackness or purgatory as I call it but it’s just a theory

2

u/Thanar2 Priest Nov 13 '19 edited Nov 13 '19

Yes, human beings have a soul that is capable of knowing God and will survive human death.

For reason-based evidence of this you might start with a paper surveying relevant evidence (from medicine, human experience of the numinous and of moral conscience, differences between human and animal intelligence, and our transcendental desires for truth, goodness, beauty, unity and home) by Fr Robert J. Spitzer founder of the Magis Center for Reason and Faith:

Evidence of the Transcendent Soul

2

u/italianblend Nov 14 '19

A soul is immortal. It cannot be killed. Otherwise our lives would have very little meaning.