I started looking into this after reading one of the comments in the "Is Atheism a Religion?" thread. The paranormal is what is not yet explained or considered normal, which leaves room for it to become normal or gain an explanation, so I figure it wouldn't be hypocritical for an atheist to believe in. I play with the idea of the paranormal sometimes, but I wouldn't say that I believe in anything like that other than UFOs and ghosts/spirits.
What about any other people out there? You don't have to be an atheist to answer, though this is aimed more towards them than others. I'm sure religion would cause conflicts with the paranormal as well.
The paranormal is what is not yet explained or considered normal, which leaves room for it to become normal or gain an explanation,
para-; beside : alongside of : beyond : aside from
Paranormal; beyond normal 2: not scientifically explainable
So it's a not just something that is not yet explained, it's something other then normal. Of course to determine this we first have to determine what's normal.
so I figure it wouldn't be hypocritical for an atheist to believe in.
To some extent I think it is. An atheist is not excepting that God exists because of the lack of evidence, how is it not a double standard to then accept something else without sufficient evidence?
I guess it depends on how you look at atheism, and your reasons for being one. I choose not to believe in any god or deity because I dislike the idea of worshiping a higher power, more so than a lack of scientific evidence. I dunno about others, but looking to science for an explanation just doesn't seem like the right thing to do for everything out there.
Hmm, I do believe that Aliens could exist - it's almost more unlikely for them not to given the size of the universe. Whether they're intelligent or not is another matter. Also, I don't believe in ghosts and spirits because that would imply some form of belief in an afterlife other than the wormfood or dust in a jar variety.
To some extent I think it is. An atheist is not excepting that God exists because of the lack of evidence, how is it not a double standard to then accept something else without sufficient evidence?
It's kinda strange really. This fits me perfectly; atheist that doesn't believe in the paranormal. My cousin, however, is atheist that DOES believe. He believes in ghosts and spirits because he believes he keeps getting encounters by them. What is shocking is that both his sister and his mother get the same experiences. I don't know if he overdosed on electromagnetic waves to his brain or what, but he seems really sincere that what he keeps encountering is meritable. He suffers from sleep paralysis almost occasionally.
The paranormal are hard to prove, because we can't test people's testimonies.... and most of the "Ghost Hunter" shows are all rigged for entertainment, so the existence of souls roaming the Earth is probably unlikely. It really comes down to if you trust people's stories...
Or just saying... What if there are actually beings on the earth that are 4th dimensional. Now everyone here is 3 dimensional, and supposedly our minds wouldn't yet be able to comprehend a 4th dimensional figure. Therefore causing us to not see anything, because our mind will just cross it out to avoid confusion. So im just thinking what if there are 4th dimensional figures that are on this planet, and that is what we seem to think as ghosts.
holy poop, finally another. the fourth dimension is time, if there were beings in the fourth demension, they would appear fuzzy, but then again, travelling time is impossible, i think einstein disproved that one, but viewing the past on the other hand (paycheck reference, even though i hate affleck) is totally possible.
I don't believe in the paranormal since histories about animals and phenomenons of which we simply have no proof tend to be just histories. I do believe however that there is a reason for each of these histories, most of the time something casual and nonsignificant, but in some few cases maybe there is something more. I do believe that we have yet many animals and phenomens to find and analyze who may be quite extraordinary; not paranormal mind you.
Well, I am am atheist, but i stel believe paranormal things. Becouse human sciense is at so ``low´´ level, our sciense isnt explaining al of the things.
Well, I am am atheist, but i stel believe paranormal things. Becouse human sciense is at so ``lowôô level, our sciense isnt explaining al of the things.
If we don't know something then what's wrong with saying just that, "we don't know" rather then attribute things to something with no evidence?
