# Do you believe in ghosts? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 10, 2006, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-ghosts/379826 "2006-11-10T04:28:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mama\_Hound](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@Mama\_Hound](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Hound)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-ghosts/379826/1 "2006-11-10T04:28:37Z")
I certainly believe in spirits no matter what we call them and no matter if they are plant, animal or human. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-ghosts/379826/2 "2006-11-10T04:47:03Z")
Conciousness seems to require a functioning brain. There’s no verifiable evidence of a concious entity with no brain. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-ghosts/379826/3 "2006-11-10T04:52:36Z")
It’s not a matter of belief. There are not, and cannot be, any such thing as the ghosts of popular mythology. They have contradictory properties: sometimes they clearly have form and substance and are therefore made of ordinary matter, at other times they do not and are not. Ergo, false. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-ghosts/379826/4 "2006-11-10T04:54:15Z")
What is a “ghost?” What is it made of? Where is it located in the human body? Is it conscious? Can it move? Does it have sensory perception? If so, what are the mechanisms for those perceptions. Does it have memories? Where are they stored? Nothing about the concept is scientifically intelligible or credible or logical. Also, there isn’t a shred of evidence for it. Short answer: no. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-ghosts/379826/5 "2006-11-10T05:09:00Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] What is a “ghost?” What is it made of? Where is it located in the human body? Is it conscious? Can it move? Does it have sensory perception? If so, what are the mechanisms for those perceptions. Does it have memories? Where are they stored? Nothing about the concept is scientifically intelligible or credible or logical. Also, there isn’t a shred of evidence for it. Short answer: no. [/QUOTE] What he said. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-ghosts/379826/6 "2006-11-10T05:11:38Z")
No. I don’t believe in Beatles, either. Elvis I’m still on the fence about. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-ghosts/379826/7 "2006-11-10T05:24:15Z")
First you gotta define what you mean by “ghost.” Clearly define it and I’ll tell you whether I believe in it. Seriously. This is not a brush-off reply. Define exactly what you mean by “ghost.” ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-ghosts/379826/8 "2006-11-10T05:25:47Z")
[QUOTE=Mama\_Hound] I certainly believe in spirits no matter what we call them and no matter if they are plant, animal or human. [/QUOTE] Shouldn’t this be in IMHO? I don’t think anyone would bother debating your OP, since whether you do or do not believe in ghosts is pretty moot. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-ghosts/379826/9 "2006-11-10T05:33:11Z")
Yeah…Dubya at yesterday’s press conference was ghastly. Wait. I just realized you said “ghosts.” No, I don’t. Why the hell would I? Got any factual evidence? Right. Didn’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-ghosts/379826/10 "2006-11-10T05:38:01Z")
[QUOTE=Princhester] Shouldn’t this be in IMHO? [/QUOTE] I’ve been wondering that too. The OP has set it up for opinion and not debate. Well, I’ll take the liberty. Moved from GD to IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-ghosts/379826/11 "2006-11-10T06:15:01Z")
Just like everyone else, I really think that it would help if we set up some sort of definition of what exactly a ghost is considered. So if you do believe in ghosts please explain what it is you believe a ghost is. Short answer for me too is no. But I do believe that people have souls and there is an afterlife. I guess I just don’t think the two really mix well. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-ghosts/379826/12 "2006-11-10T07:45:48Z")
[Ghost is cool](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_(band)) ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-ghosts/379826/13 "2006-11-10T13:14:33Z")
No, but I do believe in the [Flying Spaghetti Monster](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Spaghetti_Monster) . ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-ghosts/379826/14 "2006-11-10T13:21:07Z")
Give us a decent definition. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-ghosts/379826/15 "2006-11-10T13:23:45Z")
Nope. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-ghosts/379826/16 "2006-11-10T14:17:42Z")
[QUOTE=bigbabysweets2000] Just like everyone else, I really think that it would help if we set up some sort of definition of what exactly a ghost is considered. So if you do believe in ghosts please explain what it is you believe a ghost is. [/quote] Hey, you’re off to a great start. > [@](#): > > But I do believe that people have souls and there is an afterlife. Interesting. Please define “soul” and we can talk. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-ghosts/379826/17 "2006-11-10T14:31:53Z")
[QUOTE=Mama\_Hound] I certainly believe in spirits no matter what we call them and no matter if they are plant, animal or human. [/QUOTE] Can a rock have a ghost? Or is DNA a prerequisite. Bacteria? Viruses? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-ghosts/379826/18 "2006-11-10T14:50:27Z")
One can believe whatever they want. However, for facts, you need evidence. Of course there aren’t ghosts. There also are no martians, unicorns, leprechauns, or hobbits. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-ghosts/379826/19 "2006-11-10T15:57:51Z")
No, I don’t believe in them at all. On the other hand, I do believe that I am prone to a certain degree of suggestibility, and I think that that’s what’s behind people thinking they are experiencing the supernatural. For example, if I watch a really creepy movie, or if I read Lovecraft for four or five hours straight, I get kind of jumpy. So I’d kind of like to go to some supposedly haunted place and see what my mind decides to do with it. ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-ghosts/379826/20 "2006-11-10T16:13:00Z")
Nope. If ghosts are detectable to the human senses (e.g., they emit photons which our retinas can detect), then they should be detectable by scientific instruments. But lots of people have spent decades trying to record or otherwise prove the existence of ghosts, and they have all failed to do so. So it seems very unlikely that ghosts exist. I refuse to consider the possibility that there are undetectable ghosts–how could they exist in space and time and yet not have any physically detectable properties? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-ghosts/379826.md?page=2)