# Do you believe in past lives? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 23, 2013, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-past-lives/648137 "2013-01-23T19:02:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-past-lives/648137/302 "2013-02-13T19:04:39Z")
Sound is a [Pressure Wave](http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/sound/u11l1c.cfm). [Mass-Energy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass%E2%80%93energy_equivalence) equivalence. Now, Time=Money, that we can debate. ---
**Author:** ![JustSue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b487fb/32.png) [@JustSue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustSue)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-past-lives/648137/303 "2013-02-13T19:06:49Z")
Thank you for the warm welcome to your site. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-past-lives/648137/304 "2013-02-13T19:10:14Z")
Your assumptions are wrong does not equal you are not welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-past-lives/648137/305 "2013-02-13T19:11:49Z")
> [@JustSue](#): > > Thank you for the warm welcome to your site. Can I sue(sorry) for copyright infringement? Sincerely, Czarcasm ---
**Author:** ![JustSue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b487fb/32.png) [@JustSue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustSue)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-past-lives/648137/306 "2013-02-13T20:53:45Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Your assumptions are wrong does not equal you are not welcome. New to this site, and this forum. The only assumption I made was that expressing an opinion would be met with the understanding that it was only an opinion. My real mistake was trying to explain it after I told everyone that I felt I couldn’t explain the reasoning behind my friends’ concept. Ii was told I can’t just give an opinion without evidence. So I tried. I opened myself up to a bombardment that I was not prepared to deal with. I apologized several times for my inadequacies…but that was not good enough. I tried to be civil with everyone who was saying I was wrong about past lives not necessarily being reincarnation, wrong about energy, wrong to present anything without (acceptable) evidence, and wrong to interject without all of the information. An administrator, a charter member, and a number of guests…after awhile it became overwhelming, I found I was no longer trying to be civil. I don’t normally react like that. But then I don’t normally get this kind of reception when I join a group. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-past-lives/648137/307 "2013-02-13T21:02:58Z")
> [@JustSue](#): > > New to this site, and this forum. > > The only assumption I made was that expressing an opinion would be met with the understanding that it was only an opinion. Yes, that’s not something you get very much on this site- especially in Great Debates. It can turn hostile or it can come off as hostile, but generally speaking the intention is to get people to show that what they are saying is true or to get them to explain their opinions. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-past-lives/648137/308 "2013-02-13T21:09:52Z")
There are multiple reasons that people join and post to this message board and this forum in particular: - to witness - to enter into genuine debate - to test their premise/idea - because they like the abuse At the end of the day, the onus is on you whether you’re going to be open to learnining something by having your POV challenged. Having a thin skin and taking umbridge because you’re not being treated with kid’s gloves is going to stand in the way of that process. You might get your feelings hurt from time to time but generally people are very fogiving when you admit you’re wrong. We appreciate that even more than we like being right all the time. 😃 Now, about that energy/matter business… ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-past-lives/648137/309 "2013-02-14T01:15:59Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > ( **bolding** mine) > > Not much snark intended, but perhaps you should. The science angle is actually relevant, as posters who suggested reincarnation was possible suggested an energy argument (energy in the physical conservation laws sense). Well, it can’t be accurate to say something is more likly than not when there is zero evidence. If you believe something exisst , that we go on existing in some form after this life , then accept that it’s not based on objective evidence, but that doesn’t make the belief foolish or irrational. it’s fine to point out to someone the flaws in their understanding of science. I just think it’s unnessecary to ask for proof in areas that science doesn’t really deal with. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-past-lives/648137/310 "2013-02-14T01:48:37Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > On the contrary. The study of energy and matter are of great interest to science and lay persons in general. But we must be careful not to extrapolate fiction from fact as we learn more and more. So while reasonable people may disagree on what the facts tell us about the universe and everything, reasonable people should not and cannot make usubstantiated claims about life transference and past lives and souls and what have you without some actual supporting evidence. And wishing that it were so or claiming that your opinion is just as valid as any other is just not going to convince anyone. Neither will miss-using actual scientific terms to support an invalid argument. What if the point isn’t to convince skeptics but to simply have a conversation with people who are also interested? It sure seems to me that was what JustSue was interested in. This is the point I was making before. Certainly we should consider what science tells us but science has it’s limits and we can easily imagine that there is a lot more to learn about energy , matter, and consciousness. If believers should be aware of what they don’t know, then so should non believers. In the realm of “what are the possibilities?” considering the vast difference of mankind’s knowledge and understanding from caveman to now, isn’t it possible that there is as much and maybe more , undiscovered knowledge left in front of us , as there was from cavemen to now? if that’s true , then maybe there is much more to learn about energy, matter, and consciousness, and , although we can’t possibly explain it with our curent limited knowledgem reincarnation may actually exist, or we may survive in some way beyond our physical bodies. Do you think, given how far we’ve come, that it’s possible that somday we will have ships that will take crews to other planets, other solar systems? If it’s a possibility in the distant future , can you explain now exactly how that will be possible right now? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-past-lives/648137/311 "2013-02-14T01:56:03Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > it’s fine to point out to someone the flaws in their understanding of science. I just think it’s unnessecary to ask for proof in areas that science doesn’t really deal with. Why is it that when people are asked for _evidence_ for whatever woo is being discussed, they decry the demand for “proof” that was never actually made? ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-past-lives/648137/312 "2013-02-14T01:57:09Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > Well, it can’t be accurate to say something is more likly than not when there is zero evidence. What? There is zero evidence that gryphons exist. I’m not going out on any kind of limb by saying it’s more likely than not they don’t exist at all. What is it about some topics that make people throw out normal and reasonable standards of evidence? ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-past-lives/648137/313 "2013-02-14T02:07:10Z")
> [@JustSue](#): > > The original question was “do you believe in past lives”. I thought it was an opinion that was being sought, not established facts with empirical evidence. No, what you ran into was _not_ a request for opinions, it was a proposal for a topic to debate. This forum is not a “shit your opinion, here” type of forum. YouTube comments, or Twitter is the place for that. Here, you throw out your opinion, and then _actually back it up_. This is a debate forum, not a “drop your pants and shit out an opinion” forum. > [@](#): > > I just found, was interested, and joined this forum today. > > Wow. I guess I’ll have to be more circumspect in the future. My bad. Why, yes. Yes you will. ETA: I see I’m 24 and change hours behind. Ignore this if the n00b already went away. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-past-lives/648137/314 "2013-02-14T02:12:45Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > We lack evidence for the “something else”. So in that respect we do not know that “something else” happens. Sure, but in that case , something may or may not happen , so people having theories, or personal beliefs either way are okay. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-past-lives/648137/315 "2013-02-14T02:24:41Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > If it’s a possibility in the distant future , can you explain now exactly how that will be possible right now? Sorry, I should have done better proofreading. It’s a possibility in the distant future, but currently impossible with our limited knowledge, can you explain now the scientific details that will make it possible. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-past-lives/648137/316 "2013-02-14T02:36:35Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Some ideas don’t warrant respect. I respect your right to have your ideas, but the ideas themselves don’t seem that impressive. When you feel the need to post this, it doesn’t seem like you respect someone’s right to to have ideas. When does it become, your ideas are different than my ideas so obviously, they are not worthy of respect? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-past-lives/648137/317 "2013-02-14T02:44:21Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > When you feel the need to post this, it doesn’t seem like you respect someone’s right to to have ideas. > When does it become, your ideas are different than my ideas so obviously, they are not worthy of respect? It is possible to respect a right and at the same time disrespect what is done with that right. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-past-lives/648137/318 "2013-02-14T08:58:29Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > When you feel the need to post this, it doesn’t seem like you respect someone’s right to to have ideas. > When does it become, your ideas are different than my ideas so obviously, they are not worthy of respect? Scientologists have ideas. I don’t respect those ideas either. Birthers, moon hoaxers, Mormons and Sovereign Citizens have ideas. Those ideas are really stupid. Pretending that moronic ideas are as valid as sound ones is silly. If someone thinks Obama is a secret Muslim they’re a fucking stooge. I don’t think they should be punished for that idea, but why should people have to pretend that it’s valid? Opinions are another story. The best burger at Wendy’s is an opinion. There is no right answer. Saying the burgers are made of unicorn meat is an assertion of fact and isn’t worthy of respect. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-past-lives/648137/319 "2013-02-14T11:28:53Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Scientologists have ideas. I don’t respect those ideas either. > > Birthers, moon hoaxers, Mormons and Sovereign Citizens have ideas. Those ideas are really stupid. Pretending that moronic ideas are as valid as sound ones is silly. > > If someone thinks Obama is a secret Muslim they’re a fucking stooge. I don’t think they should be punished for that idea, but why should people have to pretend that it’s valid? > > Opinions are another story. The best burger at Wendy’s is an opinion. There is no right answer. Saying the burgers are made of unicorn meat is an assertion of fact and isn’t worthy of respect. IMO there is a difrerence between beliefs that are contradicited by available science and beliefs that science doesn’t address aor barely addresses. Is there an afterlife? We can’t know. If you don’t think there is that’s fine but that doesn’t require you to express yourself in a thread intended for people who do entertain the idea. Are there things that are currently beyond available science? Of course there are. The Bahai recognize that religious truth and scientific truth must eventually agree, which I see as a pretty healthy attitude. I think it’s healthy to seperate know from believe and to be open to considering new facts and concepts. IMO dicussing the possibility of reincarnation , how it might work, what purpose it might serve, is not much different than people discussing the possibility of actual starships in an advanced future and what alien life forms and cultures might be like. It isn’t nessecary to step into that conversation and ask someone to explain how the engines on the starship work. Of course they don’t know , that goes without saying doesn’t it ? If you find the conversation to be silly and a waste of time, don’t participate. What’s the first rule of SD? ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-past-lives/648137/320 "2013-02-14T11:36:59Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > What? > > There is zero evidence that gryphons exist. > > I’m not going out on any kind of limb by saying it’s more likely than not they don’t exist at all. > > What is it about some topics that make people throw out normal and reasonable standards of evidence? Read that in the context of which it was offered instead of analyzing it. What I meant was people who hold beliefs about an afterlife and reincarnation should understand that there is zero evidence to support it and not claim it as factual, or even more likely than not. If they happen to be firm beievers who see it as truth, then at least acknowledge to skeptics that you have no objective evidence to show them. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-past-lives/648137/321 "2013-02-14T12:08:07Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > What’s the first rule of SD? Fight ignorance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-past-lives/648137.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-past-lives/648137.md?page=17)