# So, I have this theory **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 12, 2005, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-this-theory/330684 "2005-11-12T05:48:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-this-theory/330684/1 "2005-11-12T05:48:04Z")
I was reminded of it this evening while at a wake. My theory explains, since there are only a finite number of souls in the universe, where “new souls” come from. Souls reincarnate - we all know this on one level or another (for those who don’t accept the traditional interpretation of reincarnation, think of often you’ve thought your little nephew is so very like his greatgrandfather) Now, if a soul meets an untimely or particularly violent death, it fractures. Since this seems to happen fairly frequently, there are all these fragmented souls floating around in the ether. Some of the pieces coalesce into a “new soul”. You probably know someone who just doesn’t fit in anywhere - who always feels out of place. This is why. Souls that meet ordinary deaths (old age, long illnesses during which the individual has a chance to ‘settle’ things) are released whole and come back whole. Fragmented souls mishmosh together with other fragments and come back like a mosiac or a jigsaw puzzle. Now, when one of those “new souls” fall in love for real (not crushes or lust-fests) he (or she) has met his(her) soulmate - that is someone else with pieces of the same souls that makes him(her) up. Keep in mind - I’d had 3 Cosmopolitans when I came up with my Fragmented Souls theory ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-this-theory/330684/2 "2005-11-12T06:32:04Z")
Keep in mind, I’ve been drinking STRONG beer for hours now: Your “theory” is shite! Your born, you live, you die, then you either rot in the ground or burn up. If you are real lucky, get eaten by cannibals. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-this-theory/330684/3 "2005-11-12T06:39:35Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > I was reminded of it this evening while at a wake. > My theory explains, since there are only a finite number of souls in the universe ??? > [@](#): > > where “new souls” come from. Souls reincarnate - we all know this on one level or another (for those who don’t accept the traditional interpretation of reincarnation, think of often you’ve thought your little nephew is so very like his greatgrandfather) It’s called genetics. > [@](#): > > Now, if a soul meets an untimely or particularly violent death, it fractures. Since this seems to happen fairly frequently, there are all these fragmented souls floating around in the ether. Seriously, what kind of even logic, not to mention evidence do you have for this? > [@](#): > > Some of the pieces coalesce into a “new soul”. You probably know someone who just doesn’t fit in anywhere - who always feels out of place. This is why. Souls that meet ordinary deaths (old age, long illnesses during which the individual has a chance to ‘settle’ things) are released whole and come back whole. > Fragmented souls mishmosh together with other fragments and come back like a mosiac or a jigsaw puzzle. Please read this when you’re not high and see if it really truly makes sense even to you. > [@](#): > > Now, when one of those “new souls” fall in love for real (not crushes or lust-fests) he (or she) has met his(her) soulmate - that is someone else with pieces of the same souls that makes him(her) up. “Soulmate” is a metaphor. I’ve never known anyone who thought it was a serious statement. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-this-theory/330684/4 "2005-11-12T06:39:58Z")
> [@gatopescado](#): > > Keep in mind, I’ve been drinking STRONG beer for hours now: > > Your “theory” is shite! > > Your born, you live, you die, then you either rot in the ground or burn up. If you are real lucky, get eaten by cannibals. ok - read it again when you’re sober and see what you thiink then. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-this-theory/330684/5 "2005-11-12T06:41:00Z")
> [@Cardinal](#): > > ???It’s called genetics. > Seriously, what kind of even logic, not to mention evidence do you have for this? > Please read this when you’re not high and see if it really truly makes sense even to you. > “Soulmate” is a metaphor. I’ve never known anyone who thought it was a serious statement. are you really taking me seriously? :tsk tsk: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-this-theory/330684/6 "2005-11-12T06:43:47Z")
Paraphrasing Harry Chapin: "I played this theory for the guys in my group, and my brothers, and their reaction was best summed up by my brother Tom, who said: Harry, it sucks." ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-this-theory/330684/7 "2005-11-12T06:53:22Z")
Nonsense! We all know that if one has lived a good life he (or she) has his (or her) soul eaten by the Sexy Godess (or the Sexy God). However if one has lived an evil life his (or her) soul is eaten by the Nasty Dog God. New souls are crafted by the Tribal Racoon-Hat God (from the gossamer strands of the Mighty Creator’s fecal matter (of which a large amount exists in the latrine of the four heavens)) whenever a new person is born. Anything else is blasphemy and punishable by five lashes with the rubber bikini. (And I’ve had too much whiskey before I posted this.) ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-this-theory/330684/8 "2005-11-12T07:12:23Z")
I’ll be honest. It makes just as much sense as any other idea I’ve heard about life-after-death. Have another cosmo for me. ---
**Author:** ![andrewdt85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/71e660/32.png) [@andrewdt85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewdt85)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-this-theory/330684/9 "2005-11-12T07:28:54Z")
So those who are in love commit soul-incest? So I guess after enough generations they end up with some kinda… mutated souls, eh? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-this-theory/330684/10 "2005-11-12T07:50:27Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > ok - read it again when you’re sober and see what you thiink then. 😃 Well, THAT ain’t gonna happen! 😃 Post it again when you’re sober, and maybe I’ll dry up enough to get around to it. I love you. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-this-theory/330684/11 "2005-11-12T08:29:58Z")
I like the theory. Soulmates. Awwwwww. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-this-theory/330684/12 "2005-11-12T08:58:20Z")
> [@Hung Mung](#): > > I’ll be honest. It makes just as much sense as any other idea I’ve heard about life-after-death. Seconded. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-this-theory/330684/13 "2005-11-12T09:04:23Z")
> [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](#): > > Nonsense! We all know that if one has lived a good life he (or she) has his (or her) soul eaten by the Sexy Godess (or the Sexy God). However if one has lived an evil life his (or her) soul is eaten by the Nasty Dog God. New souls are crafted by the Tribal Racoon-Hat God (from the gossamer strands of the Mighty Creator’s fecal matter (of which a large amount exists in the latrine of the four heavens)) whenever a new person is born. Anything else is blasphemy and punishable by five lashes with the rubber bikini. > > (And I’ve had too much whiskey before I posted this.) Or MAYBE not QUITE ENOUGH whiskey!!! It seems to me that you may have found the doorway to ENLIGHTENMENT and unfortunately, when told to FUCK OFF, you left rather than having that ONE EXTRA brain expanding whiskey that could have solved the whole thing. ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-this-theory/330684/14 "2005-11-12T09:38:49Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > I was reminded of it this evening while at a wake. > My theory explains, since there are only a finite number of souls in the universe, where “new souls” come from. Souls reincarnate - we all know this on one level or another (for those who don’t accept the traditional interpretation of reincarnation, think of often you’ve thought your little nephew is so very like his greatgrandfather) > Now, if a soul meets an untimely or particularly violent death, it fractures. Since this seems to happen fairly frequently, there are all these fragmented souls floating around in the ether. > Some of the pieces coalesce into a “new soul”. You probably know someone who just doesn’t fit in anywhere - who always feels out of place. This is why. Souls that meet ordinary deaths (old age, long illnesses during which the individual has a chance to ‘settle’ things) are released whole and come back whole. > Fragmented souls mishmosh together with other fragments and come back like a mosiac or a jigsaw puzzle. > Now, when one of those “new souls” fall in love for real (not crushes or lust-fests) he (or she) has met his(her) soulmate - that is someone else with pieces of the same souls that makes him(her) up. > > Keep in mind - I’d had 3 Cosmopolitans when I came up with my Fragmented Souls theory Sounds like attending the wake inspired you to contemplate your mortality, not a bad thing, we should all do it from time to time. The alcohol just serves as a lubricant. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-this-theory/330684/15 "2005-11-12T10:16:08Z")
It is Kharmic in essence, what you are saying relates to Kharma and all flowing towards nurture and balance. I think we puzzle together like opportunities for another “soul”. We are counters balancing a great chit. All opportunities fare towards greater meaning and goodness. ---
**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 12, 2005, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-this-theory/330684/16 "2005-11-12T10:53:30Z")
Dammit! **anyrose** have you been dip’n into my stash again?!?! ---
**Author:** ![rinni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f6c823/32.png) [@rinni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rinni)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-this-theory/330684/17 "2005-11-12T11:50:51Z")
I actually think this sounds like a good idea for part of a video game plot. Not trying to mock or poke fun in the slightest. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-this-theory/330684/18 "2005-11-12T20:18:17Z")
Party-pooper note: The mods generally do not look kindly on anyone who posts to the board intoxicated… That said, it all sounds good. Have a daiquiri on me. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-this-theory/330684/19 "2005-11-12T20:26:55Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > … there are only a finite number of souls in the universe … This part reminded me of a story I read a LONG time ago. All these babies started being born with vacant stares. Medical science couldn’t figure out why. One guy finally came to the conclusion that the universe had run out of souls. Unfortunately, his wife was pregnant at the time. His solution is to kill enough people to free up a soul so that his child won’t be born without one. He ends up in jail, but his baby is the first one born without a vacant stare since the whole thing started. ---
**Author:** ![ms.deanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@ms.deanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ms.deanna)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-this-theory/330684/20 "2005-11-12T20:48:38Z")
I really like that theory. I 'd bet you’re probably fun to get high with. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-have-this-theory/330684.md?page=2)