Is it possible that everything existing in this world can be proven to exist by science? That it is not possible for something to exist and not be able to be proven by science? If this is so then why do so many people keep seeing ghosts? Are they all delusional or is science wrong.
Pretending is fun, isn’t it? You get to believe that you have you have special knowledge and/or magical powers.
We are not pretending here, so unless you or anyone else you know of can call forth any sort of supernatural entity and make it appear to someone other than yourself(i.e. your overactive imagination), then you’ve got absolutely nothing in the way of real knowledge, evidence or proof. Can you do this one small thing? Do you know of anyone else that can do this one small thing?
When come back, bring evidence that you’ve opened a basic science textbook.
What is a ghost? Stephen said with tingling energy. One who has faded into impalpability through death, through absence, through change of manners. Elizabethan London lay as far from Stratford as corrupt Paris lies from virgin Dublin. Who is the ghost from limbo patrum, returning to the world that has forgotten him? Who is King Hamlet?
Will a science book answer my questions? Cite
For Jesus and the Apostles being exorcists, my cite is the Gospels and Acts. (Jesus seems to have diagnosed most ailments as demonic possession.) For the rest, see here.
If you would ever open one up with the intention of learning from it instead of reinterpreting it to fit your own established worldview, you would have the answer to your question.
I don’t see that the OP gave any indication that he wished to summon a demon or spirit, just that he wanted to know if there was any proof that such things existed.
Answer: no
Also I would take “Straight Dope level opinion” to be one that can be stand up to scrutiny and be supported with cites. If he just wanted everyone’s personal unsubstantiated feeling about ghosts he would have started the thread in IMHO rather than general questions.
Now, I am willing to be open minded about this subject. Although no evidence has been brought forth so far, if any wish to come forward and give their best evidence for the existence of demons and/or ghosts and/or evil spirits and/or any other supernatural entities, please do so that it might be examined and discussed. In fact, to save time, let’s just skip with any “I have evidence, but you would just dismiss it so I’m not gonna!” statements, or You Tube videos of people telling tall tales-that’s just a stall tactic. Evidence, please.
sigh Fine, fine, I’ll send some 'round later tonight. [draws circle, lights candles]
Start with this one. With luck it will dissuade you from the “but you can’t prove ghosts don’t exist” line of argument. After that we can start looking at the evidence.
I never put forth that argument, but it does have merit. I did learn from reading the first few pages that science is related to philosophy. When I went to school and studied science it had nothing to do with philosophy. Philosophy was left to the deepest thinkers and the studies of mind, God, and other unknowable issues. Science was devoted to finding cures for illness, biology, better food production and other beneficials to human pursuits. Pursuits that had a physical solution. Science has changed considerable since then and became a catch-all for everything. I dislike this even more. I was expecting only facts and truth from science and now it gives philosophy. I can understand your position better now, and why scientists believe as they do. I did notice that it is still scientific to observe events and write about them.
Now on the subject of ghosts, demons, and evil spirits which is said not to exist because the methods used by science cannot measure them. Since these methods were created by scientists, who is to say they are infallible methods and are guaranteed to “measure, capture, and expose” all the existing events that happen on this earth. Furthermore that other events these methods cannot “measure, capture, and expose” will be relegated to nonsense, delusions, woo woo, and illusions. I cannot buy this and I believe any serious rational thinking person can’t either.
Millions of people say they have seen ghosts, demons, and evil spirits over all of history. Now we are to believe science has solved this phenomena.
Again, “It’s just very unlikely”, regardless of how many think they exist. Millions of people think that the ones that do not have their faith are heretics.
This is not only absolute crap, but you have been told before that this is absolute crap. The scientists that say and believe these things reside only in your vivid imagination along with all your misunderstandings about the nature of reality. I ask you(not politely, for you have repeated this far too many times for any polite response) to back up your crass statements with cites from scientists saying things like this.
Cite for such a claim being made.
I think this XKCD makes that claim in a clever way. But it’s not “science” saying it even though it’s true.
This is exactly my proposition.
I clearly stated earlier on that if anyone finds my response to be outlandish, then they’re are free to altogether dismiss it and go on to believe that demons don’t exist.
You mean like this one?
We are also free to back up your (so far) unsupported assertions with evidence.
He doesn’t need to provide a cite that there is no evidence-in fact, such a cite would be damn near impossible for obvious reasons. The only people here that should provide evidence for claims are those of you who make the initial incredible claim.
Got evidence?
Since science is the study of anything that exists, then yeah.
You can say that there are things that can’t be falsified by the tools at our disposal, sure, but if it exists, it’s part of the world of science, by definition.
You mean disprove the efficacy of Ceremonial Magic? Be my guest.
Is this one of those “Straight Dope level opinions” or just a cop out?
Next time you ask for proof from someone you don’t know, make sure there’s a clearly elaborated and mutually accepted standard of proof.