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 | | From: | El_Mariachi | | Subject: | A question of spirit... | | Date: | 18 Nov 2004 14:32:09 -0600 |
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 | I was in a discussion with my friend yesterday on the likelihood that
human beings have souls. He cited the study in which a mans recently
deceased body was wieghed and then compared to a weight taken right
before (results showing a decrease in weight ), to buttress his
argument that indeed we do. I am familiar with the study, but am not
aware of its credibility or the extent to which its results have been
reproduced. I speculated that perhaps the the electrical currents
pulsating through his body may have dissipated, leaving him with
slightly less mass post mortem. He parried by saying that these
currents would not just leave the body. I concluded that neither of
us REALLY knew, but only supposed.
This is an argument I am sure to encounter in this sort of discussion,
so Im asking those who are likely more well versed in this to help me.
I am open minded, so If the study has been elaborated on and seems to
support his contentions, then I wont argue a moot point. But I
suspect there is a reasonable explanation that has been overlooked by
a culture (and subculture) obsessed with junk science.
Thanks
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Posted at:
www.GroupSrv.com
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| | From: | Joseph Hertzlinger | | Subject: | Re: A question of spirit... | | Date: | Sun, 21 Nov 2004 07:36:20 GMT |
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| On 18 Nov 2004 14:32:09 -0600, El_Mariachi
wrote:
> I was in a discussion with my friend yesterday on the likelihood that
> human beings have souls. He cited the study in which a mans recently
> deceased body was wieghed and then compared to a weight taken right
> before (results showing a decrease in weight ), to buttress his
> argument that indeed we do. I am familiar with the study, but am not
> aware of its credibility or the extent to which its results have been
> reproduced. I speculated that perhaps the the electrical currents
> pulsating through his body may have dissipated, leaving him with
> slightly less mass post mortem. He parried by saying that these
> currents would not just leave the body. I concluded that neither of
> us REALLY knew, but only supposed.
>
> This is an argument I am sure to encounter in this sort of discussion,
> so Im asking those who are likely more well versed in this to help me.
> I am open minded, so If the study has been elaborated on and seems to
> support his contentions, then I wont argue a moot point. But I
> suspect there is a reasonable explanation that has been overlooked by
> a culture (and subculture) obsessed with junk science.
I think the above question is more suited for rec.arts.sf.science. The
claim in question has been used in sf stories, e.g., "Not to Mention
Camels" by R.A. Lafferty.
--
http://hertzlinger.blogspot.com
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| | From: | Sea Wasp | | Subject: | Re: A question of spirit... | | Date: | Sun, 21 Nov 2004 11:53:47 GMT |
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| Joseph Hertzlinger wrote:
> On 18 Nov 2004 14:32:09 -0600, El_Mariachi
> wrote:
>
>
>>I was in a discussion with my friend yesterday on the likelihood that
>>human beings have souls. He cited the study in which a mans recently
>>deceased body was wieghed and then compared to a weight taken right
>>before (results showing a decrease in weight ), to buttress his
>>argument that indeed we do. I am familiar with the study, but am not
>>aware of its credibility or the extent to which its results have been
>>reproduced. I speculated that perhaps the the electrical currents
>>pulsating through his body may have dissipated, leaving him with
>>slightly less mass post mortem. He parried by saying that these
>>currents would not just leave the body. I concluded that neither of
>>us REALLY knew, but only supposed.
>>
>>This is an argument I am sure to encounter in this sort of discussion,
>>so Im asking those who are likely more well versed in this to help me.
>> I am open minded, so If the study has been elaborated on and seems to
>>support his contentions, then I wont argue a moot point. But I
>>suspect there is a reasonable explanation that has been overlooked by
>>a culture (and subculture) obsessed with junk science.
>
>
> I think the above question is more suited for rec.arts.sf.science. The
> claim in question has been used in sf stories, e.g., "Not to Mention
> Camels" by R.A. Lafferty.
>
And as always in these cases, can be easily dealt with by going to
snopes.com: http://www.snopes.com/religion/soulweight.asp
--
Sea Wasp
/^\
;;;
Live Journal: http://www.livejournal.com/users/seawasp/
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