consider that once we gained more scientific knowledge about the planets and possible other worlds, relatively new religions like Mormonism and Scientology promptly adopted their existence into their core religious beliefs. The Mormons even put God on another planet( on Kolob), while the Scientologists imagined a Galactic Confederacy of 76 planets from which Xenu came, a being who may not be a god but which has many godlike attributes.
Another response from professional believers is that God can’ t be detected because he / she / it doesn’ t want to be, perhaps as this is a test of humans’“ faith.” Think of how our society talks about a“ person of faith” as though it’ s some great accomplishment, like a college degree or a medal earned while in the military. To believe in something that is“ not evidentially there” is somehow morally commendable, and most societies consider such belief to be a high virtue worthy of respect from your fellow humans( unless of course you believe in little green fairies living in your hair that sing Beatles songs to you at night, in which case they don’ t think you’ re morally superior, just nuts). OK, so much for that line of thought. Forget about detecting god( s).
How About Finding a Soul? And what is a Soul Anyway?
But a soul is a different thing. All the major religions( Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism) believe in a“ soul” of some sort.( In Buddhism and Hinduism it’ s represented by a spirit or force which is capable of being reincarnated, and while some argue that you don’ t need to believe in reincarnation to be Buddhist, most followers do, so I will leave it at that.) Unlike a god, which can be here or there or not there as he / she / it might choose, all these faiths believe that a soul is bound to the body during life( except for you believers in astral projection) and only parts from the body upon death. Virtually all faiths believe in this, and it’ s a core tenant of their beliefs. It’ s right up there with the existence of a God. In fact, I don’ t know of any current religion that doesn’ t have some concept of a soul or postdeath continuing existence( or cycle of existence and destruction, as in Hinduism). If someone does, please let me know.
P a g e | 149