Could you still be an Atheist and believe in a "Soul"?

[CristW]

I really had to ask. This is truly a Litmus Test of whether someone is an Atheist. Let you all know there is a so-called "atheist" who truly believes that there is a "soul". I agree that if there is a "soul" then there is a Divine source (Plato/Socrates). However, as it has been proven...virtues do not derive from a "soul" so this destroys the Nihilist claim (The Plato argument concerning Gorgas' philosophical nihilism which has been converted into a modern social/political construct).

[Minimalist]

I don't see how.

[vorlon13]

The theoretical soul contains some weird characteristics.

Henry Ford was convinced he had captured Thomas Edison's in a bottle, for instance. I suppose if the stopper was real tight it might still be there.

[Angrboda]

The poll needs more options. Are you trying to test how smrt we are, as well?

[CristW]

The evidence against Plato/Socrates argument is the siege of Athens during the rule of Pericles. The morals and ethical religious teachings, among the ancient Greek "soul believers" were removed as soon as disease spread within the city during the siege.

Point: If they believed in a "soul", and if virtues derive from a "soul", then the populace of the city would have kept being filled with virtue(s) rather than increasing in vice. They would have been calm and been tranquil and preservered during the siege because their religious teachings created virtues.

Conclusion: Virtues do not derive from the BELIEF OF A SOUL.

[CristW]

The poll needs more options.  Are you trying to test how smrt we are, as well?

Yes, you are pointing to the obvious. Anymore options would create more absurdities. Virtues derive from ACTS not a declaration (belief).

[CristW]

I don't see how.

The argument goes: If you believe in a soul then there is a creator. Therefore, the religions may be valid. Then you would have to accept that some souls will be in "hell" and some in paradise/heaven. It leads to an absurdity. Plato/Socrates were believers in a soul. The flaw is that virtues derive from a soul! if this is the case then you could say (and justify) that LIBERALS are Nihilistic and evil.

Therefore the FALSE CONSTRUCTION:

Believe in a Soul --> All/most acts are virtues --> Good people and desirable people (The social conservative mind logic).

Does not believe in a Soul --> All/most acts are vices --> Bad people and must be put away and must not advance (The social conservative mind logic).

Observation: Most Muslims think in this manner especially the ones who truly follow the Quran and Sunnah. Even if you believe in a soul you are still below them because you are possibly a believer in the Bible (The "Book" as they say: Ahlul-Kitab). Even worse if you are an Atheist.

It is simply social criminilization by belief, the very thing I ran away from.

[Minimalist]

If you believe in a soul then there is a creator.

See, I think the same fools who invented a "creator" also invented "souls."  Superstitious drivel, mon ami.

[Mudhammam]

This poll is stupid. Yes, one can be an atheist and believe in a soul.

Next.

[Mudhammam]

The evidence against Plato/Socrates argument is the siege of Athens during the rule of Pericles. The morals and ethical religious teachings, among the ancient Greek "soul believers" were removed as soon as disease spread within the city during the siege.

Point: If they believed in a "soul", and if virtues derive from a "soul", then the populace of the city would have kept being filled with virtue(s) rather than increasing in vice. They would have been calm and been tranquil and preservered during the siege because their religious teachings created virtues.

Conclusion: Virtues do not derive from the BELIEF OF A SOUL.

Oh wow. That is a brilliant argument. But Plato's notion of the soul - as a sort of an immortal, incorporeal essence of self-motion that retains an identity from body to body, despite loss of memory - is problematic without appealing to this absurd, nay, silly and invalid objection that the ability to degrade one's moral sense disproves the individual soul's participation in virtue, derived from the form of the Good... whatever that is Plato leaves an open question.