Atheists: do you believe in ghosts?

Question

I'm not being condescending, I'm really curious. my first thought would be no, because you really don't believe in anything, but I'd like to hear your thoughts.

I got to thinking about it today and since you don't believe in life after death, then you wouldn't believe in a soul...no soul/spirit, no ghosts, right?

Answer 1

I don't see a possibility for anything supernatural to have any effect whatsoever on the natural world. Existing in and of itself would have an effect. So no, I don't believe in ghosts.

Answer 2

Not at this point, no. Though sometimes my cats stare at something I can't see.

It wouldn't be contradictory, though. Atheism does not mean you don't believe in life after death, it means you don't believe in a god. So you could have an atheist who believes in reincarnation, and the "something" that transfers from one life to the next could conceivably get caught in between.

Answer 3

No, I don't believe in ghosts.

Answer 4

Curious !

believe in ghosts,

dissimilarity people,place,karma with differ spiritualism,

(无中生有),第七识.

Answer 5

Ghosts as in an individual consciousness that can survive without the means of a physical process then no.

Ghost as in a possible natural phenomena that has yet to be understood, possible.

Ghost as in people mistaking normal phenomena as something paranormal/supernatural, most likely.

Ghost as in a separate substance/realm in a dualistic metaphysical universe, well if it interacts with this realm why call it separate, and if it does not interact with the physical realm then it is pure speculation.

Answer 6

I dont believe in ghosts, withces, vampires, wherewolves, etc. Although being in the woods at night creeps me the f*ck out because of people who think they are witches. Stupid blair witch movie...

Answer 7

not me.

Answer 8

For the 5th time today .... Atheists = People who did not believe in the existence of supreme creature(s), all other beliefs is individual.

You should perhaps ask "Nihilist, do you believe in ghosts"? That should be more appropriate.

Answer 9

There is no empirical evidence, so I don't.

Answer 10

no another fear created thing by people.

Answer 11

no we believe in stuff its just we don't believe in stuff without evidence. provide us the evidence and we'll gladly believe in ghosts, spirits etc. i personally would think it would be cool for ghosts to be real but without anything backing it up i will take my stance in that they are not real.  

Answer 12

Your first thought would be correct for the vast majority of atheists.

I do take exception to people using the line "you don't believe in anything".  We believe in all kinds of things just not the supernatural.

Answer 13

Other than no god belief, anything else is up for personal opinion/interpretation. Thoughts of an "afterlife" of sorts likewise, it just may not be the same type of thing the religious people think of.

I'm going to be the odd one out on this and say it's a subject that's always interested me. Do I *believe* it? Not necessarily. I'm a very strong skeptic by nature. A real "live" ghost could turn up in front of me and say hello and next week I'd be doubting it... Nor do I easily take stuff into consideration as possibly being "paranormal." It's got to be something that is really crazy and has surpassed all possible explanations for me to consider it.

I'm pretty d**n good at putting "two and two together" and figuring stuff out, "problem solver" by nature, but I've had a few experiences that I've never figured out and outside the realm of "normal"...so maybe that's why I've given it a little more thought. Though even those few things I still after many years have doubts and try to think up explanations. lol

Answer 14

this is like asking the president (US) if he believes in allah

Answer 15

No.

Answer 16

well no offence but ghosts have more proof than god

i mean at least theres photographic evidence and even documentaries and recounts. so i would say yes but with doubt

Answer 17

"...because you really don't believe in anything "

I don't believe in ghosts, but what you said is so not true. Atheists believe in a lot of things, just not in the existence of god. Some believe in reincarnation, and yes some even believe in ghosts.

Answer 18

Nope.

Answer 19

Atheists are free to believe in anything except gods.

This atheist does not believe in ghosts.

Answer 20

Nope. Just as much proof of ghosts as there is of any gods... none.

Answer 21

nope

Answer 22

The closest thing that I can relate to a "ghost" is a vast amount of organic energy concentrated on a specific place, that may seem human, or may still be controlled by a human, kind of very hard to explain, but i understand in my head. blah

Answer 23

Nothing supernatural allowed is my motto. I think it's odd that some people find it easier to believe in ghosts than religion.

Answer 24

James 2:19

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

Apparently the demons are one up on the Atheists.  But one day it will come out of their mouths that He is Lord, and they won't be able to control it.

Philipians 2:9-11

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and EVERY tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Answer 25

No.

But I believe in SCIENCE!

Answer 26

It is such a simple dictionary definition so why are so many people on here completely ignorant of what an atheist is?!!

ATHEIST -  someone who does not believe in a God – any God – not just the Christian one.  But that does not mean they do not hold strong moral or religious beliefs!  They can follow any religion that does not have a god and there are a lot of those!!

Like BUDDHISM – Religious teaching from Buddha and his followers that by destroying greed, hatred and delusion (the cause of all suffering) man can attain perfect enlightenment!!

So atheists can believe in ghosts, little green men or anything else as long as it does not involve a god!!