Do souls recognize each other?

[Maple Spook]

Someone has told me that, sometimes, strangers can meet and take an instant dislike to each other. The reason is that their souls had encountered each other in a previous life, and, even though the current persons don't recognize each other, the souls do, and, if they were enemies before, they will dislike or even hate each other. The same goes for liking or loving strangers at first sight, I guess, but, even though I believe in reincarnation, I've never experienced anything like this. Has anyone?

[Avalon Jr.]

i dont believe so, no, but i dont see why it couldnt be true. its a nice hypothesis, reincanation, but its only a theory.

[ClouD]

physical reincarnation is logical, no?

[CryoDragoon]

I've heard another theory like that... I believe they said it were our auras or energies touching. It's complete bs. There're enough other plausible theories out there. One psychological one involves body language, image (the way they dress, etc.) and is quite a prominent one. In short, it basically says that the way people dress or carry themselves can make another person associate certain characteristics to the person, which may or may not be favourable. As for the 'souls' not liking each other: isn't it weird that often, your first impression and your initial dislike for a person based on seeing them only once, is completely wrong? For example: there's this girl on our school. She's a complete gothic. Black ripped clothing, weird hairstyle, lip-piercing, and all that stuff. When I first saw her, I was immediately turned off by her (our souls touching? I don't think so... I just associated the typical gothic-stereotype characteristics (loner, depressed, into weird stuff, etc.)). Now I know her better, I like her immensely. She's always happy, etc. Basically, she's completely different from what I thought she would be. My dislike was completely wrong. How do you explain that happening when 'souls' touch? Souls are the true thing, so if they would touch, we would see each other as we really were. As for love at first sight: again, it's more about image, body language, how the person behaves, etc. than it having anything to do with souls. Have you ever been in 'love' with someone, only to discover she was a huge b*tch? I have... How could that happen if our souls touched? The only way I can explain that is that she looked friggin' beautiful and I felt an attraction going. But no... never mind... I read the blurb wrong... You were talking about reincarnation. Well... With reincarnation I think it's even more rediculous. Souls touching? I can see how that would work. But reincarnation? If someone were to slap reincarnation in my face, I would have to insist where the hell he got the idea from. Why does he think reincarnation is true? Where's his proof? Physical reincarnation? No idea what that means. If you think it's all the atoms in our bodies eventually making up another thing: I can live with that. It's immensely plausible. But then I'd have to insist: how would individual atoms carry with them the personality or souls of their previous owners? Especially when you look at modern psychology and studies of the brain, we can pretty much conclude there is no soul to begin with... That all that we are, our personality and stuff, resides only in our brains.

[Photolysis]

Personally, I think body language, clothing, and various other factors determine whether you instantly like or dislike someone. For instance you're more likely to take a like to some stranger who kindly points out you've dropped your wallet, or take a dislike to some jerk who cuts you off in traffic... Why do people feel the need to come up with insane theories based on no evidence or reasoning when there's a perfectly rational explanation already...

[DuB]

I'd have to agree with Photolysis in that I see no reason why this soul theory should be the most logical explanation. If you meet someone and get a feeling that you won't like them even before they open their mouth, it's probably because you've unconsciously picked up on various physical cues that remind you of people that you already don't like. For example, someone may walk in a particular way or wear a particular facial expression that reminds you of someone you disliked in high school, or perhaps they are wearing clothes typically worn by people that you don't get along with.

[Maple Spook]

Boy, I sure as hell started a firestorm. I would agree that psychological or other mundane factors can explain most things, but I'm not sure it would explain everything. I believe in reincarnation, but I have no proof - in religion, you either believe or you don't. I'm not convinced of my friend's thesis, because I've never experienced it, but it does make sense to someone who does believe in reincarnation.

[Bonsay]

Boy, I sure as hell started a firestorm. I would agree that psychological or other mundane factors can explain most things, but I'm not sure it would explain everything. Do you have an example of what it couldn't explain?

[Needcatscan]

Do you have an example of what it couldn't explain? Seconded.

[Maple Spook]

Can't prove or disprove it, like I said. I know nothing of psychology.

[ClassyElf]

Can't prove or disprove it, like I said. I know nothing of psychology. If there is no evidence for something, then the logical explanation is that it doesn't exist.

[Maple Spook]

This is in the dreams forum??? Can anyone prove spirits exist? Or dreams mean anything? In fact, if someone asks for a dream interpretation, can he prove he had that dream??? This is all faith, like most of religion.

[Scatterbrain]

Lol? You can't prove to others you had a dream, but you can know yourself if you dreamed. If the others also know they dream, then they know it's possible for you to dream too. This feels like a dodge from: Do you have an example of what it couldn't explain?

[Maple Spook]

I don't have an example. I did say I wasn't sure if this was true, just that my friend suggested it as the basis for his belief. He believed in reincarnation, just as I do.

[Scatterbrain]

Why?

[Maple Spook]

Why? Ronald Reagan said so.

[DeathCell]

i dont believe so, no, but i dont see why it couldnt be true. its a nice hypothesis, reincanation, but its only a theory. Bout as much evidence as heaven... Words nothing else. I've felt compelled to people on first glance... Turned out to be right. Cryo sounds like he's got a bad case of prejudgment. I get feelings about people yet I almost am always correct about my initial thoughts. I think it's a combination of a lot of factors.. obviously attitude and body language.. but their I think subtler things you can pick up.. such as intent. So be it.

[CryoDragoon]

Cryo sounds like he's got a bad case of prejudgment. Yes... I have... But I at least admit it . Obviously I can't prove this, but I think everybody has prejudgement. Even you, deathcell (hell, you even admitted it)... Everybody feels a certain way to how people appear. The real question then becomes whether you listen to that or not (which is not really what we are talking about here, so it isn't of any kind of importance). 'cause admit it: if somebody wears a business suit, you assume he is professional and easy to approach, possibly even friendly. If somebody, on the other hand, wears leather stuff, has muscles all over, has rings in the most impossible locations on his body, sports a green mohawk, blasts death metal from his skull-earbuds, and has a face that's full of scars, would your first reaction, your gut reaction (which is what we're talking about here), really be 'wow, this guy looks friendly and approachable, and not the least bit dangerous'? Exactly: you wouldn't think that. You'd automatically, unconciously assume he would be some sort of rocker-dude, easily angered, maybe even dangerous and quick to use violence. In fact: if you would bump into him, say 'sorry', and he says in the most reassuring, calm, friendly voice you've ever heard 'hey, it's alright, don't sweat it man', you'd probably be surprised by this out-of-character display of non-negative characteristics, wouldn't you? So there you have it: prejudgement. It just is... Thread can be closed now... :p

[Bonsay]

This is in the dreams forum??? Can anyone prove spirits exist? Or dreams mean anything? In fact, if someone asks for a dream interpretation, can he prove he had that dream??? This is all faith, like most of religion. Well I can't "prove" anything to myself either, maybe I'm hallucinating. So if I need faith for everything, then discussing anything is useless. But it's not, because I don't intend on wasting my life on some probability. In theory, you can prove what somebody dreams, it's the spirit that can't be proven, even in theory. You see, we have an understanding on how the brain works. Deciphering different processes is just another step scientists have to make. There is absolutely nothing, but the "feeling" that I have free will or a soul, that would even these two things out. So go ahead, give me some basic outline of how the soul interacts with us or the universe and why would you take it for granted if it can't be proven.

[Maple Spook]

There is absolutely nothing, but the "feeling" that I have free will or a soul, that would even these two things out. So go ahead, give me some basic outline of how the soul interacts with us or the universe and why would you take it for granted if it can't be proven. I can't prove that it can't be proven - maybe someone can prove it, just not me. I don't know how the soul interacts with the universe, though I do think it's a non-physical entity that is in the body. I think all animals have souls, and even plants have souls. I think that a soul is non-physical, but it can be detected by scientific instruments, because it gives off physical signatures, be they electric, magnetic, or some other signature - and I'm not a scientist, so I don't know if this is so, just a feeling. But I do wonder if souls ever recognize each other from previous lives.

[Xaqaria]

I'd have to go with subconscious first reaction on this one. I'd be willing to bet that a signifigant portion of 'instant like/dislike' reactions happen because the person looks like someone you've seen before and either like or dislike but don't necessarily think about all that often; like a childhood friend/enemy.

[Scatterbrain]

Ronald Reagan said so. But he's dead.

[Maple Spook]

But he's dead. But I recognize him from a previous life.

[SpecialInterests]

not to be rude - but wtf is a soul? Believing in a soul is like believing in zombies, or worse, angels o.O Humans are physical beings. We do not consist of any fairy-tale shit like souls. It's something we made up to make us feel special. We're not special. Get over it.

[Xei]

Mmm, what is a soul exactly..? Souls create all sorts of problems. How would an immaterial soul affect physical reality? How come physical reality affects the soul? Best discard that idea. We form memories from our experiences. Do you have any memories of things you didn't do in this life? I certainly don't. How would that happen?