Quote (idc130 @ Oct 29 2011 10:59pm)
Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.
This is completely wrong. Let's say I told you there was a giant unicorn right in front of your face. You would suspect a giant unicorn to have some sort of physical effect on your immediate environment yet it has none. You can't see it, you can't hear it, you can't feel it, you can't see it under using special devices, thus it is proven to have no presence. If a claim is to exist, then it would almost definitely have an effect on that which is around it.
Also, there is a lot of discussion about whether our brain and soul are the same. Well, scientists have done experiments that have shown that the decisions we make are only consciously recognized 7 seconds or so after the brain has started thinking of this idea. This does not include speaking and reflexes, as the impulses for reflex actions do not go to the brain and speaking is done with the part of the brain identified as our conscious. So effectively most of the things we do or decide, we have already decided moments beforehand. This begs the question: "do we have free will at all?", or are we just a bunch of reactions that would occur the same way in the same circumstances every time.
My opinion is: Maybe ghosts exist, but "ghost" or anything is only a word unless you define what it is or model it so it can be tested and observed scientifically. It is impossible to argue properly against ghost unless you define first exactly what it is. Its like creationism, which is not a scientific model, so it cannot be tested and thus proven, whereas evolution IS a proper scientific model which has been tested many numerous times and not been proven incorrect. Like the fact that the earth revolves around the sun, it is a scientific theory or model and has not yet been proven false and thus you would be a nutcase to claim otherwise.
Ghosts don't exist... Anyone with a little common sense knows this...