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A Conversation With Orley (Soul, Man)

K: “Hey Orley, I need to talk to you about the new file server.”

O: “No no, sorry Kaf, no time for talking about such things.”

K: “Oh. Working on something new then?”

O: “Well, yes and no. An idea of mine I’ve been playing around with for quite some time. A big idea.”

K: “You have one of those two to three times a week. Not that they ever benefit us.”

O: “Funny. But this is my biggest one. I don’t get ideas any bigger than this.”

K: “Tell me.”

O: “Mmm, sure. But this is not to get out, OK? I’d rather not have everyone bugging me about it, asking stupid questions.”

K: “No problem. You have my word of honor.”

O: “Good. Here it is: I’m attempting to prove the non-existence of the human soul.”

K: “Um…”

O: “Not big enough for you?”

K: “It is. Just not a subject I’d have guessed you’d be wrapped up in. Certainly not during work hours. Nevertheless, exactly how do you intend to prove a negative?”

O: “That’s not the point. The trick is in finding evidence that God actually exists.”

K: “Er, I don’t get you.”

O: “You see, there is a general assumption, based only on faith, that God exists, and that we have a soul, right?”

K: “I’ll give you that. Those are general beliefs.”

O: “But that’s the key: belief. Judeo-Christian orthodoxies accept God’s existence on faith, and faith alone. If evidence to His existence was discovered, I’m sure all the various religions would love it, but…”

K: “Orley, what about other religions like all the Eastern faiths, which aren’t tied to the same…”

O: “Not you and that Buddhist crap again…”

K: “No, that’s not what I mean. Oh, all right! I’ll let you ignore seven-tenth’s of the world’s population, for now.”

O: “Thank you. As I was saying, they may love to have proof that God exists — think of all the taunting atheists will be in for — but it actually works against current religions.”

K: “Really. How so?”

O: “Well duh! Religion is based on faith. It’s the foundation of the system. With proof of God’s being, there’s no longer a need for faith. Nor religions, as we now know them. They’ll be out of business.”

K: “Don’t think I agree with you there, but how does that fit in with your viewpoint on the lack of a soul.”

O: “It doesn’t really. I guess I got sidetracked. What will prove the lack of a soul is God Himself.”

K: “Uh huh… no, again I don’t see where you’re going.”

O: “The soul’s existence is accepted through the same mechanism as God is: faith. But with a God grounded in fact, faith goes out the stained glass window. However, the soul can’t be proven with the same criteria I’ll use to prove God exists, because there’s no logic that ties God and the human soul together.”

K: “A lack of logic seems to be everywhere.”

O: “Again, funny. But with acceptance in God based on evidence not faith, how can one accept anything in relationship to Him, such as an afterlife, when it’s connected to a belief? They can’t. If He can be proven to exist, then the soul must be proven as well. And when you can’t prove it, you must accept that it doesn’t exist.”

K: “Hmm, you’re onto something Orley. Not something I’d chase after…”

O: “Sure, I told you it was big.”

K: “So, how do you plan to prove God exists?”

O: “Yeah, that’s… the major stumbling block in my idea so far. But I’m working on it.”

K: “OK, then. I’ll let you get back to that.”

O: “Thanks Kaf. You know, there’s nothing like a big idea to help you get through the day!”

K: “I couldn’t have said it better myself.”