Is it somebodies right to believe in something that seems illogical - like ghost

Question: Is it somebodies right to believe in something that seems illogical - like ghosts!?

My friend is 16 years old and he believes in ghosts!. To me this belief seems illogical and unlikely!.
But, on the basis that humans don't know everything, is it his right to believe something irrationally!? And similarly, is it my obligation to try and make him think rationally!? I mean - if a 16 year old believed in Santa, I should correct them right!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Several points:

One, humans are prone to irrationality!. Otherwise, why would we have religion!.

Two, it is every human's right to interpret their observations and beliefs into whatever logical OR illogical conclusion they wish!.

Three, it is neither your obligation not your right to try and MAKE someone believe as you do!.

With that in mind, i'm reminded of a story i heard a while ago, and forgive me but i've forgotten the source!. You canNOT have a rational argument with an irrational person!. Can't be done!. Take the following example:

A psychiatrist has a patient who is normal in all respects except for the delusion that he is already dead!. If an effort to correct this, the psychiatrist asks the patient: "Do dead people bleed!?"!. The patient answers: "Of course not!." The doctor then pricks the man's finger with a needle, drawing a drop of blood!. "See!?" says the doctor, and the patient replies, "Well what do you know, dead people DO bleed!"!.

Point being, if a person believes wholeheartedly in an irrationality, it's a lost cause to try and convince them otherwise by rational argument!. If your friend believes in ghosts, he WILL find a way to explain away everything that might prove him wrong!.

Best approach is probably to realize that while he may believe irrational things, this doesn't make him a bad person or psychologically imbalanced and therefore can safely be left to his own devices!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

That's a very pertinent question!. But the way you posed the question was not totally correct!. You say "believe in something illogical"!. Usually,that's what beliefs are all about: the belief in something that hasn't been proved nor is it totally accepted!. That's the background of many religions,if not all!. As for ghosts,I have doubts myself because many people say they've seen one and I don't think they would all be lying!. Anyway,probably science will try to day it's just an illusion or some distortion of our vision!.

Whether you have obligation or not,you don't!. You can do it but you don't have to!. It's very hard to shake people's beliefs because they play an important role in people's lives and trying to take that out is like taking some bit off that person!. You can always try to explain your friend why it is unlikely but you should always leave the door of possibilities a bit open!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

People have a right to be wrong!. And the right to be stupid is undeniable and unavoidable!.!. It is not that people have a right to be stupid it is that people have an obligation to avoid ignorance when possible!. ANd people do not have a right to make decisions that affect other people on ignorance!.

It is unlikely your friend really believes in ghosts!. Is he/she trying to be interesting!? Boring way to do it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

it is!.
and there is no way you can take that right away from them!. i believe in ghosts because i have seen couple of them with my own very eyes unexpectedly!. They look like real people walking fast that you only see them from behind or sideways!. One i saw was standing sideways, just standing there outside my bedroom where my vertical blinds ere open overlooking the backyard!. and it was my cousin who died of cancer!. The other one was someone i never seen in my life when she was alive!. The mother of our border who died of Leukemia who was treated in the hospital in my town!. She stayed in my house without me knowing because i was away in the university!. I came home for semestral break, putting my luggages in the living room, and i saw this woman walking so fast coming from the guest room, going out to the main door!. When i described her, it was the mother of our border, who just died half an hour, the same time i saw her!. It is not irrational!. It is just the way the soul works to let us know they want us to do something for them!. or pray for them!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

anybody can believe in anything they want

people are proved right and wrong all the time

and the impossible is made possible frequently

whether he's just a sucker for ghost movies and believes every word, he believes what he believes

also is he confusing ghosts with spirits that may or may not still remain in some places!? maybe he has had some kind of supernatural experience!.

i personally do not think it is your obligation to make him think rationally, perhaps ghosts exist and ur the one thinking irrationally!.!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

If a 16 year old believes in Santa and ASKS you your opinion, you should tell the truth!. But messing with people's psychic needs for delusion can be a rough sport!. Again my advise is, IF THEY ASK, THEY ARE READY TO KNOW!.

Thanks for asking!.

PS: I have never met a human being that I have gotten to know well who wasn't bumfcuk crazy!. The "rational ones" are the most absurd!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Adam, Who is defining the word rational!?

Do you suppose people who are thinking irrationally are doing it on purpose!?

They do it be cause they believe what they are thinking!. We are all doing this!. All of the time!.

One persons rational is the next Guys irrational!.

None of us are exceptions to this!. We just all see our viewpoint as being rational!.

Love and blessings DonWww@QuestionHome@Com

I have actually seen ghosts!. There is nothing logical or illogical about it!. You have never seen a ghost or know someone who you consider to be credible to have seen a ghost!. So, you have no reason to believe that ghosts exist!. I have seen ghosts, so I know they exist!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

No you don't have the right to interfere with any ones belief or religion!. Did you ever stop to think that you may be the one that is wrong!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

it is noble to help but not always necessary!. (sometime soon somehow)

yeah it is right to believe!.!.!.!.!.!.!. (sometime soon somehow)Www@QuestionHome@Com

Belief is an individuals choice!.

At least your friend is believing in ghosts!. There are people who do not want to believe in genuine things in life!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I agree with you!. I feel torn a lot between showing someone reason and causing an argument!.!.!. I usually bring up the flaws in their crazy ideas and cause an argument XDWww@QuestionHome@Com

this is one of the thing that you have to experience to believe itWww@QuestionHome@Com

hi friend everybody has the right to believe in what they wish to as long as your friend is not obsessed or lost control of own beliefs whom is mankind to say what is logical and what is not centuries logically the world was thought to be flat till proven I not only believe in so-called ghosts whom are people existing in a 4th dimensional reality which many living in the 3rd dimensional world cannot see that's because all around us vibrates at the same 3rd dimensional frequency,are we the physical body or are we more than this!?are we a human experiencing the unseen world or spiritual beings experiencing the seen world we are energy and energy can never be destroyed it just changes form try this put cold water in your kettle,bring it to boil the steam is the change of the energy molecules sound has a vibration and energy light is the same there are no such things as ghosts just people who have left their earthly physical body scientists have researched many whom have passed away and have pr oven that at least a third of the physical body mass leaves after physical death yes logic is needed but to be too logical is also a closed mind so many have many misconceptions about ghosts just my opinion from life experiences and working as a trained and naturally born physical medium solving crime via so-called ghosts with crime stoppers & the police in cold cases having a balance between both is the best way my friend and by the way santa clause came from st nickolous a real physical person in hystoryWww@QuestionHome@Com