CS writes:
Yeah, but I don't have any reason to think the CIA's involved...
Well what
would constitute a valid reason for thinking that the CIA were using undetectable thought rays? What do you think constitutes a valid reason for the believing that a disembodied spirit is responsible?
CS writes:
I've always thought of it as an underlying nudger rather than an all out controller. The mind controls the body and its actions, the spirit influences the mind, but so does the brain (because the mind stems from the brain). And I suppose the spirit can be affected as well... from the phyical world, to the body/brain, then through the mind on to the spirit.
You seem to be claiming the 'mind' as some sort of intermediary between the physical and the immaterial spirit. I am intrigued by this idea and how you see it working.
Given the example in the OP what do you think happens to the spirit as a result of the physical tumour? Anything at all? Is this spirit self a version of 'you' that is free from all physical effects? Or just some? Is it a version of you that is free from behaviour affecting hormones (e.g. testosterone)? Free from disease (e.g. alzheimers)? Free from the effects of ageing? Free from the effects of all physical experience?
Is this spirit version of 'you' something that exists unchanged your entire life? If it does change then what things cause it to change and what things don't? How do you decide?