I agree with you Jan that just because I can't see something doesn't mean it's not there.  But if one person can see something, then, scientifically speaking, you'd expect others to be able to see it too.   

Not necessarily - for example, that is like saying just because one person has an ability to add numbers up quickly in their heads, that others should also be able to do so. Why don't we all have minds like Einstein? - scientifically speaking, is there any reason why we shouldn't have?  'Wired' differently perhaps?

Nothing can be proved either way, but I tender the fact that my view is simpler than yours - that something seen by one where others look and can see nothing, is more simply explained by a mistake, a deception or an illusion than it is by postulating existence after one's brain has been destroyed.

I can tell you that my 'view' is based on what I have experienced personally and the experiences of others - in addition to what I have read.

For you to be able to do the same - initially you would need to put yourself into a similar position. If you are genuinely interested in investigating this, let me know and I will try and help - otherwise we will just be going around in circles once again, as we have done so many times before.

Indeed there are other possibilities, but again, the postulation that our 'souls' have been contained in other bodies prior to our birth seems unnecessarily overcomplicated when compared to the observation that, as our brains form and develop so does our intellect and our personality.  I see no necessity to propose the existence of a soul as something separate from that.

We may have reincarnated - but that doesn't mean everyone does so. It all depends on what needs to be learnt. Again there is much research you could do personally on this Martin - if you really wanted to learn more, rather than being rather closed minded as to the possibilities

To me it seems like saying that, when I fry an egg and the white goes white, this is not down to the proteins denaturing because of the heat, but down to an unseen and unmeasurable cosmic force instigated by the action of frying, that just happens to coincide with the application of heat.

??? strange analogy  - then I guess my analogy is to take this further. What are proteins made up of? Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Sulphur (or another element maybe). Each of these elements has different properties on their own or combined together in a different way. When they are combined as in the form of egg white, they behave in a certain way. When two of them combine together they become water. When one of them(H) is on its own, and you put a match to it, it pops or explodes. I could go on with that - right up to taking it down to particles and waves. What is heat? A form of energy but only a small part of the EM spectrum (energy). We know what it is because we can feel it and it affects our food when we cook with it. Why does it do this? Other types of energy behave in different ways.

Keeping it simple is easy - but you can often miss stuff if you don't look further (or choose not to look further because you have just accepted to 'keep it simple' in your view)

Why should I not believe you Jan?  I was a research scientist for a number of years after all!  The energy that makes me me and you you is easily identifiable. It's held in chemicals and heat in my brain and yours.

If you were a research scientist then you should be aware of what I have already added perhaps? There is physical energy but there is also much more. As a person with a scientific background - you should perhaps be more open to this?

energy vibrations link

Talk of 'beings of light/spirit/souls/, that which is really 'us', going somehwere after physical death' is nothing to do with energy not being created or destroyed - the energy which makes me and you only does so while it is in the circuitry of our brains, after that is dissipates because of the second law of thermodynamics.  If you want an analogy, we are like a computer program running in a computer with no permanent storage (only battery backed).  When the power is switched off and the battery runs down to nothing, the program ceases to exist.

That is not the case though Martin. Do you believe that all you are is a bundle of chemical energy - firing neurons? That which is you will live on after physical death. I know this to be true. If you want proof then you know what to do (visit a Spiritualist church). Other than that the proof will eventually be there when you cross over. 

True - all of them are measurable and detectable by anybody, not visible to some and not to others.

Already answered this

No, the brain is an interface into the bloob, the bloob holds only memories of ice cream and peanut and discards all others.  - I've just invented the bloob btw, but there is as much proof and reason behind its existence as your postulation, the 'soul'.  Yes BOTH the soul and the bloob are possibilities but there is no need to postulate either. There is a much simpler, much more obvious explanation.

I quite like ice cream with peanuts - but its nicer with a bit of toffee too.

Why do you insist on making it difficult for yourself Martin?