What is the Soul?

[jake-the-peg]

After the question on spririts being reborn below. I'd love to know what people think the soul is (If they believe in it)

Particularly interested in whether you think the soul has memory and personality and if so what happens when there is brain damage and these are lost or changed.

Also be interested to know when the soul becomes part of people and where souls came/come from.

Finally if you men someone without a soul how would you know?

[Seadragon]

I think Ankou, like I just wrote on Lonnie's thread (these 2 threads are similiar) that a belief is about finding a way through life and its challenges. Whatever a person believes or don't believe in? Its not just a comforting thought for the afterlife, for me, my belief is a way of life. For example, when I give way to strangers whether on the street or road, I smile and try to be as polite as I can. I try and help people etc - What I'm saying is that I try to be non-judgemental and try to 'see' a kindred 'Soul' as opposed to the human - age, sex, race, height, clothing etc - that is until some of them open their mouth and then I think 'as@hole!' But I'm only human and prone to many, many faults. However I try and live in a positive way and feeling somewhat connected to my Soul aides me in that. That and dealing with life throws.

[Uzoma]

My understanding of the soul is that it is the part of a person made up of the mind, will and emotions. Based on what the Bible says, I believe that I am a spirit 'clothed' in a body but I own/have a soul.

[Ankou]

seadragon. i am exactly the same in respect of other people - even those who have strong religious or spiritual beliefs. i don't really judge them as such, not in a bad way, i fid them as interesting and unique as any other individual for individual and unique reaons. but i put that down to my breeding, nature and personality. if you say its my 'soul' controlling all of this, then i can honestly say that i am not aware of it. but i am aware of how my parents taught and encouraged me to behave and treat other people.

[Seadragon]

Hi Ankou and nice to hear another viewpoint Uzoma - God knows where Jake is though! No Ankou, I am definitely not saying that my 'Soul' is controlling how I react to other people. And neither is yours or anyone else's in accordance with my belief of free will. What I'm trying to say and obviously not doing a very good job of, is that my belief in the Soul, which derives from my belief and probably my own interpretation of Spiritualism! -
is that we are socially and morally 'conditioned' (I hestitate using that word) 'affected' I think is better, by as you refer to 'parents' and as you know the many other factors around - school education, friendships, media - the ever expanding media! etc - this bit we agree on.

The difference is that the way you relate to or deal with life derives from those relationships/values with the world in that context (social, moral etc) As I assume you are an athetist - correct me if I'm wrong - it seems you apply your consciousness to the situation, (big assumption, I know) whereas as a Spiritual believer I don't have much faith in my consciousness - Spiritualism is going beyond the conscious - so I 'draw' upon an energy/essence to 'ground' me if you like? I have free will and the Soul is a guide, it is not instrumental. For example if I have a bad day, I don't put it down to events of the day as such, I think - there is a lesson here, whether I am conscious of it or not is limited by my knowledge - I don't know what it is, maybe just learning to be patient or positive but whatever it is, I will learn and grow from it as a person. So I have an added Spiritual relationship I draw from.

Still don't know if it makes sense??

[Seadragon]

I seriously try and keep these posts short and it just don't happen! This is quite a difficult topic of discussion as the 'Soul' raises centuries of debate, inherent in Western and Eastern Philosophy, from which my views derive from and continue as I still read philosophical works. I'm surprised Ankou, you didn't pick me up on some of the other above stuff I wrote. But then you couldn't read properly the sentences if they weren't fully there - THANK GOD!

[Seadragon]

I mean that jokingly by the way!!

[naomi24]

Are you a Spirituallist, Seadragon?

[Seadragon]

It depends on what you mean, Naomi? I listed two well known interpretations of Spiritualism - 1) a communication with the dead through a medium 2) attaining an awareness of God. In relation to the first, some would say that I don't use my 'normal' five senses half the time anyway, so really I'll be damned if I have a sixth!......I wish? In relation to the second - then yes, but it is my own interpretation of the metaphysical, transcendent, cosmic universe plane (I like all those words - so calming!) I definately believe in a Soul and hope that view never changes. I believe in a God, simply because I want too and I like the idea. I don't believe in reincarnation, Karma, deliverance, sins and the rest of that, which is why I am not religious.

[naomi24]

I meant the first, Seadragon - the religion known as Spiritualism, but clearly that isn't for you.

[TorahBoy]

I’m afraid I can’t tell you what it is..... but I can tell you where it came from (according to Jewish traditional belief)

When G_D created man, he formed him from dirt. Yeah, I know that’s not what really happened(!) like most Bible stories, the story of creation is allegorical...... anyway, once He had formed man, he breathed life into him. And Voila! gave him a soul.

Therefore, each and every one of us has a portion of G_D inside them. His/Her ‘soul’.

And that, girls and boys, is where your soul came from....

[Mr Veritas]

The souls is man's invented word,for a place where he keeps his guilt,to save him having to look at it and address it!