I am researching the Soul.

and trying to stay away from Religion per se.

Published on March 17, 2006 By adnauseam In Philosophy

I am doing some research on a book about the Soul. Unlike many other tomes on this subject I want to stay clear of making religion the defining or governing theme where the Soul is concerned. I say this because, although I am a Christian, I believe a) religion often clouds the issue and ,

there are many good people out there who will agree that you do not need a religion (or attend church), to have a Soul. (should I say a good Soul to make everyone comfortable? I think not).

Obviously religion is going to creep in BUT I would especially like to have the HELP of Christians and agnostics.

This is a serious subject and I'm trying to get a handle on something I have thoughts about but know just a little about. I also do not want to smear everything with toffee and cream, blinding lights, or dream experiences by near-to-death people. Personally I feel Ray Moody and Victor Zammit et al, write reams of crap just to make money (sorry guys, but a blinding light and ethereal voices on every page do not explain the Soul to me, but enjoy the cash anyway). Actually, that sounds unfair but I do believe that if you are going to get a message across it could be done far quicker (that is the realist in me!). I'll stop there because I have a "special hate/scepticism" for people who write 200 pages with repetitive case studies and rolling reminders about the subject in hand. Ha, I'm going to write a post about that soon.

Please give your opinions on the following (and I really will appreciate it):

* What is the soul? What factors form it?
* Does the Soul live on after Death? Or is death just the same as switching the TV off. Zilch, Nada, Black, Gone,
* What is your idea of Paradise and Hell (not especially in a religious context)?
* Are there people with a special presence who influence others just by their personalities, presence in the midst of others, dominance over others? Is this Charisma? Or is it "charitable feeling"and subconscious feelings for fellow man?

I studied Psychology and Religion 38 years ago so I'm quite lost (apropos above questions), as far as modern thought is concerned. That's why I need your input, no matter how small.

Answers and responses appreciated.

Comments

bakerstreet

on Mar 17, 2006

I think if you separate out religion from the soul you are going to be dealing with "conciousness". What makes it the "soul" is the belief that it is separate from physical processes, and that it is able to carry on after the body dies.

Outside of religion, or at least spirituality, I don't think you are going to have any source material. It's hard for me to get my mind around the concept of soul without a supernatural, "spiritual" belief of some kind.

KFC Kickin For Christ

on Mar 18, 2006

Our soul is what makes us us. The body is nothing more than an earthly tent covering. Our bodies will decay and rot in the ground but our soul never dies. At least that's what I believe coming from a Christian perspective. Some teach soul sleep. I see no evidence of that in scripture or from any of the early church leaders. Paul said that when our soul is absent from the body it's present with God.

Death means separation. Physical death is when our body separates from our soul and spiritual death is our soul being separated from God.

I believe one day our bodies will be resurrected, the DNA particles will come alive and regroup and we will have resurrected bodies. The example of this would be the first one to do so. Jesus. He was called a firstfruit. That means there is a promise of more to follow. That would be us.

D.L. Moody a great preacher of old said before he died...."Soon you will see in the papers that Moody is dead....don't believe it, for in that moment I will be more alive than I have ever been." The grave is not an entrance to death but a gateway to life. For some it's the doorway to heaven. The pagans used to say in the early church that the Christians carry their dead in triumph.

Arisides, a first Century Greek wrote, "If any righteous man among the Christians passes from this world they rejoice and offer thanks to God and they escort their body with songs and thanksgiving as if he were setting out from one place to another nearby."

And so it is. From a Christian perspective, it's only a change of address. Jesus said, "where I am there you may be also." He said it, that settles it. I claim this promise and I believe it to be true.

bakerstreet

on Mar 18, 2006

" Our soul is what makes us us. The body is nothing more than an earthly tent covering."

Then I find it odd that our bodies can make us do evil things, and that our memory of our lives is reliant on our body.

People who have suffered brain damage have had complete changes in their personalities, some becoming liars, violent, inordinantly sexual, etc. It isn't like they are upset about it in their minds watching their bodies do things they can't control. They are doing what they choose to do, and want to do it.

I was given a lot of anesthesia once, and was awake, talking and being nutty for hours. I have no memory of that event, and I was supposedly not responsible for my actions at that time. Where was my soul? If I had killed someone, would my soul have come back the next day to find the tragedy? Was it asleep and my body was in charge?

I'm not saying there isn't a soul, but I don't think our current definition explains it, not in the least. "Sin" is so bound up with the way our brain works. If a small defect in the brain can make you a habitual liar, or make you forget God entirely, I find it odd that there is some part of us that is aware and totally separate from the body. Where does it go when the body is in control?

KFC Kickin For Christ

on Mar 19, 2006

quote] was given a lot of anesthesia once, and was awake, talking and being nutty for hours. I have no memory of that event, and I was supposedly not responsible for my actions at that time. Where was my soul? If I had killed someone, would my soul have come back the next day to find the tragedy? Was it asleep and my body was in charge?

No, your soul doesn't sleep. We are operating in the physical realm right now so that's why our physical bodies seem to be in charge at this time. But one day we will shed this physical body and be free of it.

I believe we have a spirit and a soul but am at a loss as to how to explain it. I guess we don't always have to explain what we belive to be true. I believe in the complexity of the brain but again cannot explain it.

I'm just thankful I have one!!

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