Do you believe humans have souls?

**Kainos** · 2012-01-25 16:35

Semi-religious topic. Though I am not looking to single out any one religion.

Do you believe we as humans have souls/spirits?

The idea is that our human bodies are merely shells that house a spirit or soul. And if you believe in an afterlife, there is a place where your soul goes after you die.

How would you explain ghost or the paranormal? While there is no concrete evidence to say any of it exist I believe there is enough to at least question it.

If not:

What makes humans any different from animals and how would you describe "concsious" thought. Also, do you have any problems living life amoraly (lie,cheat,kill ect)

deep thughts from a bard posting from a cubicle on a wednesday afternoon....

**Salodin** · 2012-01-25 16:46

My biggest gripe about souls (from a religious POV) is that it doesn't leave room for intelligent life outside of humans. If man was made in the image and likeness of God, where does that leave E.T.? Do they have a soul, too? How is that even possible?

**Elvis** · 2012-01-25 16:47

I'm really into ghost rock. It's basically alternative meets ghosts and the old school ghosty sound. Not like all these new bands today. So I'd say ghosts exists. And they rock.

**Xno Kappa** · 2012-01-25 16:56

I hope so. I wanna be a bad ass shinigami when I die.

**Hyan** · 2012-01-25 17:01

yes

the best thing is that we can use each others' souls to regain humanity once we turn undead

but if we happen to die again we go back to being undead

so its kind of a disposable

Spoiler: show

**BaneTheBrawler** · 2012-01-25 17:03

If we ever advance enough in the sciences, I believe it would be possible to transfer a human personality, or soul, into a computer, instead of our brain. A bit like installing an OS on a computer. Until we reach that point, though, our souls are forever tied to our bodies. Sure, maybe they live on through some unknown and undetectable method, but we can't know that. So really, I find the whole religious side of it to be moot.

I also believe that animals have souls too. If you've ever had a pet, you'll know that they each develop a unique personality. I consider that to be a soul. Just maybe not a very intelligent soul.

I don't believe souls give us any particular rights, though. I like to eat meat, because it tastes good, my guts tolerate it well, and we're omnivores. What gives creatures special rights is an even more intangible quality- consciousness. Not in the sense of "Oh it's awake" but in the sense that it's self-aware, it knows it's alive, and it is capable of complex thought, of holding a conversation. We're the only species we know for sure possesses this quality, though it's suspected to also exist in dolphins, whales, and possibly even ravens. Species that possess this trait should not be killed for any reason, in my opinion. Right now, that applies only to humans, though I'm skeptical about killing whales and dolphins. Better to err on the side of caution, imo.

Looking forward to GITS cyborg technology, leave this defective life support system behind.

Edit: spelling, phrasing.

**SephYuyX** · 2012-01-25 17:03

Originally Posted by Kainos

The idea is that our human bodies are merely shells that house a spirit or soul.

http://lecomptoirdelabd.blog.lemonde...1256072935.jpg

**jmc** · 2012-01-25 17:05

I personally don't believe that humans do, just so more religious talk pretty much.

It also might help that i'm a ginger too lmao

**Nevex** · 2012-01-25 17:07

Originally Posted by Salodin

My biggest gripe about souls (from a religious POV) is that it doesn't leave room for intelligent life outside of humans. If man was made in the image and likeness of God, where does that leave E.T.? Do they have a soul, too? How is that even possible?

Aren't you speeding things up a bit? As far as we know, humans are the only living beings that aren't merely based on natural instincts but who posses the ability to defy natural order and make decisions based on their emotions or even completely irrational ones.
Until we have concrete proof that other animals or extraterrestial lifeforms (assuming they exists) can do the same, there's no solid argument that can exclude the possibility that humans have souls.

Demosthenes11 · 2012-01-25 17:39

soul: an indefinable thing that can't be measured.

By definition, it's bullshit

**Jaybar** · 2012-01-25 17:41

There are some Christian views that don't believe in dualism. When looking at the resurrection, Jesus came back in full body, not as some soul form. In Revelations it is mentioned that the dead will walk again (not translated perfectly, just going off memory) basically saying that there is no Heaven for your "souls", but you are dead and you will resurrect in the second coming of Christ. Post-Apocalypse is the New Earth which I suppose is like Heaven. These are just a couple arguments for the non-existence of souls.

I do not believe in a soul but mostly because I don't believe in dualism.

**Andalusian girls** · 2012-01-25 17:52

souls, as with ghosts, do not exist. both are at best individuals attempting to explain the arcane, at worst psychological defense mechanisms

consciousness is a function of evolution nothing more

and yes, bereft of a paternalistic creator in the sky morality, more generally philosophy, assumes paramount importance. how else to live well absent an absolute and intractable value system

**RKenshin** · 2012-01-25 18:10

I'm more agnostic than anything, which to me basically just means "I don't know."

Because, I really don't.

I've tried to reason out many different viewpoints, encompassing different religions and even atheism. But to me, none of them make perfect sense. Being completely honest, I especially have trouble making sense of most religions... I just feel that there's such an arrogance in asserting you know 100% for sure that you're right and everyone else is wrong (but I guess that's just faith). However, I do still respect and strongly believe that everyone can and should have their own ideals/choices in that, and don't judge/look down on anyone that believes differently as long as they don't judge others.

At the same time though, I just have trouble understanding how everything could possibly come to be. Yeah, yeah... evolution, physics, elements of life, and the big bang... all of which I believe in... but I still can't help but feel there might be something greater than all of that at play. What about before the big bang? Other unexplained events/occurrences (though I'm sure science will soon leave little unexplained)?

The thing is though, even if there was something greater at play, I also have trouble believing that there would be a personal interest taken in every single living human being on our insignificant little planet. As much as I'd love that to be the case and I want to tell myself it is (because let's be honest, it makes us all feel so much more important/special to think that), it just seems too far-fetched; so in that sense I suppose my answer would be leaning towards a no.

tl;dr: Not quite decided either way, but if I had to say... no

**Stumblingdrunk** · 2012-01-25 18:13

No

**Alleya** · 2012-01-25 18:19

Let's do the word replacement test.

You have a vagina (or penis) that is invisible, untouchable, immeasurable, and defies all known laws of physics, but it exists because you were born with it.

Nope, sounds like bullshit to me.

**Xno Kappa** · 2012-01-25 18:23

Originally Posted by Alleya

Let's do the word replacement test.

You have a vagina (or penis) that is invisible, untouchable, immeasurable, and defies all known laws of physics, but it exists because you were born with it.

Nope, sounds like bullshit to me.

What's wrong with that logic?

Spoiler: show

**BaneTheBrawler** · 2012-01-25 18:24

Let's try a more realistic word replacement test.

Do personalities exist?

The concept of the soul is identical to the concept of unique personalities. The only difference is the belief in it's ability to survive after the body is destroyed, through some unknown means, which is not a prerequisite for the belief in the soul itself. Perhaps a rephrasing of the question is in order? Semantics matter.

Demosthenes11 · 2012-01-25 18:34

Originally Posted by BaneTheBrawler

Let's try a more realistic word replacement test.

Do personalities exist?

The concept of the soul is identical to the concept of unique personalities. The only difference is the belief in it's ability to survive after the body is destroyed, through some unknown means, which is not a prerequisite for the belief in the soul itself. Perhaps a rephrasing of the question is in order? Semantics matter.

uh no? A personality can be measured by chemical levels in the brain, as well as neural structures and brain development.

**Alleya** · 2012-01-25 18:35

Originally Posted by Demosthenes11

uh no? A personality can be measured by chemical levels in the brain, as well as neural structures and brain development.

This.

Also my post was facetious lol

**Xajii** · 2012-01-25 18:37

The human brain came up with its own name.

The brain also came up with the idea that its complexities are for some reason "intangibles", and that rather than it being the result of an immeasurable amount of brain power, a human's personality, existence, and identity are some ethereal "soul". This is a fallacy.

I think that the idea of a soul undermines how unbelievable and amazing the human brain really is.

View Poll Results: Do you believe humans have Souls?

Thread: Do you believe humans have souls?

Thread Tools

Do you believe humans have souls?

Latest Threads

Up & Coming Threads

Hottest Threads