vendredi 6 mars 2015

A Simple Answer To Do We Have A Soul?

By Leslie Ball


The puzzle about the soul revolves around its location and its work in human existence. The discussion began with early philosophers like Aristotle and Plato. They differed on whether it dies or takes another form and continues to live when a person passes on. Do we have a soul? The answer to this question lies in the few paragraphs below.

It is common to equate the soul with the mind. Both are not tangible but while one is more about intelligence, the other deals with conscience. Their interchangeable use arises from the fact that both are not physical and therefore are deductions from human existence. Metaphysics, biology and religion define the term differently.

Religion assigns the entry of the spirit to the moment of creation. God in Genesis breathe life into the newly sculptured clay mold to bring it to life. This equated souls to life which meant that they died with the body. Because it is responsible for good and bad deeds it enjoys the rewards of eternal life and condemnation in eternal fire.

The discussions in ancient civilizations centered on its fate ones a person dies. According to Plato, it took residence in the body but flew away once a person dies. However, Aristotle did not buy into the duality in existence. According to him, the spirit died alongside the flesh. It is worth noting that they both agreed on existence and differed on fate.

The puzzle on souls or spirits deepens when one considers if animals possess souls. Do animals think and feel just like human beings and if they do, what gives them the capacity? Can souls be equated to life or is there any difference? Though animals are considered to be less intelligent, their existence follows almost a similar path to that of humans. They are born, they live and die. Is it possible that they have souls too?

According to biologists, there is more to life than physical cells. They contend that this is the factor that differentiates a dead and living being. In that light, they acknowledge the existence of a form that is not physical and that could be used to describe human beings. Biologists explain human movement as impulse from the brain but while that is physical and tangible, there is a dimension that cannot be explained in physical terms.

The ownership and form of existence of souls provides an answer on the debate. Religion claims that it is owned by God and responsible for morality. It is the part that feels guilt, pleasure and instructs a person to do well. These are attributes that are thought to be absent in animals. This is therefore considered to be the differentiating factor between humans and animals.

Whichever point of view one buys, it is clear that human beings possess souls. It can be considered as the life or the nature of humanity and a defining factor considering that human beings are rational and inclined to do good. Its point of entry into and exit from the body are the differing factors. What is not in doubt is that human being have a third dimension that provide feelings and a considerate nature.




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