The Soul

[Palamon]

Do you believe in the concept of the soul? Why or why not?

[Soups]

I do. I don't want to get too deep, but it's very difficult for me to believe that we're all the way that we are because our heart pumps, lungs operate, and brain controls. I believe there's more to it, and with every person being unique and having such an impact on the world with their existence alone, yes... I do believe in the concept of the soul.

I've also got specific religious views on it as well, but yeah.

[Suicune's Fire]

I used to be 100% certain, but after getting older and stepping away from my prior religious views, I'm not so sure. I think that it's a romantic idea which can help people deal with the notion of death. Contrary to the post above me, I find it difficult to believe we're NOT just creatures with pumping hearts and trillions of cells. The idea of being given a soul usually relies upon a higher power, in which I do not believe. So for me, it's difficult to imagine that we have souls or spirits. I like the concept, absolutely, but I don't think it makes any sense. When are we given souls? The moment we are conceived? When the egg and the sperm begin to form a baby? Or is it overnight between sometime during the 12 week mark? Is it when we're born? If so, what the heck makes that baby any more worthy of a soul just because it's no longer in incubation? If a healthy baby got a soul at birth, well, it still functioned 100% before being birthed, was still alive, and by this logic, would still have had a 'soul.' Otherwise, a still-birth or a miscarriage would be a baby without a soul. Who gives them a soul? What is the soul?

Another thing I have always been outraged at is as a kid, growing up Christian, I was told in every corner of my life that other animals are less than humans. Of less worth, less intelligent, less capable, etc. And that somehow, some-magical-how, homosapiens have souls and other animals do not. Uhh... how? xD We are mammals. We are animals. Yes, we're advanced, but intelligence does not equal a soul. So how the flippin' heck would a human have a soul and an animal not? It NEVER sat well with me and I didn't appreciate being told that my dog was akin to a rock. No. If I have a soul, my chickens all have souls. They are beautiful creatures, just like (some) humans. Yet they're slaughtered by the millions every week. Knowing that we're all functional creatures with organs and emotions and such, it wouldn't make sense to me if only ONE special of animal had souls and the rest didn't. xD That's just utter crap to me, sorry. It's also revoltingly egotistical to assume that one species - hm, the species we happen to be - are the "chosen species" with oh-so-special souls that set us apart from all those lowly animals.

On the flip side, if you do believe that animals have souls, then that would make sense to me. You know what would also make sense? Every living thing having a soul. Because where the heck does a soul stop if all animals have them? At an ant? At a microscopic parasite? Legit, you can't have it both ways. xD Like, if a human has a soul, then an amoeba has a soul, you know? I can't accept that only humans have souls, nor do I think that's believable even one shred. xD

Additionally, there is no evidence of a soul. I mean, like I said, I enjoy the idea, but it just doesn't make sense to me. We're all just creatures living our lives.

[Wookie Mistake]

I do, but not in the traditional sense. To me the purpose of the soul is to share it. It can be anything from sharing it through the medium of art or something as simple as smiling at a random stranger. It's the impact you make on any person or animal or thing. It can be positive or negative but if something someone does or says leaves an impression, they're giving you a piece of their soul. It's why we remember certain events or things and forget others.

I don't think animals inherently have souls, or maybe they do and it's just not part of their nature to share it. But we share our soul with our pets and teach them how to share in return. Maybe certain animals have the capacity or awareness to acknowledge or share their souls. Maybe that's why a lot of domesticated animals develop distinctive personalites. We give them a piece of ours and it grows in them.

Or maybe I'm just crazy and lost in the Mc Esher painting that is my mind.

But that belief is why I RAK whenever I can, usually it's at the Starbucks drive though LOL