Why do we must have a soul? What's wrong with not having one? Does anyone feel that we are making too much of an issue for something that may or may not be real? Are our egos as humans so big that we have to think of ourselves as eternal? What if we do not have a soul?
2006-10-21 17:03:30 · 18 answers · asked by jasonheavilin 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I believe that the "soul" is really a person's way of defining their personality, and traits about their personality, that are deeply intertwined with their own experience as well as that of others.
Having a "soul" is also a way for us humans to deal with the two biggest fears that all human beings have in common - the fear of death, and the fear of the unknown.
A large part of our culture dictates that us humans are the "top of the food chain," so to speak. We are led to believe from childhood that we are enlightened beings - above animals and above creatures "without a conscience." I think you touched on that briefly mentioning "our egos as humans."
Egos do play a large part into this. None of us would like to believe that the body, the "mind", and the "soul", are allowed to die and that other creatures live on in our absence. Thus, we create the idea of a "soul" to give character to the essence of our personalities.
2006-10-21 17:19:32 · answer #1 · answered by Mighell 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Believing in a soul doesn't necessarily mean the soul is eternal or personal. These are seperate concepts.
As to the existence of a soul, traditionally the soul has been described as Intellect and WIll. In other words, contemplating the good, and doing the good (hopefully). It sort of follows then, why do we bother contemplating anything if there is nothing beyond this world? Does contemplating truth put food on the table, defeat an enemy army, lower the crime rate, etc? That's where the eternity aspect comes into play...
2006-10-21 17:09:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes I do think people take it all way to far. The world is so cynical and jaded that it's hard to believe in most things anymore. Who is right who is wrong, it is all a matter of perspective. The way one is raised and how one grows up to view the world.
Who is to say an actual soul exist within a person? Could just all our emotions and thoughts only be in this body as the here and now. The only soul being in one's own mind and emotions.
It is just a matter of how you look at things.
2006-10-21 17:09:33 · answer #3 · answered by paulaallenwalkos 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because of what this scripture in the bible plainly states at Genesis 2:7 "And Jehovah God proceeded to form the man out of dust from the ground and to blow into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man came to be a living soul." So pretty much, if we did not have a soul we would not exist.
2006-10-21 17:11:38 · answer #4 · answered by nina82 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dust thou art to dust thou returneth. But we forget that the the breath of life was breathed into our nostrils by God. To the people who believe they don't have a soul. What do they believe in? Yourself? If you don't like yourself, what do you do? Think!! Without a soul you are really walking around dead to the everything about you. Ego or self regard as nothing to do with your soul. The soul is eternal and it will return from whence it came.
2006-10-21 17:16:46 · answer #5 · answered by darksilver0 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Then why does a person live, if anyways he will be blown up by the sun in 14 billion years...
or crushed by a meteriorite in 6 billion years...
or maybe frozen to death in a couple thousand years...
or possible hit by a car in a day from, all memory wiped out existance within a generation or two...
When there is higher purpose, a person might as well do whatever he wants, for the end will anyways be the same...
total chaos.
2006-10-21 17:08:04 · answer #6 · answered by ploiuty 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Genesis 2:7 says, "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."
God thought I was important enough to give a soul to... He didn't do that with any other of his creation. That's why it's a big deal...
2006-10-21 17:06:21 · answer #7 · answered by luvmysaviour2002 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
good question, i'm with u too,but also want u to read this story A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists." "Why do you say that?" asked the customer. "Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving a God who would allow all of these things." The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not exist." "How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!" "No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside." "Ah, but barbers DO exist! " answered the barber. " What happens, is, people do not come to me. " "Exactly!"- affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist!What happens, is, people don't go to Him and do not look for Him. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."
2016-03-28 03:42:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
People need answers for complex questions. When there isn't one provided, they make one up.
So, we can't explain why humans are complex, different, social, weird, etc., so they make up an answer - a soul.
People can't comprehend why humans exist, so they make up a convenient answer - a god.
So, the word soul, and religion in general, are made-up answers to help people deal with their ignorance and lack of comprehension of their world. I don't believe in either.
2006-10-21 17:17:45 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't "think" or "believe" I have a soul. I *know* I do.
A soul is our connection to everyone else in this Universe.
Having a soul doesn't make US eternal. We still have to die.
Without a soul, you'd be a robot.
2006-10-21 17:11:15 · answer #10 · answered by Sexy Eyes 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋