what is a soul?

Question

In lad:a dog by albert payson terhune, terhune says that dogs have no soul... what does that mean?
and when someone says that person has no soul, do they mean that that person has no style, no uniqueness?

Answer 1

I have to say that I am self appointed spokesperson for animals and that they most definately have souls . Everything alive has a soul. Everything in creation is part of All That Is or God if you will.

Answer 2

A soul means a life, or a living thing. spirit is what animates a soul. Soul has become misinterpreted as a spirit. So in that sense, a dog has a soul. But does a dog have a spirit? I believe so. Any living thing comes from the spirit that IS everything, god if you will. Anyone who says that only humans have souls is an ignoramus. Excluding atheists who would consider me a huge ignoramus for being agnostic, anyone who things that animals are just meat really doesn't look too deeply into anything except their own self righteousness.

Answer 3

I believe that what Payson was trying to convey was that a dog is of a lesser moral level then human being should hold themselves at and therefor they do not have a soul, which is essentially is what makes humans such fabulous creatures. When 'people' say that someone has no soul I believe that it means that they are cruel or heartless. That they live with no morals and to finish the circle they are a dog.

Answer 4

Soul is the metaphore for your perception of life and the world around you. It encompasses your thoughts, feelings, beliefs, everything that you are. Scientifically, I suppose dogs have no souls because as far as we know they have no perception of themselves or what will happen to them after they die, but that's a purely scientific viewpoint. We really have no idea because soul is not a physical object. It is a presence that can be felt, however, which is why people use the term "has no soul" as an insult. They don't mean it literally, only that the soul has potentially corrupted intentions and the beliefs surrounding life are tarnished.

Answer 5

There are many differing opinions of what a soul is. In the context used by Terhune, I believe he was referring to the part of a being that continues to exist after the physical body dies.

Buddhists refer to the eternally living part of a being as the ‘Self’, (IE. the true ‘Self’).

Christians believe the soul is the aspect of a being that is either punished or rewarded by their God, (IE. Hell or Heaven).

I believe, that the human body is used as a vehicle by a being during physical incarnations, an astral body, (non-physical cohesive energy), for a vehicle while in-between physical incarnations, and a soul body after the required physical and astral incarnations are completed.

BTW - I disagree with Terhune.

Answer 6

To answer this I go directly to it, Soul, first spoken in any language, psyche in Greek, but not like its english equivalent, means breath, and when you pronounce it properly in Greek, its a word that is a breath, it is an utterance of breath. So, like breath, its life, so that dog has it, everyone has it, and even if it doesn't breath, if something has life it has soul. Sometimes people just don't know how to show it, they act like they have no vigor, no passion, and so it seems from their appearance or say their smile, that they don't have it. But its in there.

Answer 7

Hi,
I own two dogs, and I can honestly tell you, I believe they have souls, more than I believe that there is a god in heaven! .. Animals have emotions, ranging from scared to happy... They have personalities, likes & dislikes.... They like to compete...And will intentionally lose to keep you playing... I've seen angry, sad, protective, happy, contrary, emphathetic, & selfish emotions...
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Make no mistake about it, they feel things like you or I...they just interact with the world on another level of conciousness, & they will articulate it to those humans.. who respect them & also allow them their comfort... Like humans, some dogs can be bastards, some are agressive... Most will cut kids some slack...some wont, some will interact...some will ignore you, some will apreciate the things you do for them...others are just take, take, take!
>>>>>>>
They're just like us...good or bad...right to their soul!
The 'soul' is us, living breathing alive... It is not something separate that flits off.. when we die....
>>>>>>

thanks, for your question!;)

My regards!

Take care!

Answer 8

Everyone has a soul.....