What is the soul?

Question

Is the soul a synaptic product of our neurons firing off in our brains? Is it an unconcious sustenence that our spiritual nature is composed of? Could it be a small facet of a larger, universal entity--and would that make it inherently divine or merely a part of a whole? Does the soul exist at all? If it does, does it influence our actions or just carry the weight of them into some afterlife to decide the ultimate fate that our acts determined? If there is no such thing as a soul, can there be an afterlife at all; if our physical bodies are decayed and there is nothing to carry on, can anything?

Eager for viewpoints.

Answer 1

The "Soul" is an illusion created by the brain which is corporeal. When the brain dies so does the illusion and therefore so does the "Soul".

Answer 2

Each individual is a spirit child of Heavenly Father and existed as a spirit before this life on earth. During this life, the spirit of the individual is housed in a physical body, which was born of mortal parents.

The scriptures teach that at the time of physical death, the spirit does not die. It separates from the body and lives in the postmortal spirit world. At the time of resurrection, the spirit is reunited with the body, "never to be divided; thus the whole becoming spiritual and immortal" (Alma 11:45).

The scriptures also teach about the nature of spirits. Through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord revealed that "all spirit is matter, but it is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned by purer eyes" (D&C 131:7). The Lord also revealed that "the spirit of man [is] in the likeness of his person, as also the spirit of the beast, and every other creature which God has created" (D&C 77:2; see also Ether 3:7–16).

Answer 3

The soul is the living body. The Spirit resides in the Soul.

Answer 4

I can't wait to hear the lies that the liars tell when they say they know what the soul is...I don't have any evidence of any souls and certainly nobody I ever knew came back as a soul or gave any evidence of soul surviving...it's a fantasy for people who find falsehoods more comforting than the truth...but why would anybody?

Answer 5

This question is asked often. Below is my reply to another visitor here on Yahoo Answers. :)

Humans are Triune...which means we have spirit, soul, and body. Spirit represents our relationship with God. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit we are spiritually alive.

2 Corinthians 5:17 promises: any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. We have Salvation because it is provided as a Gift from God through His Grace. It is not do to any effort on our part.

In contrast, Unbelievers are spiritually dead, which is why they are unable to discern and understand Truth.

1 Corinthians 2:14 says: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Unfortunately, many confuse Spirit with the Soul, which often causes Believers to doubt they are saved, or deceives many into believing that acts and works can earn or secure their Salvation.

The Soul in simple terms, represents our emotions, thoughts, will, reasoning ability, human opinions, etc. Many consider this to be our personality. This is why we can not rely upon feelings and intellect when it comes to having a relationship with God.

Many Christians may say and do the right things, follow religious traditions for study, teaching, and preaching, and "by human standards" may appear to be "good" people, but if their Spirit has not been reborn they are spiritually dead.

This is why many self-proclaimed Christians, do evil things in the name of God, and False Prophets continue to multiply. The Body is of course the physical part of who we are.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 says: And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Blessings, Miji

Answer 6

The soul is the bottom of your shoe. Oops sorry that is sole. More seriously, the soul is the spiritual part of yourself that existed prior to your coming to this earth. In this pre-mortal state, we heard of the plan of happiness that was presented by Jesus Christ, that would allow us to come to this world, receive a body of flesh and blood, and the spirit body and physical body join together and it allows us to live by experience. We would be able to learn and grow, make mistakes, repent of those mistakes, and then die.
Upon death, our spirits and mortal body separate; with the body going to the grave, and our spirits returning to that God who gave us life.
Upon our death, we will be resurrected due to the atoning sacrifice and grace of Jesus Christ.
During he resurrection, our spirit bodies and physical bodies will be reunited, never to be separated again. We will live through the eternities in this resurrected stated.

Answer 7

- some people say that it is the 'life' that breathes in a body that continues to exist after death (reports show that when people die, it is with their mouths open, as to let the soul escape)
- others, who are more scientifically minded, dismiss the soul as something people make up
- i think most people believe in the soul as something in between the two possibilities above

Answer 8

It is the Godliness installed in each human being at birth.

"He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living soul."
=

Answer 9

The Souls of people are the thoughts of God. God creates with thought. God breathe life into his thoughts and we were born spirits. So basically the soul and spirit is entwine, as spirit mind and soul. Our Spirits-souls have spiritual knowledge of God before it enters the body to be redeem as a baby. Our spirit-soul sometimes prays with out the body-brain aware of it. Kinda like speaking in tongues.

Answer 10

You are made up of body soul and spirit

Your soul is your interllect, will etc
Your spirit is your inner being.