What is a soul, and why do most religious people think only they have it? Many christians Ive talked to do not believe lower species to have souls. They even refuse to believe humans are animals. If we were to believe we have a soul, then why cant animals, and possibly plants. They live as well. I think it is arrogance concerning intelligence and/or self awareness. But then again, whose to say who or what is self aware? Tell me what you think.
2007-08-09 19:30:35 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I believe that I am a spirit (that is the eternal portion of my being). I have a soul that consists of my mind, will, and emotions. I live in a body (that is the temporal or physical aspect of my being).
Based on this I believe that animals can have a soul. Any person that has ever seen a dog, horse, etc. that has been subjected to abuse can see that the mind, will, and emotions (SOUL) of that creature has been broken. I just don't know if they necessarily have a spirit, which is the eternal aspect. I can not think of anything in the Bible that would make lead me in that direction. Just my opinion based upon my study of the Word.
2007-08-09 19:49:35 · answer #1 · answered by BEN J 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think a soul exists, because it opens the doorway to life having a purpose. If there is no soul, why make a big deal about killing or blasphemy. Such things are meaningless, then. However, intrinsic to human wiring is caring for young and pondering the firmament. In the absence of mindful design, the body seeks other means to reconcile it's purpose for existence. Likewise, the body seeks the means to reconcile the existence of a mindful design.
2007-08-10 02:48:17 · answer #2 · answered by Sidereal Hand 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Psychologists have equated what humans call "soul" with "mind", meaning the center of human consciousness, thought, emotion, and behavior.
Knowledge of other animals is showing that they, too, possess some (albeit limited, relative to humans) conscious control of emotion and behavior, and show some evidence of independent thought. The most obvious of these is in the learning of sign language by gorillas and chimps and their ability to communicate with their human handlers, but there are investigations into other animals (sorry I can't list any off the top of my head). This would suggest that these animals would then, too, be considered of possessing some sort of soul.
2007-08-10 02:47:54 · answer #3 · answered by the_way_of_the_turtle 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You don't even know that you have a soul ! Or is it you don't believe or don't want to believe ? What is wrong with religious people believe or have soul. Are you jealous ?
If you think there is no soul then I accept your thinking but If I believe there is soul it is not for your understanding but mine so there should be an understanding here.
Why label us arrogance in our thinking just because we differ in our understanding. Believe not that there is air.
2007-08-10 02:51:30 · answer #4 · answered by Kingdomchild07 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Souls do exist. The only thing Christians are wrong about is that lower species don't have souls. Every living creature has soul.
2007-08-10 02:35:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
You are wrong. We Christians don't think we're the only ones with a soul. Why people have soul? Answer: It is our battery. Once the soul leaves the body, the body then become inactive and dead.
Thanks for asking. John loves you all.
2007-08-10 02:35:39 · answer #6 · answered by John 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I don't have a soul because I am the soul. Soul can bleed, eat, and die. Leviticus 17:14-16 states: Â Â For the soul of every sort of flesh is its blood by the soul in it. Consequently I said to the sons of Israel: “YOU must not eat the blood of any sort of flesh, because the soul of every sort of flesh is its blood. Anyone eating it will be cut off.” 15 "'As for any soul that eats a body [already] dead or something torn by a wild beast, whether a native or an alien resident, he must in that case wash his garments and bathe in water and be unclean until the evening; and he must be clean. 16Â But if he will not wash them and will not bathe his flesh, he must then answer for his error.’” And Ezekiel 18:4, 20 says: "Look! All the souls—to me they belong. As the soul of the father so likewise the soul of the son—to me they belong. The soul that is sinning—it itself will die...The soul that is sinning—it itself will die."
× ×¤×©× = ne′phesh in Hebrew
soul = ne′phesh
soul = living being
soul = life
soul = man/woman/animal
2007-08-10 20:18:25 · answer #7 · answered by My2Cents 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Man is a spirit (conscience, intuition, communion). He has a soul (will, mind and emotions). He lives in a body. Animals have bodies and souls but no spirit. God only breathed the spirit in Adam when He created him.
2007-08-10 03:22:39 · answer #8 · answered by seekfind 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The Bible does not support the idea that we have a separate spiritual part that departs and survives after death.
(Ecclesiastes 9:5-6) For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all, neither do they anymore have wages, because the remembrance of them has been forgotten. 6Â Also, their love and their hate and their jealousy have already perished, and they have no portion anymore to time indefinite in anything that has to be done under the sun.
Thje word 'soul' is translated from the Hebrew word NEPHESH which means ' that which breathes'
In the Bible, animals are called 'souls'
(Genesis 1:20-21) And God went on to say: “Let the waters swarm forth a swarm of living souls and let flying creatures fly over the earth upon the face of the expanse of the heavens.” 21Â And God proceeded to create the great sea monsters and every living soul that moves about, which the waters swarmed forth according to their kinds, and every winged flying creature according to its kind. And God got to see that [it was] good.
(Genesis 1:24-25) And God went on to say: “Let the earth put forth living souls according to their kinds, domestic animal and moving animal and wild beast of the earth according to its kind.” And it came to be so. 25Â And God proceeded to make the wild beast of the earth according to its kind and the domestic animal according to its kind and every moving animal of the ground according to its kind. And God got to see that [it was] good.
And our 'soul' can die. You have to be alive for that to happen.
(Ezekiel 18:4) Look! All the souls—to me they belong. As the soul of the father so likewise the soul of the son—to me they belong. The soul that is sinning—it itself will die.
(Leviticus 24:17-18) “‘And in case a man strikes any soul of mankind fatally, he should be put to death without fail. 18Â And the fatal striker of the soul of a domestic animal should make compensation for it, soul for soul.
2007-08-10 03:10:22 · answer #9 · answered by pugjw9896 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Yes!
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.
Genesis 2:7
King James Version
"man became a living soul."
2007-08-10 02:51:43 · answer #10 · answered by arvin_ian 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋