Please help define soul?

Question

I've heard many different opinions in what a soul is. What is yours? Does everyone have a soul? Can your soul be changed?

Answer 1

Humans are three part beings. Spirit, soul and body.

The body is the physical - what we see, touch, etc. Plants, animals and humans have bodies.

The soul is your consciousness, will, thoughts, feelings, etc. Animals and humans have souls.

The spirit is the eternal part of us - for lack of a better way to put it, it's made up of the same "material" that God is made of. Only humans have spirits. Our soul resides in our body until physical death. Then it goes to live with the spirit - eternally either in Heaven or Hell.

Answer 2

Biblically, spirit, soul, and body (1 thessalonians 5:23) are defined as separate parts that are to come into unity with the spirit in charge (romans 5:17).

the soul is the mind - will - emotions.

the spirit is what gets born again.

the soul doesnt, it has to be renewed (romans 12:2) or it will want to be boss and join with the flesh that would want to do things that God calls sin.
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man is a spirit being, (1peter 3:4) he has a soul (1peter 1:22), and he lives in a body (galatians 2:19; romans 6:12).
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Answer 3

I believe the "soul" is a label given to the subjective experience of consciousness. I think it "exists" inasmuch as our nervous system exists, but it in no way transcends the physical world. When people say "soul", they tie it in with thoughts, emotions, memories, ideas, behaviors...all clearly neurological processes. For example, when you have a dreamless sleep, why is your "soul" not aware of anything? When you pass out and wake up some time later, where was your soul? Before you were born, where was your soul? It stands to reason, then, that the "soul" is inextricably connected to the nervous system and, consequently, no longer exists when the nervous system ceases function.

As to "changing your soul": the brain is amazingly plastic. You can condition your brain for many purposes, and it starts with (what else) behavior modification.

EDIT:
BGrimey got it right.

EDIT:
"...a fragmental, atomic portion that has arisen from the transcendental Body..."
This means nothing.

Answer 4

Soul refers to two things:
1. The biological body of a living creature. That is why we became living souls when God gave us the first breath of life.
2. Instead of an invisible entity in our body (ghost,) soul is all of our memories, the very essence that makes us. I think; therefore, I am. These memories return to God when whe die. When we are resurrected, God will restore all these memories into out our new biological body to once again become a living soul.

Answer 5

The Soul (Self or Atman) is a fragmental, atomic portion that has arisen from the Transcendental Body of the Supreme Lord Narayana.

Thus, the Self is a plenary portion of the Supreme Lord. But do not think we are equal to Lord Narayana, because in comparison to Him, we are nothing more than atoms. In fact, His body comprises of everything that is matter and all that is void. The numerous Parallel Universes are infinitesimally small compared to His majesty.

The Self is so very small. Its size, as described in the Scriptures, can be estimated by taking the tip of a hair and cutting it to 1/100,000 of its original size.

In truth, we are descended from Lord Narayana. The Self, in many ways, is like the Supreme Lord Narayana, but on a lesser, very minute level. Having come from His Spiritual Body, it is eternal, indestructible, full in knowledge and ever blissful. But due to its minute independence, it has come into contact with Material Nature, upon it becomes conditioned and hence, attached to the Modes of Material Nature - Goodness, Passion and Ignorance.

People unaware of the Self think that Consciousness is a product of material interactions and that it is destroyed when death occurs. This is not true, because the body is like a cloth and the Self is imperishable. This is proven even when someone says 'This is MY Body'. He does not say 'I am the Body'. So, if he says 'My Body', that means the Body is distinct from him. If so, what is he? Another simple analogy is that people usually say 'I am his Father' or 'I am his Brother'. On the one hand we have 'I am, I am...' which remains constant, on the other hand you have 'Father, Brother, etc.' which are constantly changing relationships. What is this I? Nothing more than the Soul.

People say Consciousness is a product of the interactions of the Mind with Material Nature. This is incorrect. The felings of Emotion, Pain, Pleasure, Hatred and Desire are the results of such interactions. Consciousness is due to the Self.

True Self is incapable of emotion or happiness, although it is blissful (Bliss is different from Emotion). It is always detached and knows only one thing - Eternal Service to the Lord Narayana.

This is proven when we see that different species have different levels of intelligence. This is due to their inherent material bodies. But animals, microbes, Humans have one thing in common - they are all CONSCIOUS. This Consciousness is the Self, which is the same in every body.

The Self undergoes many births, ranging from Microbial Life to Human, until it learns to detach itself from both Good and Evil, so that it can transcend the material modes of nature and attain liberation.

Answer 6

the Bible gives a clear answer to this.

In Genesis, the Bible refers to living souls. Gen. 1;20,21,24,25

(Leviticus 24:17-18) “‘And in case a man strikes any soul of mankind fatally, he should be put to death without fail. 18 And the fatal striker of the soul of a domestic animal should make compensation for it, soul for soul.

You have to be living, breathing, to be struck.

(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.

You have to be alive, breathing to sin.

The word ' soul' in the Bible is translated from the Hebrew word NEPHESH meaning...that which breathes.

Nowhere does the Bible indicate that the soul is separate from the fleshly body.

The 'soul' IS THE BODY.

Answer 7

Your soul is what makes you, you. It is a combination of your life experiences and personality. It cannot be taken away from you. If you feel your soul needs to be changed, you can change it, but you need help.

Whether your soul goes to heaven or hell could be debated, but nonetheless it does exist.

Answer 8

I define my soul as the animating force and vital principle credited with ordering thoughts, feelings and actions that manifest as conscious will in the mind that is generated by my body. My soul exists as the divine eternal part of finite self. I define spirit as the animating force and vital principle credited with the creation and evaluation of the universe. Spirit exists as the divine eternal part of the infinite world.

If soul is the divine eternal part of finite self and spirit is the divine eternal part of infinite world, then soul spirit is a word meant to convey a sense of the indivisibility of soul and spirit, and integrity of the whole. I understand soul spirit of self to be same as soul. I understand soul spirit of world to be same as spirit. I believe that soul spirit is divine. Divine is an adjective that describes the noun soul spirit as being of a quality that is of the highest order. That is perfect. Soul spirit is eternal. Eternal is an adjective that describes the noun soul spirit as possessing longevity that is of the highest order. That is perpetual.

Answer 9

soul

soul [sōl]
(plural souls)
noun
1. nonphysical aspect of person: the complex of human attributes that manifests as consciousness, thought, feeling, and will, regarded as distinct from the physical body
2. feelings: a person's emotional and moral nature, where the most private thoughts and feelings are hidden
Her soul was in turmoil.

3. spirit surviving death: in some systems of religious belief, the spiritual part of a human being that is believed to continue to exist after the body dies.
The soul is sometimes regarded as subject to future reward and punishment, and sometimes as able to take a form that allows it to remain on or return to earth.
4. spiritual depth: evidence of spiritual or emotional depth and sensitivity, either in a person or in something created by a person
Though technically perfect, the drawing lacked soul.

5. essence: the deepest and truest nature of people or a nation, or what gives somebody or something a distinctive character
In my travels I hoped to discover the soul of the Russian people.

6. type of person: somebody of a particular type, especially one regarded sympathetically or with familiarity
Poor soul! What will he do now?

7. anyone: anyone at all (used in negative statements)
You have to promise not to tell a soul.

8. individual person: an individual person, especially when thought of as making up the number of a group (usually used in the plural)
a country of some 10 million souls

9. perfect example: a good example, or personification, of a positive quality
The hotel manager was the soul of discretion.

10. somebody essential to something: the leader of or the most influential person in a group or movement
11. African American spirit: a quality regarded as characterizing African American culture, especially as manifested in understanding and in social customs, speech, and music
12. music Same as soul music

In religion, your body is your human soul., which will move away at the time of death.
jtm

Answer 10

Soul is the union of body and spirit, and is the natural state for both to be in. Everyone has a soul, and what many people refer to as a "soul" is actually their spirit.