In your opinion, what is a soul? Does everyone have one?

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"We believe in Allâh and that which has been sent down to us and that which has been sent down to Ibrâhim (Abraham), Ismâ'il (Ishmael), Ishâq (Isaac), Ya'qûb (Jacob), and to Al-Asbât [the offspring twelve sons of Ya'qûb (Jacob)], and that which has been given to Mûsa (Moses) and Isâ (Jesus), and that which has been given to the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we have submitted [Quran 2:136]

I think that a soul is an image, and that everyone has one.


Peace, Love, & Light

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"An object is perceived, or not perceived, according as the mind is, or is not, tinged with the colour of the object. "
Patanjali - Sutra 4:17

To me the word soul is a part humans being human identify themselves with (body, mind and soul).

I personally don't believe we are the body, mind or soul or all three things together. I believe we are spirit and spirit is perfect : )

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May your awareness be perfection

I've asked that question many times along with at least some indication that such a thing(s) exist. However, as it stands, I've not received any convincing answer.

But I can listen to soul music. I at least know that exists. I think. Hmmmm.

Shalom,
Vern

The soul is Truth, it is the accumulation of all one's physical and spiritual experiences, in essence it is YOU.

Everyone has a soul but everyone may not want to acknowledge it.

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"There is one thing that organized religion is not qualified to teach and that is an individual's purpose."-GOD

But what is it? What does it look like? All I've seemingly ever received back when I ask for specifics are cliches. Maybe you can be the exception to the rule.

Shalom,
Vern

This is a personal view only, but I think that "the soul" is the name given to that part of ourselves that many people hope will survive what they know is the inevitable death of the body.

If, as I believe, everything about the "self" is contained within our living flesh, which will eventually cease to live, then "soul" and "self" are synonymous, and will cease to exist with our physical death.

If, as many believe, the soul is some part of the self which is distinct from the physical body and its workings, then the hope exists that it might survive.

Now, in order for this to work, it must be assumed that some of the essence of the self must be contained in the soul, else all memory, everything that could possibly make the soul understand itself as in any way connected to the person who's body it once was part of would be lost, and again, in that sense, the self would cease to exist.

I have yet to see anything that reasonably explains how such a thing might be.

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evangelicalhumanist: Greek "eu"=good and "angelos"=messenger. Spreading the good news of Humanism.

Thanks for the response. One of the teachings that impressed me was from Buddhist dharma which states that if there is a soul ("atman"), it would logically change as all things change over time. Therefore, it begs the questions what exactly is a "soul", how do we know if we have one, how does it somehow survive death, and what exactly is carried over into heaven, nirvana, moksha, etc.?

But what I'm not saying is that there's no such thing as a "soul", we must not have one, it cannot survive death, and it cannot be carried over into the afterlife. IOW, I'm asking questions-- not providing answers.

Shalom,
Vern

I think to understand that some people hope they have a soul, this "hope" is caused by a fear of dying or the diesire to live. Yet noone will ever not know themselves as "gone". LOL

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May your awareness be perfection