Where does the soul reside?
June 10th, 2016 at 6:35:01 PM permalink | |
FrGamble Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 67 Posts: 7596 | I believe the soul doesn't reside in any one part of the body but is rather the essence or core of who we are. It encompasses our personality, sense of humor, our freedom, likes and interests, dislikes, and it is infused throughout our body. We don't lose a piece of it when a limb or finger is cut off. When we are "brain dead" and our body alive our soul is very much still there and still immortal. We may have lost our ability to interact with the world around us but our soul still feels and knows. For example when our loved ones are in the room caring for us, our soul feels and knows this even though our body cannot perceive or acknowledge this. Death is the separation of our soul from our body. However, we are never fully human or fully complete until we once again are reunited with our bodies, in their glorified state, in Heaven. As human beings we are this amazing combination of body and soul. As just a body we are a corpse. As just a soul we are not fully human. By the way this brings us back a little bit to the very interesting discussion we were having about the nature of humanity. We are deep thinkers, reasonable beings, we are able to wonder and be in awe and ask big questions about the world we live in. This is essential to who we are and what makes a human soul so unique and extraordinary in my opinion. “It is with the smallest brushes that the artist paints the most exquisitely beautiful pictures.” ( |
June 10th, 2016 at 7:06:26 PM permalink | |
kenarman Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 14 Posts: 4530 |
Padre when do you believe our soul is created? "but if you make yourselves sheep, the wolves will eat you." Benjamin Franklin |
June 10th, 2016 at 7:09:55 PM permalink | |
rxwine Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 200 Posts: 20761 |
Somewhere, someday, two mature animals (apes) will have their brains successfully switched by an operation. I predict they will be where their brain is. Who knows, maybe in some place like N. Korea they will do it in humans. (that sort of brain surgery might eventually be possible with further advances in healing spinal injuries.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_J._White I'd have to be pretty desperate to try a whole body transplant, but I suppose one could be that desperate. "Facts are whatever I say they are." - Trump |
June 10th, 2016 at 7:16:40 PM permalink | |
FrGamble Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 67 Posts: 7596 |
I believe the soul is created at conception. “It is with the smallest brushes that the artist paints the most exquisitely beautiful pictures.” ( |
June 10th, 2016 at 7:18:21 PM permalink | |
Evenbob Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 146 Posts: 25685 |
This makes no sense. Ever know somebody with advanced Alzheimers or dementia? They no longer have a personality or sense of humor, has their soul departed them? Your soul is the essence of who you are and has nothing to do with your like of bacon and eggs or Jeopardy on TV. Your personality and memories are connected to your body, not your soul. They are place holders your brain makes so you don't lose your way in your current reality. When someone dies an unexpected quick death, the memories of the last personality that soul had inadvertently travel with it to the next incarnation. But as the child matures, those memories are forgotten because they aren't relevant anymore. Your personality is part of your brain; your soul, your essence, is separate. Even the Buddha spoke of this at length. Don't get too connected to anything in this life, it doesn't carry over to the next. Concentrate on being in harmony with your inner self, that does carry over. If you take a risk, you may lose. If you never take a risk, you will always lose. |
June 10th, 2016 at 7:27:47 PM permalink | |
FrGamble Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 67 Posts: 7596 |
I don't think so. Their is an illness of the body that effects the ability of the soul to manifest itself in things like personality and sense of humor, but it is still there. There are often glimpses of this beautiful soul of the person even in the midst of the debilitating disease of Alzheimer's.
Yes, I think when I meant your likes and dislikes I was thinking of bigger things like music or athletics, etc. “It is with the smallest brushes that the artist paints the most exquisitely beautiful pictures.” ( |
June 10th, 2016 at 8:03:51 PM permalink | |
Evenbob Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 146 Posts: 25685 |
Personality is a product of the brain. It's the interaction between our experience and our genetic make-up that makes us who we are. We aren't born with it, we develop it. A baby has no personality at birth, but starts to develop one immediately. It's interesting that some people who die on the operating table for a few minutes, report floating above their bodies. They say they see loved ones nearby and know them but don't have feelings for them one way or the other. They remember their life, but it seems very unimportant. This has been reported happening numerous times in near death experiences. The person your brain developed is not important, it serves you in the here and now. Your soul is eternal, your personality is something you shed when you die because it's no longer needed. If you take a risk, you may lose. If you never take a risk, you will always lose. |
June 11th, 2016 at 5:11:08 AM permalink | |
Nareed Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 346 Posts: 12545 |
You are half right. But saying the soul does not reside in any one part of the body is akin to saying the heartbeat doesn't reside in the heart.
This is all true. And the proof that it is a a function of the brain is simple. Brain damage can change it. Not all instances of brain damage and not in every case, but the cases where this happens are well documented. If the damage is severe enough, as in cases of comma or ischemia so severe parts of the brain die, the soul is shut down along with the brain. Donald Trump is a one-term LOSER |
June 11th, 2016 at 5:26:08 AM permalink | |
Nareed Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 346 Posts: 12545 |
It has been seriously suggested to treat cases of quadriplegia, that's when one's spinal cord is severed high up and one is paralyzed from the neck down. It sounds reasonable. BUT. But transplanting the whole body would involve severing the spinal cord from both the host body and the recipient's head. If a means were found of successfully knitting it back together and getting it fully functional, then why not apply that method to the paralyzed patient instead? It might work very well, though, as a means of extending life. But then we get into Niven territory. How many people die of injuries or diseases that leave the body whole and healthy? There is a loophole, though, or there may be... Donald Trump is a one-term LOSER |
June 11th, 2016 at 8:25:53 AM permalink | |
kenarman Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 14 Posts: 4530 |
Although I expect you are right and the soul would reside in the brain what is the proof that makes you so positive it is true Nareed? I am reminded of something right up your alley. An old sci-fi book I read as a kid (probably Heinlein but I'm not sure) where alliens arrive on earth and could communicate telepathically. The only problem was the organ used by the humans was the tonsils so many people who had their tonsils removed couldn't communicate with the aliens. If brain damage can destroy the soul does the soul slowly 'die' as the brain damage increases or does the soul remain fully functional until it 'dies' suddenly? "but if you make yourselves sheep, the wolves will eat you." Benjamin Franklin |