Religion and Ethics Forum

Religion and Ethics Discussion => Philosophy, in all its guises. => Topic started by: SusanDoris on March 24, 2021, 02:08:52 PM

Title: Definition of soul - non-religious
Post by: SusanDoris on March 24, 2021, 02:08:52 PM
Can anyone please find me a good definition of soul which states clearly that it is only a faith belief that souls actually exist.
I need to challenge clearly the idea that a soul actually is something, rather than an aspepct of our personalities.

Any help here will be much appreciated.
Title: Re: Definition of soul - non-religious
Post by: Nearly Sane on March 24, 2021, 02:13:31 PM
Quote from: SusanDoris on March 24, 2021, 02:08:52 PM
Can anyone please find me a good definition of soul which states clearly that it is only a faith belief that souls actually exist.
I need to challenge clearly the idea that a soul actually is something, rather than an aspepct of our personalities.

Any help here will be much appreciated.
That isn't really what definitions do. They are descriptive rather than prescriptive.
Title: Re: Definition of soul - non-religious
Post by: Roses on March 24, 2021, 02:23:51 PM
The religious definition of the soul is:-

Soul is defined as one person, or is the spirit and essence of a person. An example of your soul is the part of you that makes you who you are and that will live on after your death. An example of soul is the part of you that will go to heaven and be immortal, according to the the teachings of certain religions.

There is of course not one shred of evidence to back up that statement.

I don't know of a non-religious definition.
Title: Re: Definition of soul - non-religious
Post by: SusanDoris on March 24, 2021, 02:54:00 PM
Nearly Sane and Little Roses

Thank you for your replies.  I think I'll say something like: Those who talk about their souls and say what they will do, for instance, after death are talking about an abstract idea that is an aspect ... ...

Title: Re: Definition of soul - non-religious
Post by: Owlswing on March 24, 2021, 03:03:39 PM
Quote from: SusanDoris on March 24, 2021, 02:08:52 PM

Can anyone please find me a good definition of soul that states clearly that it is only a faith belief that souls actually exist?

I need to challenge clearly the idea that a soul actually is something, rather than an aspect of our personalities.

Any help here will be much appreciated.


Another track you might follow is to find the name of a Coroner who has done more than a few autopsies and ask him/her if, during any of their autopsies, did they find the deceased person's soul! And question two, do they know of any other Coroner who has found evidence of a soul.

I have a reasonably certain judgment that the answer will be a resounding "NO"!

Owlswing

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