Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The Other Michael · 08-07-2003, 08:55 PM

This is mainly for the Christians who accept evolutionary theory.

If mankind has a soul because it is made in a diety's image, do all the animals have souls too? And if not, where in the evolutionary trail were souls inserted into the line of homo? Did it have to wait until homo sapiens sapiens, or did h. erectus have one too? How far back in the line do you go before saying "sorry, you are no longer a "man" and as such go into the dark oblivion when you die because you don't get a soul".

cheers,
Michael

Rational BAC · 08-07-2003, 08:57 PM

I think animals have souls.

Why not?

Doctor X · 08-07-2003, 09:55 PM

Actually, one could argue, "when consciousness developed."

--J.D.

SignOfTheCross · 08-08-2003, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Other Michael
This is mainly for the Christians who accept evolutionary theory.

If mankind has a soul because it is made in a diety's image, do all the animals have souls too? And if not, where in the evolutionary trail were souls inserted into the line of homo? Did it have to wait until homo sapiens sapiens, or did h. erectus have one too? How far back in the line do you go before saying "sorry, you are no longer a "man" and as such go into the dark oblivion when you die because you don't get a soul".

cheers,
Michael

Adam and Eve were the first humans to have breathed into them "the breath of life", thus, animals do not have souls.

Peace,
SOTC

08-08-2003, 12:59 AM

A friend of mine once said something along the lines of: "I know evolution is true, but I also think God gave humans souls at one point in history."

Doctor X · 08-08-2003, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Adam and Eve were the first humans to have breathed into them "the breath of life", thus, animals do not have souls.

That both represent mythic concepts rather undercuts that.

Nevertheless, the question require acceptance of evolution which is incompatible with a creation myth.

--J.D.

crocodile deathroll · 08-08-2003, 04:32 AM

What if there is only one soul, and the rest of the people you interact with are just pzombies?

08-08-2003, 05:40 AM

I would really like some explanation of what a soul is supposed to be and what evidence there is for its existence.

It appears to be connected to the "problem" of consciousness and the sense of self. George Bernard Shaw wrote about the "Life Force", whatever that is supposed to be. Is this connected with the idea of the soul?

I find that the more I really think about religious concepts, the more elusive they seem. The concept of the soul obviously has some connection with the concept of "resurrection", which I also find immensely hard to understand. I often get the impression that for many believers these are inchoate ideas -- just warm, fuzzy and reassuring.

I am still awaiting Billy Graham is cools's evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, which gives him 95 % certainty that it really happened. I hope he will at the same time give a better explanation of resurrection than was offered by Magus.

emotional · 08-08-2003, 05:44 AM

(not a Christian, but a theistic evolutionist still)

I don't believe in a soul, I believe in a duplicate (astral body), as per spiritualism (the difference is that a soul is disembodied, whereas an astral body is only discarnate).

I believe in life after death for all conscious living organisms.

peripeteia · 08-08-2003, 08:57 AM

I concur with DMB..

What would a soul delineate and how would we know we have found one once we define it..

08-07-2003, 08:55 PM	#1
The Other Michael Honorary Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In the fog of San Francisco Posts: 12,631	Souls and evolution This is mainly for the Christians who accept evolutionary theory. If mankind has a soul because it is made in a diety's image, do all the animals have souls too? And if not, where in the evolutionary trail were souls inserted into the line of homo? Did it have to wait until homo sapiens sapiens, or did h. erectus have one too? How far back in the line do you go before saying "sorry, you are no longer a "man" and as such go into the dark oblivion when you die because you don't get a soul". cheers, Michael

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08-07-2003, 08:57 PM	#2
Rational BAC Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Tampa Bay area Posts: 3,471	I think animals have souls. Why not?

08-07-2003, 09:55 PM	#3
Doctor X Banned Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: USA Posts: 3,794	Actually, one could argue, "when consciousness developed." --J.D.

08-08-2003, 12:59 AM	#5
Ad Astra Guest Posts: n/a	A friend of mine once said something along the lines of: "I know evolution is true, but I also think God gave humans souls at one point in history."

08-08-2003, 04:32 AM	#7
crocodile deathroll Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Darwin Posts: 1,466	What if there is only one soul, and the rest of the people you interact with are just pzombies?

08-08-2003, 05:40 AM	#8
DMB Guest Posts: n/a	I would really like some explanation of what a soul is supposed to be and what evidence there is for its existence. It appears to be connected to the "problem" of consciousness and the sense of self. George Bernard Shaw wrote about the "Life Force", whatever that is supposed to be. Is this connected with the idea of the soul? I find that the more I really think about religious concepts, the more elusive they seem. The concept of the soul obviously has some connection with the concept of "resurrection", which I also find immensely hard to understand. I often get the impression that for many believers these are inchoate ideas -- just warm, fuzzy and reassuring. I am still awaiting Billy Graham is cools's evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, which gives him 95 % certainty that it really happened. I hope he will at the same time give a better explanation of resurrection than was offered by Magus.

08-08-2003, 05:44 AM	#9
emotional Banned Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Boxing ring of HaShem, Jesus and Allah Posts: 1,945	(not a Christian, but a theistic evolutionist still) I don't believe in a soul, I believe in a duplicate (astral body), as per spiritualism (the difference is that a soul is disembodied, whereas an astral body is only discarnate). I believe in life after death for all conscious living organisms.

08-08-2003, 08:57 AM	#10
peripeteia Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: California Posts: 31	I concur with DMB.. What would a soul delineate and how would we know we have found one once we define it..

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