What is a soul?

You have to remember that lots of folk will make claims that simply do not stand up to examination. For example looking at your quotes: That simply is not true. In fact, the word soul does not even appear anywhere in Genesis 1.Nobody knows what a soul is, or whether anyone or anything possesses a soul. Some of us might believe there is a soul, and that it is something that persists beyond life, but honestly, no one really has a clue.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Of course I read the OP and the responses.I don't think there is much mysterious about what draws folk towards belief in a soul, it is just comfort. We hope that death is not final either for us, or those we love.Also I fully realized that was not your quote, but simply wanted to point out that quite often folk make what look like positive assertions, like Genesis 1 mentions kinds of souls, which are simply not true.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Consciousness, curiosity, love, joy, sorrow, questioning, awe, wonder.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

No idea. That is kinda like asking "What will you learn when you learn more than you know now?"If there is an afterlife then of course, our understanding of reality will change. How it will change is impossible to say right now since for now we have only a sample of one reality. I hope though that if there is an afterlife it will be filled with answers to Question.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Imagine a continuum of belief, a spectrum of belief. At one end of that spectrum you might find those theists who are absolutely sure they know their beliefs are true. Way over at the other end of the spectrum are the atheists who absolutely know their beliefs are true.We could say that one group is represented by Gamma Rays while the other is ELF (Extremely Low Frequency) Waves.I am somewhere on that spectrum, closer to the Absolute Theist end than to the mid point.I have my beliefs. Personally I am pretty sure that they are right. Honesty though forces me to admit that I could be wrong.At the mid point we would find the Absolute Agnostics. They are uncertain about their beliefs, and folk will fall somewhere along the spectrum. Whether they are classified as Atheist, Agnostic or Theist would depend on their position relative to those three points on the spectrum. I really don't see that as something worth worrying about. If there is an afterlife it will be what it is. My desires and wants do not get to determine reality. I often wish that were not the case but it is.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Looks okay. The key thing to remember is that religion is really personal. While you may be able to place different religions or sects on the chart, in reality what you would see is not a dot but rather a halo. Some sects such as the Non-denominational churches might show up as a small circle showing little difference between the individual members whereas the Episcopal Church might be an oval that covered almost all points on the graph.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

I would think that both axis in the end are about certainty. While one might be related to the number of things one is certain of, the other would likely be how certain you are about any of them. For example in the Anglican Communion there are Bishops that question whether or not there was a Virgin Birth, who are openly Homosexual, who not only believe that women should speak in church but that they should be ordained and in fact rise to one of the highest positions in the Church.However even within the Anglican communion there is a variety of view points on each and every such item. There are members of the same communion who consider each of the above examples heresy, who support those position and just about every point in between.In addition, there will be a range of conviction on each issue that will stretch from absolute surety to total uncertainty.One of the key points about Anglicans is that regardless of ones opinion on any theological topic, it is likely that there is at least one other Anglican that holds a similar position. (but only on that one topic )

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Yeah that old canard about knowing someone does get trotted out pretty regularly. It is also disproven about as regularly.No one here has explained how the Know God or Know Jesus beyond the unsupported assertion that they do and that to claim they don't is unreasonable or illogical.Well repeating claims does not add to their validity.Humans really are not very good at "Knowing" someone. This is shown at almost every divorce hearing, almost every crime trial. Folks are shocked that sweet little Lizzie, who does not even like the slice-n-dice, would do such a thing.Many Christians claim to Know GOD, but do they? Souls don't make sense, period.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

I mean that whether or not there is a GOD, the concept of soul does not make sense. It may well be something we believe, but it is something we cannot test, define uniquely, examine or present.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Only among those who confuse the Map with the Territory.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Correct. It cannot be tested. Nor are there and effects from a soul on the physical world.The concept of a soul does not make sense. Period.If I am wrong, please show how a soul makes sense?

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

LOLAnd your evidence that you are a soul is?The problem is demonstrated by this thread. There is not even a definition of a soul that everyone can agree upon.Sorry, soul just makes no sense.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Too funny. Thanks, I needed that. No, stop. I can take only so much mirth.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

I cannot explain a soul. It is not sensible. I can believe that it is that which exists beyond death, but that is just a belief, not something factual, that can be tested or verified.It is not sensible.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion