# Do you believe in a soul? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 19, 2006, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-a-soul/357400 "2006-05-19T14:14:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-a-soul/357400/21 "2006-05-19T16:22:53Z")
> [@Lissa](#): > > No, I don’t believe humans or animals have souls. Some have conciousness generated from advanced brains, but as soon as the brain dies, that’s it. _Finis._ What **Lissa** said. That pretty much puts it in a nutshell, AFAIAC. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-a-soul/357400/22 "2006-05-19T16:26:35Z")
I believe that both humans and animals have souls. Like the OP said, anything alive has one. I’ve been toying with the idea of plants having them, but I tend to lean towards the negative on that one right now. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-a-soul/357400/23 "2006-05-19T16:27:27Z")
Ditto what **Lissa** said. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-a-soul/357400/24 "2006-05-19T16:28:10Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > What **Lissa** said. That pretty much puts it in a nutshell, AFAIAC. Well, acknowledging **Eve’s** admonishment that we’re headed for GD if we’re not careful, let me ask, non-confrontationally - For those who agree with **Lissa** , what is your definition of consciousness? How does it exist in a mushy ball? ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-a-soul/357400/25 "2006-05-19T16:34:08Z")
Well, my two cents: I know cats have souls. As for most humans, I’m still undecided. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-a-soul/357400/26 "2006-05-19T16:42:25Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Well, acknowledging **Eve’s** admonishment that we’re headed for GD if we’re not careful, let me ask, non-confrontationally - > > For those who agree with **Lissa** , what is your definition of consciousness? How does it exist in a mushy ball? It’s a complex process of neurobiological response to physiological stimuli. Consciousness is nothing but neurons firing at synapses. it’s a highly evolved nervous system communicating with itself. It can’t exist _without_ the mushy ball. That’s where the wiring is. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-a-soul/357400/27 "2006-05-19T16:44:32Z")
Ah, at last an easy question: no. However, if someone wanted to persuade me that soul food existed, I’d be at least a little bit receptive. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-a-soul/357400/28 "2006-05-19T16:51:28Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > It’s a complex process of neurobiological response to physiological stimuli. Consciousness is nothing but neurons firing at synapses. it’s a highly evolved nervous system communicating with itself. It can’t exist _without_ the mushy ball. That’s where the wiring is. Then, do you and others who agree with **Lissa** believe in free will? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-a-soul/357400/29 "2006-05-19T16:52:32Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Then, do you and others who agree with **Lissa** believe in free will? I can only speak for myself. I do not. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-a-soul/357400/30 "2006-05-19T16:58:36Z")
> [@Sal Ammoniac](#): > > However, if someone wanted to persuade me that soul food existed, I’d be at least a little bit receptive. Well then, come on over to Big Mama’s house for Sunday dinner. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-a-soul/357400/31 "2006-05-19T17:07:50Z")
Define soul, but my answer is probably “no”. > [@bup](#): > > Then, do you and others who agree with **Lissa** believe in free will? No, I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-a-soul/357400/32 "2006-05-19T17:12:58Z")
Given that soul is defined as consciousness not associated with a physical brain, I agree with **Lissa**. As for free will, I don’t think the term is defined well enough for me to give an answer. I agree that free will exists under certain definitions, and does not exist under others. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-a-soul/357400/33 "2006-05-19T17:16:07Z")
> [@Peak Banana](#): > > Well, my two cents: I know cats have souls. As for most humans, I’m still undecided. And dogs. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-a-soul/357400/34 "2006-05-19T17:18:16Z")
No. But if Jesus can do anything, he certainly could create a robot with a soul. If anyone gets that reference, I’d be shocked. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-a-soul/357400/35 "2006-05-19T17:22:07Z")
No. I can’t rule it out, of course, but I see no reason to have faith in the notion of an immortal soul. ---
**Author:** ![Belrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-a-soul/357400/36 "2006-05-19T17:31:42Z")
I believe that I am greater than the sum of my biology. I believe that there is some “spark” in me that is uniquely _me_. If you were to clone me or if I had a twin, the spark in me is not the same spark that’s in him. This force, or whatever you call it, is unique and beyond the simple wiring of my brain. I chose to call this my soul. As a Christian, I’m told that this spark will persist after my death. As a skeptic, I hope that the good book is right. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-a-soul/357400/37 "2006-05-19T17:59:15Z")
No. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-a-soul/357400/38 "2006-05-19T18:12:39Z")
> [@Belrix](#): > > I believe that I am greater than the sum of my biology. I believe that there is some “spark” in me that is uniquely _me_. If you were to clone me or if I had a twin, the spark in me is not the same spark that’s in him. This force, or whatever you call it, is unique and beyond the simple wiring of my brain. > > I chose to call this my soul. > > As a Christian, I’m told that this spark will persist after my death. As a skeptic, I hope that the good book is right. I believe that we are all greater than the sum of our biology, but that it can only occur in tandem with that biology. Once the brain is gone, so is the personality. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-a-soul/357400/39 "2006-05-19T18:34:59Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Insufficient evidence. But there’s sufficient evidence for the existence of soul? Or is your belief in the soul more faith-based than evidence based? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2006, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-a-soul/357400/40 "2006-05-19T18:37:52Z")
> [@bup](#): > > I just don’t know. I have for years tried to reconcile free will, which I believe in, with a simple biological machine, which is what we are without a soul, and I can’t. How does a soul make any difference in regards to free will anyway ? I don’t believe in free will or souls. If souls exist why do we lose portions of our mind when brain damaged; why do drugs affect our minds ? We ARE our brains. As far as free will goes, I find it too poorly defined to believe in; I consider it a useful illusion. > [@bup](#): > > How can consciousness exist in something made of elaborate carbon molecules and energy? Why would the materials matter ? Why would a soul be any more likely to produce consciousness ? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-a-soul/357400.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-in-a-soul/357400.md?page=3)