Exploring The Concept Of The Human Soul
The question “what is the soul” has puzzled man for thousands of years, and many different religions and philosophers have all come up with their own view of this fundamental question. The main point of agreement is that the soul infuses the body and is the spark of life and consciousness that makes you the unique individual that you are.
The mental processes called the ‘mind’ are a part of the soul ,but not it’s entirety. A belief in the soul implies a belief in your own immortality, that although the physical flesh may perish, the spirit or essence, the soul, continue to exist beyond death. Where the soul goes, be it to an afterlife, to reincarnate, or become one with divinity, is another question whose answer depends upon your spiritual beliefs.
Philosophical Terms:
Plurality of the soul – The belief that the soul is comprised of parts.
Limited Immortality – The idea that the soul merges into oneness with the universe, losing individuality to become part of a greater whole.
Metempsychosis - Another name for reincarnation, the transition of the soul from body to body through different lifetimes, in an effort to evolve to achieve perfection.
Transmigration – The journeying of the soul from one body to another as in reincarnation.
The Universal Soul – The concept that there is one perfect soul, from which all human souls begin and seek to reunite.
Humanity has speculated on the nature of it’s divinity throughout the ages and across the world. Here are some, but by no means, all of these ideas:
Ancient Greece
There were a number of schools of thought in ancient Greece where the soul was hotly debated. The Pythagoreans espoused a doctrine of a world soul, whereas Platonists believed in the plurality of the soul, with the rational soul located in the head, the passionate or spirited soul in the breast and the soul governing appetite in the abdomen.
Christianity
Christianity teaches the immortality of the soul, which is created by god and placed on earth to experience life and exercise free will. After death , the soul will be judged on it’s deeds and go to heaven or hell accordingly.
Judaism
Judaism also contains the plurality of the soul, and there are three terms used for the soul. The parts are ‘nephesh’ or animal nature, ‘nuah’ or the ethical principle and ‘neshamah’, the spiritual intelligence.
All souls spring from God , but are judged in the afterlife, according to their deeds. Prophets may reincarnate, but according to teaching, no-one else.
Hinduism
Hindus believe that all souls are part of a Universal Soul, ‘Atman’, which is also the sum of all the gods. The soul is the unity that links all living beings, as parts of the greater whole. The soul transmigrates through different reincarnations until it realizes it’s unity with the ‘Atman’ and no longer needs to reincarnate.
Buddhism
Buddhists also believe the soul transmigrates through different incarnations, gaining wisdom and knowledge until it experiences enlightenment and enters a state of ‘nirvana’ i.e. limited immortality.
Islam
Muslims believe that every person has an immortal soul, which separates from the body at death. On the Day of Judgment , all humans will be brought to a second life, where body and soul will be rejoined. Gods will place people in heaven or hell based on their beliefs and the deeds they have performed in this life.
The Egyptian Soul
The Egyptians believed that each part of the soul represented different parts of the individual.
KA – The double of the person that lingered on in the tomb
BA – Brings food and breath to the Ka and the Khabait
KHABAIT - The shadow of the soul that could leave the tomb
REN – The true name of a person.
AKHU – The immortal part of the soul created by the uniting of Ba and Ka.
SAKU – The spiritual body.
SEKHEM – The ethereal life force.
AB - The centre of moral awareness.