WTF is a soul anyway?

[conuly]

I've asked this before, and I'll likely ask it again. What is it? Everytime something even remotely philosophical comes up, people justify whatever they do by calling "soul!".

They eat meat because animals don't have souls.
They don't eat meat because animals do have souls.
They are anti-abortion because the soul exists from conception.
They aren't anti-abortion because the soul develops later.

Well, that's about it, but man, people shout loudly on those subjects. Soul this, soul that, and nobody ever stops to ask "what on earth is so important?" because they think they know. That's nice. I don't know, and would like to actually understand all these nifty little arguments about whether or not embryos and animals and whatnot have souls. Maybe even participate.

Comments

[rachelkachel]

So are you okay with a person killing another person, as long as you're not involved? (Not equating this to abortion, that's beside the point.)

[conuly]

Rachel, please don't say people said things they haven't.

[rachelkachel]

Sorry. Not meaning to be annoying, just asking the question...

[conuly]

I know you weren't intending to be annoying, but that line of talk leads into somewhat annoying arguments sometimes. Trying to head it off at the pass. Which was apparently unnecessary.

[squittycat.livejournal.com]

Hey, I don't mind; it's a valid question.

People kill other people every day. Take, for example, the United States Armed Forces under the excellent direction of our excellent Commander-In-Chief. It's out of my control, and though I don't condone it, neither can I stop it. That doesn't stop me from not killing other people myself, or wishing it weren't the case...