1. What is the Soul?What is the Soul?
Some Christian (and other!!)Some Christian (and other!!)
IdeasIdeas
2. ►TheThe soulsoul, in many religions, spiritual, in many religions, spiritual
traditions, and philosophies, is the spiritualtraditions, and philosophies, is the spiritual
and eternal part of a living being.and eternal part of a living being.
►It is separate from the body which isIt is separate from the body which is
material.material.
3. Ancient Greek Ideas of the Soul-Ancient Greek Ideas of the Soul-
►Christian ideas of the soulChristian ideas of the soul
are likely to have comeare likely to have come
from the ancient Greeks.from the ancient Greeks.
►The Greeks were greatThe Greeks were great
philosophers.philosophers.
4. Plato-Plato-
►Plato considered the soul asPlato considered the soul as
the essence of a person- thatthe essence of a person- that
which decides how wewhich decides how we
behave.behave.
►For Plato the soul consists ofFor Plato the soul consists of
the Logos (mind), Thymosthe Logos (mind), Thymos
(emotion) and Eros (desire)(emotion) and Eros (desire)
►Plato believed the soul wasPlato believed the soul was
eternal and could exist withouteternal and could exist without
the bodythe body
5.
6. ►Plato believed thePlato believed the
mind part of the soulmind part of the soul
had to keep emotionhad to keep emotion
and desire underand desire under
control or it wouldcontrol or it would
lead a person’s ruin!!lead a person’s ruin!!
7. Aristotle-Aristotle-
►Aristotle, following Plato,Aristotle, following Plato,
defined the soul as the coredefined the soul as the core
or "essence" of a livingor "essence" of a living
beingbeing
►A thing has a soul becauseA thing has a soul because
it lives and because it isit lives and because it is
activeactive
8.
9. In the Bible-In the Bible-
►And the LORD God formed man from theAnd the LORD God formed man from the
dust of the ground, and breathed into hisdust of the ground, and breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life; and man becamenostrils the breath of life; and man became
a living soul (Genesis 2:7)a living soul (Genesis 2:7)
10. ►Christians regardChristians regard
the soul as thethe soul as the
immortal essenceimmortal essence
of a human andof a human and
that after death,that after death,
God either rewardsGod either rewards
or punishes theor punishes the
soulsoul
11. ►The soul (the spiritual partThe soul (the spiritual part
of God) and the body (theof God) and the body (the
material part of us whichmaterial part of us which
craves pleasure) are oftencraves pleasure) are often
in conflictin conflict
12. ►The conscience is believed by someThe conscience is believed by some
Christians to be the voice of God in usChristians to be the voice of God in us
which warns us to follow the spiritual andwhich warns us to follow the spiritual and
not material pathnot material path
13. Other ideas on the soul-Other ideas on the soul-
►The belief among scientists is that the mind,The belief among scientists is that the mind,
or consciousness, is the operation of theor consciousness, is the operation of the
brainbrain
►Some scientists think that the brain is to theSome scientists think that the brain is to the
mind as computer hardware is to computermind as computer hardware is to computer
softwaresoftware
14.
15. Task-Task-
►On the next slide is a typical exam question,On the next slide is a typical exam question,
in this case on the subject of the soulin this case on the subject of the soul
►Use the “Stick Man” template to make notesUse the “Stick Man” template to make notes
on how to answer this questionon how to answer this question
►Your teacher will give you a start!Your teacher will give you a start!
16. Exam Question-Exam Question-
““There is no such thing as the soul; theThere is no such thing as the soul; the
body is all there is”.body is all there is”.
Discuss this statement. You should includeDiscuss this statement. You should include
different supported points of view and adifferent supported points of view and a
personal viewpoint. You must refer topersonal viewpoint. You must refer to
Christianity in your answer.Christianity in your answer.
