"Think about what 'you' are suggesting." - West

Trust you address religionist Forum colleagues. I was merely stating what a major religionist source states on the topic, as some of the answers seemed to have not addressed your needs.

[The information provided was the generic thread. The Greeks broke the soul down to attributes and the Hebrews, breath [as Philo notes].

The religious soul seems to be a top-down concept [from spiritual to temporal]. Contrarily, the reptilian brain, base mammalian brain, the advanced neocortex is a bottom-up process [Evolution]. Eventually, self-consciouness becomes more separated from general consciousness.

A priest and a neuroscientist would approach any attempt to explain these "higher" sentient perceptions from different directions. Moreover, the religious former would hold his/her position without question, the scientific latter would test the proposition. As is always the case with Sells, the valid process of knowledge discovery [in my opinion]is compromised.

I am sorry Oliver I was addressing the religionists here. My central question is really do soul believers know they do not make the connection between the soul and reality in their answers? Or are they just habitually jumping to conclusions based on personal preferences? It appears that the question about the soul is purposely avoided. Much of what is said of the soul and of god for that matter is crafted by theologians and delivered through sermons and tv evangilism. The question is is the source too purposely avoiding answering the question in order to decieve and control? Obviously when speaking of Christian and Islamic recruitment the answer is yes.

To the religionists- I would like to believe in the soul and in god , it would be great to not be responsible for ones self but I just cannot believe if the soul or god is not real. There is no question that without definite proof of both the religionist is making up both god and spirit. How is this different than proving the environment that caused the big bang? The big bang is not claiming social righteousness , authority or politically and socially interfereing with peoples lives and no scientist claims they are of the chosen people just because they carry out rituals paying homage to the big bang or claiming the big bang will create magic , judge , forgive or make up ridiculous social rules in order to look down upon others.

West i think the problem is that you are looking for external proof. You are demanding others to prove to you that they, or you, are (or possess) a "soul" or that the soul in fact does exist.
I think you will find that most "religionists" will tell you something along the lines of "the proof of the pudding is in the eating" which means a) you have to find out for yourself and b) don't knock it until you try it.
This response is reasonable to one who is seeking answers for themselves. It would be unreasonable to one who already has a firm opinion on the matter and is seeking only to squash contrary beliefs.

Donnie,

Moreover, "religionists" are "R"eligionists. Many tend to sit nested in a denomination within a religion with a broader belief in a god. Bible school/college might explore "Comparative Religions". Yet, the topic of discovering "which god?" is approached not as a cultural anthopologist would compare and contrast. Herein, with the latter approach one can identify histographic trends, map politicals and the actions of reference groups. This does not prove or disprove the existence of god, but it throws light on the invention of religions,
by humans.

West,

No problem. Just thought the views articulated in the Catholic Encyclopaedia.

The difference between soul and spirit is: all conscious animals exhibit a soulish life based in the primary senses. Only humans exhibit an extent of life in abstract thinking and reasoning. What we are demonstrating now here in reading and debate has spiritual dimensions of thought influence not capable in other living species. Spirit is expressed in character, attitudes and actions not governed merely by basic body appetites and functions. There is one character, attitude and demonstrated actions that we admire, most revere and would seek to emulate. West can identify the grace he expects in people but he cannot accept that character and attitude as God revealed incarnate.

Donnie should you take the word of a conman and try what ever he is trying to decieve you into believing? What is wrong with asking to see the merchandise before paying ? Why are religionists so afraid of proof? Why is talk of existence and truth so threatening to those who try and convince others that their personal belief in gods and souls is based on reality?
Why can god believers talk so much about nothing they can show evidence for?

How can a person claim god or soul without a shred of proof and thus has no knowledge of such a god or soul to offer yet claims immense knowledge anyway?

Philo my dog and the family of magpies that live here demonstrate all the things you claim the soul is. What actual proof of a soul have you based all you say on? If you cannot substantiate the existence of the soul then where are you getting all you claim to know about the soul from?