WHAT IS THE SOUL?

L.O To understand how the Abrahamic

faiths approach the concept of the soul.

Argument for materialism:

Psychology: Psychologists suggest that our behaviour is informed by our
upbringings, backgrounds and past experiences.
Sociology: Sociologists theorise that our identities are formed by our
societies, and the soul is not created or derived from spiritual means.
Medical science: The soul is a illusion, and consists of physical
(chemical) elements.
Theology: Religion states that all sentient living creatures possess souls
which survive death.

Arguments for dualism:

Dualism = The belief that the body and the soul are separate,
and the soul will survive after death.
The Abrahamic faiths all agree that a person must recognise the
dualism of the soul, for without doing so life after death will not
make sense.

ANCIENT
EGYPT

ANCIENT GREECE

KEY WORDS:
Polytheism (belief in multiple
Gods), Aristotle and Plato.

ARISTOTLE
Aristotle, following Plato, defined the soul
as the core or "essence" of a living being
A thing has a soul because it lives and
because it is active.

PLATO
Plato considered the soul as the essence of a
person- that which decides how we behave.
Plato believed the soul was eternal and could
exist without the body.

Logos
(mind)

Thymos (emotion)

Eros (desire)

CHRISTIANITY
In theology the soul or essence of the individual is
seen to survive death.
Within the Bible, it states that God created man from
the dust, and breathed life into his nostrils. Through
this, man became a living creature in possession of a
soul. (Genesis 2:7)

JUDAISM AND DEATH

Similarly to Christians and Muslims, Jews believe in
the soul.
If a person lives a righteous life and adheres to the
613 mitzvots, they will be able to enter Gan Eden
(paradise).
If the individual is sinful, then he will go to Gehinnom
(waiting place) and eventually reach Gehenna (hell).
Many of those who sleep in the dusty earth will
awaken: these for everlasting life and these for
shame, for everlasting abhorrence
Daniel 12:2

ISLAM AND DEATH

Muslims believe that Allah decides when a person
should die, for only Allah himself can extinguish
life.
On the day of judgement, everyone will raise from
the dead, and their sins will be uncovered.
This day is often referred to as:
The Day of Resurrection (yawm al-Qiyamah)
The Day of Judgement (yawm ad-din)
The Last Hour (as-saa)

EXAM QUESTIONThere is no such thing as the soul; the body is all there
is.
Discuss this statement. You should include different
supported points of view and a personal viewpoint. You
must refer to Christianity in your answer.