Atheism/ skepticism and the soul

[lcalise]

Does anyone know of any good resources to explain the Christian/ Catholic concept of the soul? Any resources to answer atheists/skeptics?

I have a pretty undeveloped sense of philosophy and the criticism I found on New Advent referenced too many other philosophical concepts for me to grasp. I am asking because I am reading “A Dialogue on Personal Identity and Immortality” by John Perry and I am having trouble explaining my belief to the mainly secular class.

Thanks!

 

[Gilbert_Keith]

The Catholic Encyclopedia might be a good place to start.

newadvent.org/cathen/14153a.htm

When dealing with atheists, it may be wise to admit up front that the existence of the soul is no more demonstrable than the existence of God, at least by the standard of the atheist who is likely to insist that such concepts have no scientific basis (as if science covers all the bases).

I have believed for some time now that atheists do not want to believe in God and the soul, and therefore no amount of debating is going to alter their position. About all you can do is demonstrate to them that a life without God or the soul factored in results in reducing man to the level of a beast … and perhaps you might suggest in as gentle a way as possible that this is exactly the trap set by the devil who does not want us to believe in God or the soul or even himself. Having obtained that goal, the devil has a clear path by which to degrade us and to destroy us since our animal wants are all that remain to be satisfied.

But again, with an atheist always stress the great Christian mysteries … and ask the atheist if he does not also find mysteries without answers in his own philosophy.

The atheist who denies the reality of unanswerable mysteries is not a very profound atheist.