Male Souls Female Souls?

[Nara]

Do our souls have a gender or do they transcend gender? I’m wondering if male and female characteristics and personality traits are an expression of the soul or purely biological.

Thanks,
Nara

 

[Ghosty]

Do our souls have a gender or do they transcend gender? I’m wondering if male and female characteristics and personality traits are an expression of the soul or purely biological.

Thanks,
Nara

One thing to keep in mind is that our souls can’t be considered apart from our bodies. It’s not as if two seperate things are brought together, but rather we are “body/souls”. Since the physical body is part and parcel with what it means to be a soul, it’s impossible to say that they transcend gender. Souls only exist with gendered bodies, so even though we tend to view gender as a biological thing, this biology is directly connected with the soul.

Peace and God bless!

 

[cpayne]

Gender doesn’t influence the powers and functions of the soul (IMHO). But it probably influences the way these powers and functions are expressed (IMHO).

IMHO, that is.

 

[Nita]

Human souls do continue to exist (and in a cognizant state) when they are separated from the body. The separation is temporary - from physical death till the time of the resurrection.

I don’t think gender is considered a quality/characteristic of the soul on its own in perennial philosophy. Altho even in the separated stage after death, one would be aware of whether their flesh had been male or female. This information would be in the intellect which is part of the soul. So, I don’t know if that would qualify as gender being a part of the soul. Will have to do some searching in Aquinas when I get the time.

Your question brought to mind Our Lord’s words:
Mt 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

Gender is definitely part of the body, and thus a part of our personhood when soul and body are united. But it seems it will be experienced by us differently in the resurrected state.

 

[lobster]

Do our souls have a gender or do they transcend gender? I’m wondering if male and female characteristics and personality traits are an expression of the soul or purely biological.

Thanks,
Nara

Since Catholicism doesn’t subscribe to dualism, it follows that human beings are engendered entities due to their mortal bodies’ identity. It does not follow therefore, that one loses his identity after the resurrection, rather he becomes perfected.

 

[w_stewart]

Do our souls have a gender or do they transcend gender? I’m wondering if male and female characteristics and personality traits are an expression of the soul or purely biological.

Thanks,
Nara

Strictly speaking, sex (male or female) is a biological construct while gender (masculinity or femininity) is a social construct. Soul, on the other, is a spiritual construct. Saying this, I don’t think a soul has a sex or gender.

 

[rpp]

While our soul is separated from our body at the time of death, this separation is temporary. At the end of time (when Christ returns) comes the resurrection. Our perfected bodies will be raised and our souls reunited with them and we will become physically immortal.

Body and soul are not separate. The soul is not complete without the body and a body without a soul. A soul without a body is an angel. A body without a soul is an animal.

Gender is a critical aspect of what makes us human. However, our souls, when temporarily separated from our bodies between our death and the Resurrection, have no physicality. Therefore, gender is, temporarily, moot.