Where does the soul exist in the human person?

[johnnyt3000]

If our immortal souls are our embodiment for life, where in the body does it exist? (In the Spiritual, not scientific sense). If two persons were to have a surgery where there heads switched bodies with the other person, whose soul would be in which body? Are our souls inside our heads or all around our bodies? How does this apply to conciseness? If they were to switch the different sides of their brains, would they have different personalities? Especially if one was religious and the other an atheist?

 

[Usagi]

The soul is not material and has no location in space. Even the common idea of it as a ghostly version of our body living “inside” us is a projection of material, spatial ideas onto an immaterial thing.

That said, the brain is key to consciousness and personality in our bodies. In the case of something like a head or brain transplant, all the knowledge we have indicates that the mind of the person would move with the brain. Not sure about the “half-and-half” option you mention. Like other cases of severe change or damage to the brain, extreme personality changes could well result. That would not mean the replacement or division of the soul, though.

Usagi

 

[mdgspencer]

According to the Catholic tradition of thought, the soul is what makes us alive. And so the soul is present in every part of our bodies. Perhaps though you are speaking about our individuality (if this is a separable issue).
Actually though I have been wondering what will happen when the proposed head transplant occurs. It may be impossible for the person to live afterwards. But if not, we will see then from what happens then, what will happen.

 

[petra22]

One time I thought that since God sustains us (holds us up) He would have to be right under the lining of our skin… or else how could we move and have our being in Him?

Very interesting subject, IMO!

 

[johnnyt3000]

The soul is not material and has no location in space. Even the common idea of it as a ghostly version of our body living “inside” us is a projection of material, spatial ideas onto an immaterial thing.

That said, the brain is key to consciousness and personality in our bodies. In the case of something like a head or brain transplant, all the knowledge we have indicates that the mind of the person would move with the brain. Not sure about the “half-and-half” option you mention. Like other cases of severe change or damage to the brain, extreme personality changes could well result. That would not mean the replacement or division of the soul, though.

Usagi

What is the difference between personality, consciousness, and the soul? Does the soul have anything to do with our personalities? Does the soul have anything to do with they way we are? Whether we believe in God or not?

 

[Pat_Albertson]

To take the question a bit further, what would happen to the souls of two people if their brains were cut down the middle (across the corpus-callosum) and the separate brains were made to grow and join? Would there be two hybrid souls?

I don’t know the answer or if it is even theoretically possible. Sure, we can imagine such a thing, but that does not mean it can be done.*

I’m not trying to be gross here, and I certainly think such a thing would be highly unethical, but that does not mean that such an event is out of the bounds of what is possible.*

Thinking of such a thing does tend to force one towards the idea that the brain is all there is, doesn’t it?

Some people who have received organ transplants have claimed to have received some sort of “personal essence” from the person whose organ they received. Did they really, or was it just a case of over-active imagination? I’m sure I don’t know.

A head to body transplant is claimed to be in the works: Programmer Spiridonov’s head transplant: 10 amazing facts.

• Yes, my second paragraph and my third paragraph have somewhat contradictory meanings, but I am just trying to touch base with reality, whichever way such a reality might be.)

 

[Faxero]

What is the difference between personality, consciousness, and the soul? Does the soul have anything to do with our personalities

On Earth, we all are all unique individuals.

In the afterlife, we remain unique.

Our souls, when entering the afterlife, take all of the personalities, experiences, and dispositions that its earthly vessel had, and keeps it for itself. It then approaches the place of judgment, which examines the earthly personalities, experiences, and dispositions, seeing if they are fit for Heaven. :yukonjoe:

If the examined elements are fit for Heaven, then any imperfections within the soul’s personality and dispositions will be removed via purifying fire. Or, if there are no imperfections, the soul enters Heaven straightaway.

In other words, everything we are as physical creatures is directly connected to the development of our spiritual bodies. Our souls like pieces of white paper to be filled by the physical actions which we commit as physical creatures.

In short, the soul has nothing to do with the development of our personalities. It just takes the personalities that we developed while on Earth and keeps it in the afterlife. :heaven:

Does the soul have anything to do with they way we are? Whether we believe in God or not?

We have everything to do with what our souls will become. All souls comprehend God’s majesty, but the imperfections of the physical temple may fill souls with blacker colors, rather than the lighter colors they are to be filled with.

Our souls react with our bodies, and they direct our bodies as needed. Our bodies, in turn, may either heed or rebel against the soul’s disposition, and this soul, which is connected with the body, naturally complies.

 

[GEddie]

If our immortal souls are our embodiment for life, where in the body does it exist? (In the Spiritual, not scientific sense). If two persons were to have a surgery where there heads switched bodies with the other person, whose soul would be in which body? Are our souls inside our heads or all around our bodies? How does this apply to conciseness? If they were to switch the different sides of their brains, would they have different personalities? Especially if one was religious and the other an atheist?

Because our soul generates our mind, which resides in our head, we may believe that the soul resides in the head. But that is a misconception, because soul is not just mind, but life. It fills The entire human body.

Head transplantation does not currently exist and may never do so.

ICXC NIKA

 

[GEddie]

One time I though t that since God sustains us (holds us up) He would have to be right under the lining of our skin… or else how could we move and have our being in Him? IMO!

Well, indeed, someone did say once that He is “nearer than breathing, and closer than hands and feet.”

Think about that. Obviously, we can’t live without breath, and if we were unable to use our hands or feet, life would be sadly broken. But even between breaths, or when asleep and there is no muscle tone in our limbs, our souls are held in our bodies.

Right at the surface layer of our skin. (Remember, our skin itself is alive – our bodies’ largest organ – and so contains soul.)

And it is HE who does the holding!

ICXC NIKA

 

[GEddie]

What is the difference between personality, consciousness, and the soul? Does the soul have anything to do with our personalities? Does the soul have anything to do with they way we are? Whether we believe in God or not?

Consciousness is generated by the brain in our head. It enables us to live life via our minds.

Personality is the aspect of our mind that is expressed to others.

Both are generated by the action of the life in our bodies, and so, result from the action of soul.

ICXC NIKA

 

[johnnyt3000]

Because our soul generates our mind, which resides in our head, we may believe that the soul resides in the head. But that is a misconception, because soul is not just mind, but life. It fills The entire human body.

Head transplantation does not currently exist and may never do so.

ICXC NIKA

Of course head transplantation would be wrong. The question is if. Where would their souls be?

 

[fred_conty]

The soul is in the body not as water in a balloon, but as electricity thruout.
It energizes every part of the body, it is life giving.

Switching heads wouldn’t work. Because when the body is no longer a fit place to have a soul, then the soul must leave the body, which is called death. So that the case of switching, we have two souls leaving their unfit bodies which do not have heads.

As far as switching sides of brains, if that were to be made possible and it was done, I believe the brain would become part of the body it is in, and therefore would have that soul as well. Much like any other organ transplant currently.

May God bless and keep you.