Spirits and souls

[Saria]

Do you believe there is a difference between spirits and souls, or are they ultimately the same thing?

If they're different, what happens to your soul and your spirit when you die?

I'm curious because I always believed that they were 2 words to imply the same thing but recently, I came across a few people who believe that your soul and your spirit are two seperate things.

Your spirit is eternal. It's the deepest part of you who you spiritually are and can only grow and develop. It travels with you in every life and you are ultimately your spirit.

Your soul however, isn't eternal. It doesn't travel with you in life to life but your soul is one life that is simply left behind. For the souls, there is no crossing over. It can join you in other lives if you find them, and it can lead you. They're more along the lines of shadows and familiars.

Any thoughts or similar theories?

[Sobek]

i generally agree with you. My belief is similar to that of the Ancient Egyptians on the subject.

we have our "Ba" described as our conscousness/personality/spirit...whats makes us who we are.

then theres the "Ka" ourlife force, this could be considered the soul, that which is re-cycled for re-incarnation.

[Eretik]

Very interesting, in Shamanism, there is the concept of 'twin souls' - when we 'journey' one part of us 'keeps watch' and stays within, the other is free to travel and work, the link remains constant. [Thus , in my opinion, there is no danger of 'possession' as there is no empty shell left while in the astral.] I have not seen other beliefs like this,other than Egyptian, spoken of until now, on the boards. I find this fascinating. Good topic Saria.

[Sri Krishna]

On the issue of reincarnation of the spirit or soul. Im not sure how I truly feel on how it all works exactly but I somewhat agree with Sobek.

What I believe is that what we really are is a spiritual being/mind that is ever fluxuating and ever becoming, like electricity and that when we die that electricity acts like radio waves that travels through space and is attracted to and picked up by a fertilised egg. As the person grows it develops its own unique personality based on its own brain, life experience and environment. This quote was where I got the idea from and it feels the most right to me for some reason.

"Think of it being like radio waves. The radio waves, which are not made up of words and music but energy at different frequencies, are transmitted, travel through space, and attracted to and picked up by the receiver from where they are broadcast as words and music. It is the same with the mind. At death, mental energy travels through space, is attracted to and picked up by the fertilised egg. As the embryo grows, it centres itself in the brain from where it later broadcasts itself as the new personality."
~Ven S. Dhammika

[Saria]

Very interesting, in Shamanism, there is the concept of 'twin souls' - when we 'journey' one part of us 'keeps watch' and stays within, the other is free to travel and work, the link remains constant. [Thus , in my opinion, there is no danger of 'possession' as there is no empty shell left while in the astral.] I have not seen other beliefs like this,other than Egyptian, spoken of until now, on the boards. I find this fascinating. Good topic Saria.

It would make sense that you bring up Shamanism. One of the 2 friends I picked that theory off of follows Shamanism.

"Think of it being like radio waves. The radio waves, which are not made up of words and music but energy at different frequencies, are transmitted, travel through space, and attracted to and picked up by the receiver from where they are broadcast as words and music. It is the same with the mind.

You know, I had a very similar theory about energy that I posted here and was primarily scoffed at for. At least I'm not alone! I have a very firm belief in different frequencies of energies and their receivers.

[Eretik]

That was the clear part of your theory Saria. I remember it was the Christian/Atheist references which bothered me, most. I just saw the second reposted theory, which I hadn't noticed before, I will have a read at it later.Sorry, I didn't see it before now. I'm looking to see if I can find some more info. on souls and beliefs - it is interesting and I am excited that other belief systems accept this idea. Back later.

[Sobek]

i thought it was a 50/50 thing to be honest lol.

[Sercee]

Saria, as Eretik said, it wasn't that part of your theory that was the issue. It sounded to me as if you'd taken a basic science textbook and smattered in some of their theories with your own. It seemed like you were excited and were making some connections (which is good) but that you hadn't actually thought it through completely yet. You didn't come across as understanding what you were saying.

The redo is better

[Saria]

Saria, as Eretik said, it wasn't that part of your theory that was the issue. It sounded to me as if you'd taken a basic science textbook and smattered in some of their theories with your own. It seemed like you were excited and were making some connections (which is good) but that you hadn't actually thought it through completely yet. You didn't come across as understanding what you were saying.

The redo is better

You know. I guess those are good theories then because I've never read any book on theories of physics. I've read some chemistry but that was about it, so if those theories already exist, then they're probably pretty good