Whether or not the soul exists may depend entirely on how it\u2019s being defined, and depending on the definition may also depend on faith, religious or otherwise. The human soul is thought by many as inherently good while the absence of a soul leaves open the possibility to commit and even delight in malicious or evil acts \u2014 these destructive actions are also interpreted in terms of being dark. Oddly enough, man\u2019s ego enjoys taking credit for his goodness, while he regularly attributes responsibility for destructive behaviors to outside influences, including at times a supernatural consciousness of evil that influences or provokes harmful human behaviors and thereby takes the soul, either in part or in whole.<\/p>\n
Good or evil in any combination can manifest entirely from within any individual for what sometimes are no humanly discernible reasons. At other times the soul is absolutely being influenced by outside forces, including human and the forces of nature. Our definition would not be complete without recognizing that works committed during the physical life, whether good or evil, live on after physical death by affecting those who\u2019ll be living in the future. Even the obscure and long forgotten dead can have a profound impact on our current reality if they ultimately influenced the mind, or perhaps saved the life of someone who was or became influential at some point in history.<\/p>\n
We begin life with a non-negotiable soul thought by some to be a blank slate at birth, but I\u2019ll argue here that it\u2019s not blank and certain predispositions are dictated by instincts and genetic code(s) which also affect the workings of the mind. There are studies indicating<\/p>\n
is a factor in experiencing empathy and compassion, and we can\u2019t deny other differing intellectual abilities and inclinations along with given physical characteristics \u2014 all of which shape the soul through our experiences. Theoretically the natural soul uninfluenced by outside forces, could range from pure good to pure evil with most people having the potential for either, at times depending on present circumstances or what they\u2019ve been subjected to. Due to diversity of attributes and handicaps we are all unique, but we can generalize regarding those with similar traits and beliefs which dictate the processes of reasoning and\/or irrational thinking that ultimately leads to conclusions and the actions or inactions of any individual.<\/p>\n
Because the soul is shaped by events in life, we can define it as: the sum total of all a person is given before birth, combined with the understanding acquired from personal experiences in life, while recognizing a person\u2019s interactions with others and the physical world are determined by the soul or its absence, and will yield benevolent, malevolent or neutral actions \u2014 the human soul is alive and real, it affects our actions and interactions with others and how we feel about ourselves as well as others, including the world and life in general \u2014 and by affecting others in the immediate sense, it also affects others well into the future.<\/p>\n