Ahh yes, free time. Isn't it great?! Though too much and you become bored and depressed. Anyways, since I think I have a lot of free time, I might as well write about what I said I'd write about, THE SOUL! It's something I always wonder about. Is it real? How many do we have? What part of us is the soul and what part is body? One of the age old questions, well besides "what was the greatest thing before sliced bread?" In my brain, I hear an imaginary christian saying, "JESUS"! *smiling* Give that gal a 100 points! Anyways, I was talking about the SOUL!

I think the best way for me to explain my perspective is to explain what its not. Its not your thoughts, feelings or behaviors. For I can change your mind with a good argument, change your feelings with an insult and manipulate your behavior by postively reinforcing you. Or better still, if I pumped you up with enough drugs, all of those could change. With a lil brain surgery, I can affect it even more dramaticially. Therefore, the soul can't be modified. I think that is rule number 1.

That eliminates a lot. What about animals? Do they have souls? If you asked the christian philosopher, Descartes, he'd say no. He says what seperates us from them is emotions. But clearly, they do have emotions. Ever watch the reaction of a dog when it sees its owner after a long day? Or see an abused cat become detached and depressed? Ok then, I thought so. So they have souls. Though, as my Ray pointed out when I told him this, he asked, "what about insects? Yes, because they to have animation. No one can create a bug in a lab from only chemicals.

However, I think that insect part will bother a few. We like to think that killing them would be sanctioned by God. But are bugs not more alive than rocks? If you're a creationist, didn't God breathe life into them too?

So that's what I'm getting at, the animation is what makes us different; possibly souls. Though its even more complicated than that. In our brains, there are many sections that control different parts. However, there is no structure that would allow for the gathering of all the different information. In other words, there is no one processing center for all that we experience. That is what everyone is looking for these days. They want to find the consciousness that makes you, YOU.

There is also one other thing that is part of our soul. It is our basic unchanging essence, despite the fact that all the cells in our body die in a matter of 7 years and reproduce. What I'm saying is, there is an unchanging you. The part that was you when you were 5 and the part that is you now, and the part that will be there when your 90. Despite a change in personality, abilities and logic.

How many souls are there? The answer, as many as you feel comfortable with. Ok, that was a lame joke. Though the answer seems to vary from culture to culture. I like the number 1. It's something I've been strongly socialized with. There seems to be no real proof that there is only 1, unless you subscribe to the bible. Even then, there's your spirit, the "holy" spirit, evil spirits, and possibly your guardian angel. *wait, people like to think those are on the outside* Oh, and the "GOD" spirit. How many are we at? Like I said, i like the number 1. I know for sure that's real. Either that, or I'm just a composite of advanced molecues that have spontaniously sprung up by a cosmic accident. And thus, I will spontanous stop after those molecues cease to communicate. I don't like to think pessimistically. Plus, then life has no point and I need a point to keep me going. Anyways......

Reading the above, I write as though I'm certain, but ofcourse I could be wrong. None of us really know what is going on. Not the whole picture atleast.

I feel as though I'm missing something. Hmm, I'll wait for comments to clarify any questions. Though, as is typical, I won't get a lot of comments when I want them. You guys like to give advice when someone is down or lost. I understand. I'm just like that. I went through most of your diaries today and commented on only one. Everyone was too ok to need my input. Anyways, take care.