Body, Mind, and Soul

Abstract

Some people maintain that the individual should not play a role in formulating morality because we must follow the words of God. However, we cannot actively follow God’s words without interpreting those words, and the fact that there are hundreds of religions shows that many interpretations are possible. The words of God are generally considered to have been spoken centuries ago. Two questions are pertinent: (a) Has God stopped speaking? (b) Should interpretations cease? Whatever the answers, the fact is that, for better or worse, interpretations do continue to be made. Interpretations depend upon mentation, but our relations with God are considered to be mediated through the soul. Therefore, this chapter will discuss briefly the relationships of body, mind, and soul.