[froggiepopple]

Rules

1. Be respectful.
2. Not all of us have the same sort of beliefs, so take that into consideration, just because someone shares a different opinion than you doesn't make them wrong.
3. Don't push your beliefs on others.
4. Stay on topic.

Moderators please feel free to add any other rules.

How it works

1. The topic for this thread is "Do the vampire have souls."
2. I will make a list of questions to help us get started. You don't have to use those questions, but they can be used as a guideline.
3. There will only be one topic per thread.
4. Once we get close (after 250 posts) we can start discussing topics for the next thread.

Questions

*IMPORTANT* - This discussion is about the vampires of the Twilight Saga.

1. What does the word soul mean to you?
2. Do you think it's possible to be immortal on earth and have a soul at the same time? Explain.
3. Do you think having a soul indicates if someone is "good" or not?
4. Last of all, do you think vampires have a soul.

[Scythe]

These are really difficult questions, but I'll try and answer...

1. What does the word soul mean to you?

A soul to me - probably influenced by BtVS - makes you know guilt for any mis-deeds. In Twilight however, I'm not too sure. It's going to depend whether or not Vampire's do have souls.

2. Do you think it's possible to be immortal on earth and have a soul at the same time? Explain.

I'm not sure that I understand this question... is it to do with believing that souls go to Heaven?

3. Do you think having a soul indicates if someone is "good" or not?

Not good or bad, no - it's to do with the decisions that people make.

4. Last of all, do you think vampires have a soul.

Twilight Vampires do have souls IMO

[Fading Letters]

1. What does the word soul mean to you?
I think that the soul is what makes you alive. IMO, you can't live without a soul and experience feelings like love or hate. I think without a soul you aren't able to actually live. You'd be an empty shell if you don't have a soul.

2. Do you think it's possible to be immortal on earth and have a soul at the same time? Explain.
I'm sure it's possible. If I project this onto the Twilight Saga (can I? I'm not sure if I understood the question correctly) I'd say it is possible. I don't think that a being like Edward doesn't have a soul. It doesn't exactly have to do with him, it's more that fact that Jacob has a soul and that he's only half-human. Why should immortal beings not have a soul? They're not entirely human - just like the wolves - but they do live. I hope that makes sense.
In reality, well, who is immortal, huh? But assuming immortality is possible in real life I'd still say, yes they have a soul. If I tie in with Jen's question about the heaven thing... for me immortal means "not dead" and if souls of dead people go to heaven this means they're soul is still in place.

3. Do you think having a soul indicates if someone is "good" or not?
No, I think this has more to do with their conscience. A person - being - can have a soul, because why not? They can love someone like others do but still do bad things. It's the actions that makes someone bad.

4. Last of all, do you think vampires have a soul.
Yes, I'm sure they do. Even vampires like James or Victoria.

[froggiepopple]

Originally Posted by Jen 2. Do you think it's possible to be immortal on earth and have a soul at the same time? Explain. I'm not sure that I understand this question... is it to do with believing that souls go to Heaven?

From what I read in the Personal Correspondences over at Twilight Lexicon, Stephenie said the reason Edward doesn't think he has a soul or didn't think that was because he thought he was given immortality on earth in replace for immortality on heaven, ergo, he doesn't or didn't think you can have a soul and still be granted immortality on earth. I hope that makes sense.

*DISCLAIMER* - When I answer these questions I'll be going into my own religious beliefs quite a bit. Once again these are just beliefs. I have no way to prove that what I believe is more right than what anyone else believes and to tell you truth I really don't want to.

1. What does the word soul mean to you?
I agree with what Isa said. I think it is the soul that makes something "alive." Otherwise it's just an empty shell.
2. Do you think it's possible to be immortal on earth and have a soul at the same time? Explain.
I think it's very possible. Adam and Eve were told if they ate the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, that they would surely die. I don't think this was meant to mean that they would drop dead the second the fruit touched their lips, I think it meant that they would lose their immortality and be giving mortality in place of it. When God breathed life into Adam's nostrils I believe that was the soul. I could be way off I'm definitely not a religious scholar.
3. Do you think having a soul indicates if someone is "good" or not?
Not at all. I also don't think soul is another term for conscious.
4. Last of all, do you think vampires have a soul.
I think the Twilight vampires do, because they have free will and they also have a good inclination and evil inclination. I also want to add that I think that Twilight Saga vampires have the ability to reach a higher level of righteousness than the Twilight human characters, because the lower down you are the higher you can rise. Plus they have to deal with a real strong temptation to murder people constantly. I believe if they can overcome that or fight it off every day for eternity they can become very righteous.

[Chris]

1. What does the word soul mean to you?

I think of it as ... not really your conscience, but what makes you, you.

2. Do you think it's possible to be immortal on earth and have a soul at the same time? Explain.

As long as immortal beings have freedom of choice, yes.

3. Do you think having a soul indicates if someone is "good" or not?

No. I think everybody has a soul, whether they be someone I'd consider a 'bad' person.

4. Last of all, do you think vampires have a soul.

I believe the vampires in Twilight have souls. We see them making personal decisions and choices. The Cullen's choose to be 'vegetarian' or Edward choosing to leave Bella because he believes that he's putting her in danger.

[migamoo]

1. What does the word soul mean to you?
It defines who you are. Man, I really can't explain it but it's just there and it shapes the kind of person you ar.e

2. Do you think it's possible to be immortal on earth and have a soul at the same time? Explain.
Yes, because even if you "die" I think the soul lives on. Whether through others memories or in some essence. If you're immortal, then you haven't really died and thus, still have one.

3. Do you think having a soul indicates if someone is "good" or not?
Yes and no. I think there are people with more "good" souls who tend to think of the bigger picture and try to help. But that doesn't mean "bad" souls are the opposite.

4. Last of all, do you think vampires have a soul.
Yes.

[froggiepopple]

Originally Posted by fieryangel Yes, because even if you "die" I think the soul lives on. Whether through others memories or in some essence. If you're immortal, then you haven't really died and thus, still have one.

Does that mean you don't consider vampires to really be dead?

[iamsher]

1. What does the word soul mean to you?
To me, it means having a conscience.

2. Do you think it's possible to be immortal on earth and have a soul at the same time? Explain.
Definitely. Having a soul means that you have something to lose. Immortals can have a conscience and can be in risk of losing it.

3. Do you think having a soul indicates if someone is "good" or not?
Depends. Since I feel that having a soul is really having a conscience, then one must have some goodness within them to feel that what they've done is wrong or to feel a sense of guilt.

4. Last of all, do you think vampires have a soul.
Not all do, but they can.

[migamoo]

Originally Posted by froggiepopple (View Post) Does that mean you don't consider vampires to really be dead?

I think they had to die to become a vampire. But they do rise so I wouldn't consider them to be the "walking dead," just a new kind of being.

[froggiepopple]

Originally Posted by Fieryangel (View Post) I think they had to die to become a vampire. But they do rise so I wouldn't consider them to be the "walking dead," just a new kind of being.

So it's kinda like dying and being born again as a different creature... Am I on the right track?

[migamoo]

Yeah, I guess that's a way to look at it.

[Andie]

Great idea for a thread Leigh :thumb_up: Thanks for starting it! I'll have to think about all those questions for a bit and get back to you

[Scythe]

Originally Posted by froggiepopple (View Post) So it's kinda like dying and being born again as a different creature... Am I on the right track?

That's how I think of these Vampire's, but for BtVS it would be different.

[froggiepopple]

Originally Posted by Scythe (View Post) That's how I think of these Vampire's, but for BtVS it would be different.

I think that theory makes the most sense, and when it comes to BTVS I've only seen the movie.

[gilmorebrazil]

1. What does the word soul mean to you?
The essence of life, that incorporeal part that make us alive and different from "things". What gives us conscious.
2. Do you think it's possible to be immortal on earth and have a soul at the same time? Explain.
This is too hyphotetical for me to form any theory. But I guess it would depend of what means to be immortal; how a creature gets there.
3. Do you think having a soul indicates if someone is "good" or not?
No, only that is alive. But since living creatures can make choices, they have the ability to be good or bad.
4. Last of all, do you think vampires have a soul.
In the Twilight world yes.

I think they had to die to become a vampire. But they do rise so I wouldn't consider them to be the "walking dead," just a new kind of being.

I don't think that someone has to die to become a vampire in the Twilight universe. There is a painful transformation from human being to something else while the person is alive, not dead. If the person dies, there is no transformation.