The thesis
The concept of the soul has raised a lot of controversies over the years. Different religious beliefs hold different perceptions of the human soul. The paper argues about the concept of the soul, distinguishing the Germanic culture, Christianity and Taoism perspectives of the soul. The thesis states that the concept of the soul plays a very important role in many Germanic countries. The soul is perceived to be a part of people's fate, birth, death and rebirth. The paper explains different contradictions of perceptions regarding the concept of the soul. This thesis is arguable based on the religious beliefs discussed by the writer. The writer achieves relevance by quoting references that deal with the beliefs in the Germanic country concerning the human soul. The arguments are based on different perspectives, which are both arguable. Even though these perspectives cannot be proven, they can be argued out in relation to religious beliefs. However, the arguments presented by the Germanic cultures Christianity and Taoism are simply beliefs. Nobody has been able to prove these beliefs, and the argument of the existence of the soul by both religions remains an abstract concept, which can be easily dismissed by people who do not believe in anything.
Christianity, for example, holds to the belief that the evil soul is destined for hell while the soul of a good person goes to heaven. According to Christianity, the soul cannot survive outside a human body and has to settle in either heaven or hell after death. This contradicts with Taoism, which believes that the soul is immortal, and keeps on moving from one body to another. The Christian belief about the soul does not hold strong because there is no basis for judging good and evil. The Germanic cultural views about hell and the underground where the soul descends to after a body die also holds little truth because no one has lived to tell what happens to his/her soul after death. All these belief systems are merely beliefs, which can change with time.
Support of the Thesis
The thesis is appropriate because it seeks to explain the contradicting beliefs about the soul. Despite the different religious and cultural views about the soul, the latter is a concept that fascinates people worldwide. The thesis is, however, quite broad in explaining the concept of the soul. Instead of only one religious belief, the thesis focuses on Germanic cultures, Christianity and Taoism (Bokekamp, 156). This is quite a broad perspective of the soul. The wideness of the topic can cause confusion as the essay proceeds, and a reader may not be able to handle so much opinion all at once. The wording on the thesis is quite specific to the Germanic cultural beliefs then goes ahead to explain the religious views concerning the topic. The thesis may not be researchable because it is based on belief and not on proven facts. The research will bear no fruit, therefore. The sources used can only argue based on the beliefs presented, but cannot give enough proof on whether these cultural and religious believes are true or not.
Organization, Style and Mechanics
The paper is organized into long paragraphs, which explain the thesis in details. The writer expands on the thesis, explaining the concept of the soul from different perspectives. The writer begins with an explanation of the soul based on the Germanic cultures. The explanation involves a myth the Germanic cultures have coined to explain the theory of the soul. The author goes ahead to narrate different theological perspectives of the soul. The Christian and Taoist view of the soul. A comparison between the two religious beliefs and the Germanic cultural views then ensues. The flow of the words written by the author are easy to relate and connect. The author's transition from one perspective to another blend in successfully such that a shift is noticed by the reader. The distinction of concepts is easily identifiable.
Conclusively, the article describes quite distinctively, the concept of the soul from different perspectives. The author narrows down from the [perspective of the Germanic cultures to that of two famous religious beliefs, Christianity and Taoism. Several pieces of evidence by the author act to improve the concept of the soul. However, it is close to impossible for a non-believer of the concept of the soul to believe in the beliefs and theories discussed by the author. The beliefs are based solely on theories and myths and are not convincing enough to a nonbeliever.
Works Cited
Harrell, Stevan. The Concept of Soul in Chinese Folk Religion 3rd ser. 38 (1979):
519-28. Web.
Bokenkamp, Stephen R. "Ancestors and Anxiety: Daoism and the Birth of Rebirth in
China." University of California Press (2007): n. pag. Web.
