“…There be those who say that things and places have souls, and there be those who say they have not; I dare not say, myself, but I will tell of The Street.” – H.P. Lovecraft, “The Street”
The concept of a soul is a religious or philosophical one and, together with mind and body comprise the trinity of existence for an individual.
In common with Jews, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs and Hindus, the ancient Greeks believed in metempsychosis, the transmigration of souls whereby a being reincarnates in another living organism – plant, animal or human being. The eternal movement of a soul from body to body is called samsara by the Eastern religions.
Christians, and particularly Roman Catholics, are divided on the issue with some believing that animals possess souls and others denying it. Some Christians believe that reincarnation is the equivalent of eternal damnation. The overwhelming majority, however, believe that there is a soul and some attempt to provide proof, even though such belief is, of its very essence, neither provable nor falsifiable. Certain mystics believe that every living being is ‘part’ of a Universal Soul, others see a more complex interrelationship between God, man and animals. Atheists tend to disbelieve in the existence of a soul in any living organism – and, by extension, in non-living things or places.
The Romans believed in the genius loci, the protective or guardian spirit of a place. According to the Wikipedia entry for ‘genius loci’, “…In the context of modern architectural theory, genius loci has profound implications for place-making, falling within the philosophical branch of ‘phenomenology’.” This concept has much in common with feng shui which “…is a discipline with guidelines that are compatible with many techniques of architectural planning.” In ‘Reports of Certain Events in London’, China Miéville (who has acknowledged the influence of Lovecraft on his writing) describes the Viæ Feræ, the wild streets that occur and non-occur as they fight battles with each other for survival and dominance.
Whether or not ‘things’ have souls is more problematical. “…In the horror genre model of the universe, whatever is “out there” really is trying to “get” you—the world is full of inimical things that devour all goodness and still have no goodness inside. What’s after you is pure evil, something which is literally God-forsaken. There is no recourse but to run, hide, or fight. And it really is hopeless.” (Neptune, Klipot, and Fighting Evil).
It is illogical and yet strangely consistent with his contrariness that such a confirmed atheist as Lovecraft was, who stated that, “…I am, indeed, an absolute materialist as far as actual belief goes; with not a shred of credence in any form of supernaturalism – religion, spiritualism, transcendentalism, metempsychosis, or immortality...” should, in one of his short stories, suggest that all entities are in possession of souls.
The concept of a soul is a religious or philosophical one and, together with mind and body comprise the trinity of existence for an individual.
In common with Jews, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs and Hindus, the ancient Greeks believed in metempsychosis, the transmigration of souls whereby a being reincarnates in another living organism – plant, animal or human being. The eternal movement of a soul from body to body is called samsara by the Eastern religions.
Christians, and particularly Roman Catholics, are divided on the issue with some believing that animals possess souls and others denying it. Some Christians believe that reincarnation is the equivalent of eternal damnation. The overwhelming majority, however, believe that there is a soul and some attempt to provide proof, even though such belief is, of its very essence, neither provable nor falsifiable. Certain mystics believe that every living being is ‘part’ of a Universal Soul, others see a more complex interrelationship between God, man and animals. Atheists tend to disbelieve in the existence of a soul in any living organism – and, by extension, in non-living things or places.
The Romans believed in the genius loci, the protective or guardian spirit of a place. According to the Wikipedia entry for ‘genius loci’, “…In the context of modern architectural theory, genius loci has profound implications for place-making, falling within the philosophical branch of ‘phenomenology’.” This concept has much in common with feng shui which “…is a discipline with guidelines that are compatible with many techniques of architectural planning.” In ‘Reports of Certain Events in London’, China Miéville (who has acknowledged the influence of Lovecraft on his writing) describes the Viæ Feræ, the wild streets that occur and non-occur as they fight battles with each other for survival and dominance.
Whether or not ‘things’ have souls is more problematical. “…In the horror genre model of the universe, whatever is “out there” really is trying to “get” you—the world is full of inimical things that devour all goodness and still have no goodness inside. What’s after you is pure evil, something which is literally God-forsaken. There is no recourse but to run, hide, or fight. And it really is hopeless.” (Neptune, Klipot, and Fighting Evil).
It is illogical and yet strangely consistent with his contrariness that such a confirmed atheist as Lovecraft was, who stated that, “…I am, indeed, an absolute materialist as far as actual belief goes; with not a shred of credence in any form of supernaturalism – religion, spiritualism, transcendentalism, metempsychosis, or immortality...” should, in one of his short stories, suggest that all entities are in possession of souls.
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