Jossverse metaphysics indicate that the "soul" is not equivalent to what it is in popular culture, nor to what it is in Christianity and many other religions, and I guess it bothers me that so many people seem to miss that point. The "soul" as defined by Jossverse, as far as I can tell, is morality, human decency, and the ability to feel remorse.
See, I think this is a problem. Because from what I can tell, the difference between Angel/us and Spike/uh, Spike is great. Can this be accounted for with personality differences? Because it seems to me that the soul acts in a different way for each. How does someone without "morality, human decency, and the ability to feel remorse" choose to get a soul (which is what the writers tell us he fully intended)?
I never argued that the soul in the Jossverse was anything like the Christian version. But I do think that not enough care was taken in deliniating that difference. Certainly part of this can be interpreted as a limited amount of info on the part of the Watchers--they seem to be under the impression that love is impossible--but at the same time the addition of the finer feelings seems, when I re-watch the series, to be added to the 'verse, not just the characters' knowledge. Does that make sense?
And I was annoyed with this girl of my expectations because I just didn't identify and I love Willow and Buffy and Cordy were enough cute perky cheerleader for my taste. Then there was Tara.
I wasn't spoiled for the show, so I didn't know what was going on; and while I grew to love Tara, her intial appearance (since I wasn't expecting anything at all) relied too much (for me) on the stutter and on making a gorgeous girl... not.
Though damnit, I have to confess, I think Fred's hot...
Re: for a married gal, I sure have lots of gay icons...
Jossverse metaphysics indicate that the "soul" is not equivalent to what it is in popular culture, nor to what it is in Christianity and many other religions, and I guess it bothers me that so many people seem to miss that point. The "soul" as defined by Jossverse, as far as I can tell, is morality, human decency, and the ability to feel remorse.
See, I think this is a problem. Because from what I can tell, the difference between Angel/us and Spike/uh, Spike is great. Can this be accounted for with personality differences? Because it seems to me that the soul acts in a different way for each. How does someone without "morality, human decency, and the ability to feel remorse" choose to get a soul (which is what the writers tell us he fully intended)?
I never argued that the soul in the Jossverse was anything like the Christian version. But I do think that not enough care was taken in deliniating that difference. Certainly part of this can be interpreted as a limited amount of info on the part of the Watchers--they seem to be under the impression that love is impossible--but at the same time the addition of the finer feelings seems, when I re-watch the series, to be added to the 'verse, not just the characters' knowledge. Does that make sense?
And I was annoyed with this girl of my expectations because I just didn't identify and I love Willow and Buffy and Cordy were enough cute perky cheerleader for my taste. Then there was Tara.
I wasn't spoiled for the show, so I didn't know what was going on; and while I grew to love Tara, her intial appearance (since I wasn't expecting anything at all) relied too much (for me) on the stutter and on making a gorgeous girl... not.
Though damnit, I have to confess, I think Fred's hot...