Now this is VERY touchy, what I am about to ask might become a flaming topic, just like Lonely Boy.

I've been thinking to myself, "Can a person who is agnostic/atheist, believe in playing with soul?

If you're a guy who's completely devoted to science (I am not mentioning my stance on this, as it is shaky, though I am not fully convinced on either side), how could you believe in playing with soul?

Or maybe it's just a term for playing notes which suit your emotions? Yeah that's more like it, might've saved the trouble of this thread..

Please, be civil.

-The Screamin' J

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IMO Playing with soul means to play from the heart, to pour out your emotions through your playing. To deeply feel what you are playing and let it take you away. To be moved.
It has absolutely nothing to do with religion, or science. It doesn't matter what you believe in. You are expressing yourself through music. JMO

+1

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I am not a beleiver in playing with "soul" or playing with your "emotions", I just don't buy into any of that. I think music makes you feel good, and music that you enjoy can brighten your day and put a smile on your dial. And if that music so happens to be Death Metal or some Satanic nonsense that helps you cope in the world than so be it (But seek help! LOL). I think the only type of music that could be interperated as "emotional" or actually move someone "emotionally" would be a Sympathy Orchestra IMO. I think some styles of the guitar could move people in some kind of way, but I would say you are rather playing in rhythm or harmony than playing you emotions. I would agree that it is a form of self expression aswell.

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I would say if the music makes you feel good and smile on your dial then that is an emotion coming out.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

I agree with the others so far -- the term may have derived from the religious context, but it also means "with heart or feeling" today. You could argue that soul music to an extent derives from gospel, but considering some of the lyrics and stage shows, that has to mean in the sense of having a lot of heart and a groove.

Then there's the notion that atheists/agnostics don't believe in anything. (The supposed conundrum that "if any atheist doesn't believe in God, then isn't that un-belief a belief in a not-God?") But the truth is that many atheists believe in lots of things, just not that there is a God or that existence was divinely created. Any I know certainly recognize an inspired (soulful) performance as much as the greatest believer.

Stratoblues I have to disagree with you to say there is no playing with emotion is just way off base .Even playing thrash or death metal there is emotion it may be anger but that is showing through the music. When you solo you dont feel it go right through your body ,that would be hard to believe. As far as a religious experience I dont relate the two together. But if I was you I would listen to a lot more blues and when you seperate the pretenders from the contenders you will see it comes down to soul.

+2

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As an atheist myself, I think that playing with some sort of "inner force" or "soul" just means playing with your mind wide open, or with your emotions.

I've never been angry and played the guitar, but when I feel good, my playing is better. If I just woke up from a 20 hour day, I might play worse (as I feel like crap).

So in that sense of playing with emotions, sure. Maybe really primitive emotions, like happy, sad, or mad can be descriptions of the word "soul".

Just my .02. :]

Haha.. Wow. Never thought I'd see a thread like this on here.

I've seen full-on forum wars on topics like this. This question always gets traced back to the "where does morality come from?" argument which is the most tired and circular argument to be had.

Usually an Athiest will throw the question right back at any Theist by asking them to prove there is a soul, and when they can't , then ask how they can claim to play with soul either? Then the ball gets rolling, and blah, blah, blah, Morality, blah, blah blah, Evolution, blah, blah, blah, blah, Adam and Eve, blah, blah, Fossil Dating, blah, blah,blah, Great Flood, blah,blah,blah, Shred's head explodes..

Been there, seen it too many times, not going there.

Peace, and good luck with this thread.

Anyone got a match? Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

You're confusing two different meanings of the same word.

In the musical sense, "soul" simply refers to a musician's ability to convey emotion through his instrument or his voice. This has nothing whatsoever to do with the theological concept of an "eternal soul."

I can easily play with soul and even eat soul food without having to subscribe to any particular belief system.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/soul

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I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm.

Or even three different meanings. Perhaps we're talking about a guitarist who plays with his feet...?

- C

(I know, I need to work on my spelling...)

^^lol

Right! So my last assumption in the O.P. was right, huh?

-The Screamin' J

_________________
CURRENT RIG:
2008 Squier bullet stratocaster modified with Rumpelstiltskin pickups -> Dunlop GCB-95 Original Crybaby -> Fender Vibro Champ XD

"Could you take the stain from this pair of pants, and put in on this pair of pants?"

IMHO the term "playing with soul" means the same as playing what you feel. No need to get into theology here. You either play with your heart or not. You can play great guitar and not believe in a higher being.

RK

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
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