Consciousness is...

[an anarchist]

... the capacity to be enlightened. Or perhaps being enlightened / on the path
By this definition, i would suppose that animals could never be conscious. I.e. humans aren’t animals
Does this mean that those who are spiritually dead are animals ?
Oh God, have I reverted back to an animal?

 

[Starlight]

... the capacity to be enlightened. Or perhaps being enlightened / on the path
By this definition, i would suppose that animals could never be conscious. I.e. humans aren’t animals
Does this mean that those who are spiritually dead are animals ?
Oh God, have I reverted back to an animal?

Animals is concious. Animals also has souls. We humans must not underestimate animals.

Animals is also loved by God. Both humans and animals is loved by God. We are God¨s creations.

 

[ChristineM]

... the capacity to be enlightened. Or perhaps being enlightened / on the path
By this definition, i would suppose that animals could never be conscious. I.e. humans aren’t animals
Does this mean that those who are spiritually dead are animals ?
Oh God, have I reverted back to an animal?

Consciousness is usually defined as the state of being aware of and responsive to one's surroundings.

By this definition even a worm is conscious

And yes. People are defined as animals

 

[The Hammer]

... the capacity to be enlightened. Or perhaps being enlightened / on the path
By this definition, i would suppose that animals could never be conscious. I.e. humans aren’t animals
Does this mean that those who are spiritually dead are animals ?
Oh God, have I reverted back to an animal?

The title to the OP is all you need to understand.


"Consciousness Is"

 

[Heyo]

... the capacity to be enlightened. Or perhaps being enlightened / on the path
By this definition, i would suppose that animals could never be conscious. I.e. humans aren’t animals
Does this mean that those who are spiritually dead are animals ?
Oh God, have I reverted back to an animal?

Defining consciousness with the capacity to be enlightened is defining one hazy concept by an even more hazy concept.

 

[The Crimson Universe]

Animals is concious. Animals also has souls. We humans must not underestimate animals.

Animals is also loved by God. Both humans and animals is loved by God. We are God¨s creations.

What is your definition of 'soul'?

 

[Polymath257]

Consciousness is the ability to have an internal, mental, model of the world around you and your place within it.

This seems to be common to most mammals and birds. It isn't clear whether it is true for reptiles and other animals.

 

[an anarchist]

Consciousness is usually defined as the state of being aware of and responsive to one's surroundings.

By this definition even a worm is conscious

And yes. People are defined as animals

Consciousness is the ability to have an internal, mental, model of the world around you and your place within it.

This seems to be common to most animals and birds. It isn't clear whether it is true for reptiles and other animals.

The capacity to be spiritually aware, then. If that’s not called consciousness, then what can it be called? I realize you are non theists so perhaps the premise of the question is disagreeable. Whether or not we are spiritually aware or if it’s just our creative mind at work. But I’ve seen theists often equate spirituality to consciousness, such as the OP.
I feel another term should be used by theists other than consciousness.

 

[ChristineM]

The capacity to be spiritually aware, then. If that’s not called consciousness, then what can it be called? I realize you are non theists so perhaps the premise of the question is disagreeable. Whether or not we are spiritually aware or if it’s just our creative mind at work. But I’ve seen theists often equate spirituality to consciousness, such as the OP.
I feel another term should be used by theists other than consciousness.

No it's not disagreeable, i find it interesting, I'm no neuroscientist but i like to learn new things and there is plenty of info available.

It can be called spiritually aware,. I don't believe it has anything to do with consciousness and is sourced in different parts of the brain. Consciousness triggers more in the hindbrain whereas spirituality is originated in the parietal cortex.

 

[Polymath257]

The capacity to be spiritually aware, then. If that’s not called consciousness, then what can it be called? I realize you are non theists so perhaps the premise of the question is disagreeable. Whether or not we are spiritually aware or if it’s just our creative mind at work. But I’ve seen theists often equate spirituality to consciousness, such as the OP.
I feel another term should be used by theists other than consciousness.

What does it mean to be 'spiritually aware'? The phrase seems to mean different things to different people. And I see no relation to this and consciousness in any form.

 

[an anarchist]

What does it mean to be 'spiritually aware'? The phrase seems to mean different things to different people. And I see no relation to this and consciousness in any form.

Suppose there is a God. To be spiritually aware would be interacting with God and being aware of what you are doing. Perhaps this is done through praying and meditating. To be conscious of God, that is something animals cannot do. Whether humans can is up to debate, of course.

 

[ppp]

... the capacity to be enlightened. Or perhaps being enlightened / on the path
By this definition, i would suppose that animals could never be conscious. I.e. humans aren’t animals
Does this mean that those who are spiritually dead are animals ?
Oh God, have I reverted back to an animal?

Awareness of oneself and ones environment. Spirituality has neither been defined, nor shown to be relevant. Or for that matter, a real thing.

 

[ChristineM]

Suppose there is a God. To be spiritually aware would be interacting with God and being aware of what you are doing. Perhaps this is done through praying and meditating. To be conscious of God, that is something animals cannot do. Whether humans can is up to debate, of course.

I am not sure you can be conscious of a god belief . You can be aware of the encouragement built by that belief, the encouragement will physically exist, places of worship, congregation etc. As for the god belief, its just that, a belief with no hard evidence to suppose it actually exists or not

 

[an anarchist]

I am not sure you can be conscious of a god belief . You can be aware of the encouragement built by that belief, the encouragement will physically exist, places of worship, congregation etc. As for the god belief, its just that, a belief with no hard evidence to suppose it actually exists or not

Do animals have beliefs? When I consider my dog, I’m sure he believes I will always take care of him, even though I’m considering putting him down due to his aggression.
But would animals be ever to have creative beliefs like us humans? Or is that creativity distinctly human?

 

[ppp]

Do animals have beliefs? When I consider my dog, I’m sure he believes I will always take care of him, even though I’m considering putting him down due to his aggression.
But would animals be ever to have creative beliefs like us humans? Or is that creativity distinctly human?

Since wolf packs have been observed to plan, and to adapt to situations, there is some sort of creativity going on.

 

[Starlight]

What is your definition of 'soul'?

Soul is the eternal spiritual part of humans and animals. The soul do not die when your body dies. Soul is consciousness that do not die.

 

[The Crimson Universe]

Soul is the eternal spiritual part of humans and animals. The soul do not die when your body dies. Soul is consciousness that do not die.

I know what a soul is but i'm interested in YOUR definition. :=)

So how would you translate the word 'soul' in sanskrit/hindi?