novelnovicetwilight

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14153a.htm
Sorry to refer to religion, but that is the first definition of a soul I could think of.

Edward, in my opinion, has a soul. He can think, and feel, and act with good will, he tries to do good, and he's constantly trying hard to go against his "evil" nature as a vampire and purify himself, so to speak.

Yes, vampires do have souls. Everyone does. But as most vampires prefer to give in to the temptation of human blood, they are tainting those souls. And they, of all people, have the most chances. They literally have forever to repent and clean up their acts, but most choose not to and just go with the easiest way.

The Cullens, however, are on a good path. They each know right from wrong, and constantly strive to keep the good in them. Again, sorry for the reference to religion, it's just the first thing I could think of.

It's hard to refer to a "soul" without a religious connection in some way... but I do think the vampires have souls. I think that every living thing has a soul.

I totally agree with what you said! It's easier to just give in to those "temptations" or "the thirst" but as the Cullens show, it is possible to overcome (but not completely). They are always trying every day of their lives to be stronger than their desires. And as Edward (I think) mentioned, they do "slip up" sometimes but they just keep going and try harder.

Edward believes in Heaven, Hell and God, sadly he also believes he dosen,t have a soul and that there is no afterlife for him. I also think that Edward has fond, however elusive memories of his Mom. The notion that he won't see her again is something else he deals with.

For me, Edward has a soul, he is more HUMAN than most HUMANS I know.

I, too, believe that Edward has a soul. He feels too much guilt about the fact that he thinks that he is harming Bella by being with her and depriving her of a "normal" life to not have a soul. When I think of a soul-less creature, I think of a demon of some sort and I certainly do not think that the Cullens fit that description, especially Edward.
And I think that Edward must believe that there is some sort of after-life for him (which, in my opinion, would require a soul) and we saw that in New Moon when he thought that he had died and was in some kind of heaven because Bella was there with him (That scene is personally one of my favorites). I do think that, as many others have mentioned, that some of the vampires are tainting their soul by giving into the thirst for human blood. I feel like that shows their free will and how they are choosing to use it. Some try to be as good as possibly, while others do not try at all, which really isn't that different form how we are as humans is it?

I would say yes...but my answer is based off of Buffyverse lore.

When Angeles gets cursed with a soul and becomes Angel, he has a conscience--a desire to do good and find redemption. All of the Cullens have this choice and TAKE this choice. To me, this is proof.

The regular vamps in the Buffyverse simply cannot help being evil, b/c they're demons, it's their nature. However the Cullens get to choose their nature, so again, I say yes. They have souls.

This is not Buffy or Angel we are talking about!!! This is the Twilight Saga!!! The fact that the Cullens/Hales become very guilty when they drank human blood is proof that they have souls. Without a soul, there is no conscience!! Without a conscience, there is no guilt!!! Because they feel guilty, killing even the worst people in the world, proves that they can be held reponsible for their actions thus telling me they have a soul.

If you have a hard time following, I get that!! But it makes sense to me!!!!

[quote="Roxie"]I would say yes...but my answer is based off of Buffyverse lore.
quote]

I watched Buffy too!!!! Angel was actually one of my favorite character along with Spike. Even though in Buffy vampires didn't have souls, which is why Angel was cursed with one and later on Spike went on a search and received one...I agree w/ you in that our dear Cullens and others in the Twilight vampire world have souls.

I definitely think Edward has a soul, simply because he wonders whether or not he does. It goes back to the idea of his conscience that a few others have previously mentioned.

And I want him to have a soul, so he does!

single4edwardcullen wrote:This is not Buffy or Angel we are talking about!!! This is the Twilight Saga!!! The fact that the Cullens/Hales become very guilty when they drank human blood is proof that they have souls. Without a soul, there is no conscience!! Without a conscience, there is no guilt!!! Because they feel guilty, killing even the worst people in the world, proves that they can be held reponsible for their actions thus telling me they have a soul.

If you have a hard time following, I get that!! But it makes sense to me!!!!

Oh dear! It's alright, chill.

I have no trouble following.

I'm using Buffyverse as a back-up or support for my reasoning on why I think they DO have souls. Angel (Spike, not so much) shows the same type of internal conflict that the Cullens do.

While I know they're not the same types of Vamps, this similarity of character is very striking. Because of these similarities, and b/c Angel has a soul, I'm willing to bet this extends to the Twilight vampires as well.

KoriLovesTwilightALot wrote:And I want him to have a soul, so he does!

ahaha, same here, too!

Hey !!! Telling me to Calm down is like telling a vampire they can't have blood!!! I am really psycho Twilighter!!! Just ask my friends!!! If it isn't in the Twilight or Buffy/Angel universe, I really could care in the least!!!

Thanks also for all of you who can follow my thoughts relating two different vampire worlds!!! My comparison was kinda comparing apples to grapples!!! The same kind of subject in a different setting!!!!

i believe that edward has a soul. he has personality, and is able to feel and thing the way he wants. he can control himself, and love bella.. i thing soul is the combination of all these things, and that no matter how 'marked' your record may be, your soul is still there.

The Cullens have souls because they wish to believe they do. They might think they don't, but because they hope it makes up all the difference. The Volturi don't have souls because they lost their ability to hope. They clearly let instinct take over, and that is why they are able to live without their conscious.
Unless they still do have souls, and that's the reason why they can "love" in a way, the other people in their family. They choose to be evil.

Another aspect: Look at their eyes. The ones that have let instinct take over have red eyes. The Cullens have gold. Well, isn't that proof that they're different, that God has not given up on them, that they have somwhere to go when they no longer exist. That place presumably being heaven. The gold eyes could plainly mean that they have not lost their soul, or in Jasper's case, have gotten in back.

So, because the Cullens can hope, love, protect, ACT all in all human, they still have themselves. They might not have the memories (Don't make me get into philosophy.. Kant and Levinas' theories) but they are still the same person they were before they "died."

P.S. I am also a HUGE fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. There are a couple girls at school who call me Buffy, because I'm always reading vampire/werecreature novels.

Lups, I love your explanation...Especially the eyes thing. Of course I noticed there were different eye colors, but never thought about them being connected to the soul theories. That's a really interesting theory, even if it isn't true!

LupsandTnks wrote:
P.S. I am also a HUGE fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. There are a couple girls at school who call me Buffy, because I'm always reading vampire/werecreature novels.

ME TOO!
Can you believe I just got into it last year? I bought The Chosen set when it went on sale a few months ago. I got all the comics, omnibus, and season 8. If you're into podcasts I HIGHLY RECCOMEND "The Watchercast" They're so funny and so clearly devoted. Your tummy will hurt from laughing.

Twilight is the first "vamp/were" series I had read in over ten years. The last one was "The Last Vampire" by Christopher Pike, which I remember enjoying quite a bit.

I personally think Edward has a soul too. I mean, he goes against his nature of life, just because they want to be good Vampires. Yes Edward and Alice have killed people, but who hasn't made a mistake in there lives? They just try there best to do what they think is good, isn't that enough to deserve a soul, to try your best at what you think is right? So i definitely think Edward has a soul!!