Soulmass

Soulmass is a term that appears in some theological and philosophical discussions, often related to the concept of an incorporeal human soul and its potential physical manifestation or presence within a body. The idea suggests that the soul, being non-physical, might still possess a form of mass or weight that could be measured or detected.

Historically, various experiments have attempted to quantify this soul mass, notably the work of Duncan MacDougall in the early 20th century. MacDougall's experiments involved weighing dying patients at the moment of death, hypothesizing that a sudden loss of weight would indicate the departure of the soul. His findings were inconclusive and have been widely criticized for methodological flaws and lack of reproducibility.

The concept of soul mass is not a mainstream scientific or theological doctrine. Mainstream scientific understanding does not support the existence of a measurable soul mass, as it conflicts with established principles of physics. Many religious traditions view the soul as purely spiritual and not subject to physical measurement. Discussions of soul mass are therefore typically confined to fringe theories or historical curiosities.