What is a soul?

[Ken-1122]

Exactly what is a soul and what is its function? I understand souls are supposed to live forever, but do souls sleep when the person is asleep? Are the souls unconscious when the person is unconscious? If so, then how do you know the soul doesn’t die when the person dies?

Peace
Ken

 

[drich0150]

Exactly what is a soul and what is its function?

You can ask 10 different Christians and get 10 slightly different answers. The truth of the matter is we were not given specific parameters. But from what I understand the Soul is your Spiritual being or essence. In effect it is you. Your soul is more "you" than your body is.

I understand souls are supposed to live forever, but do souls sleep when the person is asleep?

Yes

Are the souls unconscious when the person is unconscious?

It seems so.

If so, then how do you know the soul doesn’t die when the person dies?

Because we are told the soul sleeps when the body dies. The body is not the person the soul is. The body is just a vessel, that contains the soul.

 

[Ken-1122]

Drich0150 (quote) But from what I understand the Soul is your Spiritual being or essence. In effect it is you. Your soul is more "you" than your body is….. Because we are told the soul sleeps when the body dies. The body is not the person the soul is. The body is just a vessel, that contains the soul.

(reply) Would you say your soul is your consciousness ?

Ken

 

[drich0150]

Drich0150 (quote) But from what I understand the Soul is your Spiritual being or essence. In effect it is you. Your soul is more "you" than your body is….. Because we are told the soul sleeps when the body dies. The body is not the person the soul is. The body is just a vessel, that contains the soul.

(reply) Would you say your soul is your consciousness ?

Ken

I would say your consciousness is apart of your soul, but not limited to it.

 

[ebia]

Exactly what is a soul and what is its function? I understand souls are supposed to live forever, but do souls sleep when the person is asleep? Are the souls unconscious when the person is unconscious?
Peace
Ken

"Soul" is not some kind of plug-in: that has more to do with Greek philosophy than Judeo/Christian thought. Soul refers more to your whole personhood, your personality and everything that makes 'you' you.

If so, then how do you know the soul doesn’t die when the person dies?

It would do - the soul is not 'the real me that can be divorced from my body' (that's greek gnostism). But God sustains it until the resurrection when we get renewed bodies. In Polkinghorne's metaphor, God uploads our software until he creates new hardware on which to run it once more.

 

[Ken-1122]

Thanks for the information. So if I understand you correctly, the soul is us in the spiritual state, and the body is the physical part of us designed to house the soul while we are living in the physical world.

What about animals? Do they have souls or are they just physical bodies.
Also; obviously our bodies are born and they die; what about the souls? Are they born and do they ever die?

Ken

 

[drich0150]

What about animals?

The soul is something man is given that animals were not.

Also; obviously our bodies are born and they die; what about the souls? Are they born and do they ever die?

There is no mention of our soul before our births. Hell is known as the second death, or in some beliefs, death for the soul.

This is reconciled with eternal torment in Hell by the thought that no "soul" will be able to maintain sanity in eternal torment, and when you loose sanity you loose what make you, You. Or rather the bond between soul and you will be broken. In a sense the soul (you) dies, and what is left is remains in eternal torment.

 

[Ken-1122]

(quote)” There is no mention of our soul before our births.”

(reply) So do you believe when we are born, our souls are born also? Or would you say our souls already exist somewhere and are attached to our bodies upon birth.

(quote)” Hell is known as the second death, or in some beliefs, death for the soul.

This is reconciled with eternal torment in Hell by the thought that no "soul" will be able to maintain sanity in eternal torment, and when you loose sanity you loose what make you, You. Or rather the bond between soul and you will be broken.”

(reply) So when bad people die and the soul is sent to hell, the soul is killed by the torment of Hell?

(quote)” In a sense the soul (you) dies, and what is left is remains in eternal torment.”

(reply) What remains? After the body dies, and the soul dies, what is left for eternal torment?

Ken

 

[drich0150]

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(reply) So do you believe when we are born, our souls are born also? Or would you say our souls already exist somewhere and are attached to our bodies upon birth.

The bible doesn't say. My personal guess would be you were created at birth.

(reply) So when bad people die and the soul is sent to hell, the soul is killed by the torment of Hell?

All beings in and of creation exist as part of creation. We take for granted that our sanity or the control we enjoy over our mind is our own, when in fact this control is a gift from God. Hell being the absents of God and creation is also absent of the gift you have over your mind. Without this control over your mind are you who you were? In a sense who you were has died, and all that is left is a shell. I would assume this is like experiencing Alzheimer's. The individual is gone all is left is the body they person lived in.

(reply) What remains? After the body dies, and the soul dies, what is left for eternal torment?

I did not say the soul died. I said with out self control what make you, You is no longer. and in a sense it is like a death. All of the philosophy, thought, and memory leaves you, when the last bit of creation is consumed by the darkness. all that is left is this primal fear driven mound of torment. Screaming, Weeping, and gnashing of teeth. Without end.

 

[elman]

Exactly what is a soul and what is its function? I understand souls are supposed to live forever, but do souls sleep when the person is asleep? Are the souls unconscious when the person is unconscious? If so, then how do you know the soul doesn’t die when the person dies?

Peace
Ken

The Bible says we can kill our soul with our sin. Ezekiel 18. I think our soul is that part of us that is in the image of God--God is a spirit and our soul is our spiritual existence.

 

[elman]

"Soul" is not some kind of plug-in: that has more to do with Greek philosophy than Judeo/Christian thought. Soul refers more to your whole personhood, your personality and everything that makes 'you' you.

It would do - the soul is not 'the real me that can be divorced from my body' (that's greek gnostism). But God sustains it until the resurrection when we get renewed bodies. In Polkinghorne's metaphor, God uploads our software until he creates new hardware on which to run it once more.

But our new bodies are not natural bodies, but spiritual ones. 1 Cor 15

 

[Ken-1122]

Drich0150 (quote)” My personal guess would be you were created at birth……..We take for granted that our sanity or the control we enjoy over our mind is our own, when in fact this control is a gift from God. Hell being the absents of God and creation is also absent of the gift you have over your mind. Without this control over your mind are you who you were? In a sense who you were has died, and all that is left is a shell. I would assume this is like experiencing Alzheimer's. The individual is gone all is left is the body they person lived in…….when the last bit of creation is consumed by the darkness. all that is left is this primal fear driven mound of torment. Screaming, Weeping, and gnashing of teeth. Without end.”

(reply)So let me see if I’ve got this correctly; when the body is born, the soul (you) is created and attached to the body (vessel). If you don’t live right, when your body dies, your soul will be sent to hell where it will lose its mind and will be akin to someone with Alzheimer’s; having no memory of your past life.
I am guessing even though you won’t have any memory of your life on Earth, you will still feel pain because the souls will be screaming and gnashing their teeth.
Is that correct? If not please explain,

Elman (quote)”The Bible says we can kill our soul with our sin.”

(reply)What type of sin is powerful enough to kill your soul? Also, if God forgives you of this sin, do you get a new soul?

Ken

 

[drich0150]

(reply)So let me see if I’ve got this correctly; when the body is born, the soul (you) is created and attached to the body (vessel).

As far as I know yes.

If you don’t live right, when your body dies, your soul will be sent to hell

No. No one can live "right." we all deserve Hell.

where it will lose its mind and will be akin to someone with Alzheimer’s; having no memory of your past life.

No, Alzheimer's is more of analogy, I do think there is some retention of memory, but your ability to process or make sense of it will be taken. Alzheimer's is being used to illustrate how one can be "present and absent" at the same time. The memory aspect of it is neither here nor there.

I am guessing even though you won’t have any memory of your life on Earth, you will still feel pain because the souls will be screaming and gnashing their teeth.

The pain you feel is not physical in nature. It is more emotional I can only explain it like the sense of panic and trauma one experiences when being consumed by "fire." It is not the pain of burning flesh that consumes you at first. It is the fact that you are being consumed, and there is nothing you can do to stop it that burns you. Once you have been completely enveloped by the blackness of the void, all you feel is this traumatic heighten sense of panic you can not see anything. all you hear is the screams you manage through your clenched teeth... then the reality of eternity begins to set in. An eternity of this primal fear, coupled with a consuming heightened state of shock. Then when the worst can not get any worse, what is left of God's creation in your life is taken... The control you believe that you have over your own mind.. It is in that last second that you realize that without God not only are you nothing, you are returning to it and there is nothing you can do about it. what is left is the sum total of your life minus the control over your mind that you think is intrinsically apart of being a sentient being.

This, I was told "was only but the door to Hell, there is still an eternity beyond that door."

 

[elman]

No. No one can live "right." we all deserve Hell.[/FONT]


The pain you feel is not physical in nature. It is more emotional I can only explain it like the sense of panic and trauma one experiences when being consumed by "fire." It is not the pain of burning flesh that consumes you at first. It is the fact that you are being consumed, and there is nothing you can do to stop it that burns you. Once you have been completely enveloped by the blackness of the void, all you feel is this traumatic heighten sense of panic you can not see anything. all you hear is the screams you manage through your clenched teeth... then the reality of eternity begins to set in. An eternity of this primal fear, coupled with a consuming heightened state of shock. Then when the worst can not get any worse, what is left of God's creation in your life is taken... The control you believe that you have over your own mind.. It is in that last second that you realize that without God not only are you nothing, you are returning to it and there is nothing you can do about it. what is left is the sum total of your life minus the control over your mind that you think is intrinsically apart of being a sentient being.

This, I was told "was only but the door to Hell, there is still an eternity beyond that door."

We all fall short of perfection--being like God. We do not all deserve to be tortured forever. None of us deserve eternal life with God. All of us can have the hope of receiving the gift of eternal life if we turn from wickedness to righteousness--Ezekiel 18--repent--Luke 13:3 --love others Matt 25:31 and following. The above description is from man, not God.

 

[drich0150]

We all fall short of perfection--being like God. We do not all deserve to be tortured forever. None of us deserve eternal life with God. All of us can have the hope of receiving the gift of eternal life if we turn from wickedness to righteousness--Ezekiel 18--repent--Luke 13:3 --love others Matt 25:31 and following. The above description is from man, not God.

None of the verses you quoted are used in their original contexts as you are representing them now. try again.

If you want to know what Hell is like Elman, then ask God to show you the door, and keep asking till you get what you want. Eventually and without a doubt You will see those gates. The only question will be is which side will you be standing on.

The words I used to describe Hell were mine indeed, but the pictures i was describing was not. Everything i described can be found in scripture. So try again.

Also why do you quote scripture when in every other instance you mock it?? When scripture does not support your from the "heart felt" theology you say it is from the corrupt heart of man, but when you can break it down and take it out of context you do, just like you did above. Why do you do this?

 

[elman]

Drich0150 (quote)” My personal guess would be you were created at birth……..We take for granted that our sanity or the control we enjoy over our mind is our own, when in fact this control is a gift from God. Hell being the absents of God and creation is also absent of the gift you have over your mind. Without this control over your mind are you who you were? In a sense who you were has died, and all that is left is a shell. I would assume this is like experiencing Alzheimer's. The individual is gone all is left is the body they person lived in…….when the last bit of creation is consumed by the darkness. all that is left is this primal fear driven mound of torment. Screaming, Weeping, and gnashing of teeth. Without end.”

(reply)So let me see if I’ve got this correctly; when the body is born, the soul (you) is created and attached to the body (vessel). If you don’t live right, when your body dies, your soul will be sent to hell where it will lose its mind and will be akin to someone with Alzheimer’s; having no memory of your past life.
I am guessing even though you won’t have any memory of your life on Earth, you will still feel pain because the souls will be screaming and gnashing their teeth.
Is that correct? If not please explain,

Elman (quote)”The Bible says we can kill our soul with our sin.”

(reply)What type of sin is powerful enough to kill your soul? Also, if God forgives you of this sin, do you get a new soul?

Ken

I think sin is being unloving to others. I don't know how much unloving action results in spirital death. I suspect when it becomes a way of life for you. I believe that after we have killed ourselves by being unloving to others we can change our way of life to being loving to others and if we do, we are recreated by God spiritiually. This the second birth Christians refer to and Jesus talked about that is symbolized by baptism. This is also sometime referred to a becoming a new creation.

 

[elman]

=drich0150;56871326]None of the verses you quoted are used in their original contexts as you are representing them now. try again.

No point since all the verses say exactly what I say they say.

If you want to know what Hell is like Elman, then ask God to show you the door, and keep asking till you get what you want. Eventually and without a doubt You will see those gates. The only question will be is which side will you be standing on.

I am more interested in life and my questions would be show me what abundant life you have in store for me.

The words I used to describe Hell were mine indeed, but the pictures i was describing was not. Everything i described can be found in scripture. So try again.

No it is not in scripture, only in your imagination.

Also why do you quote scripture when in every other instance you mock it??

I quote scripoture that is divine truth. I reject what you and men call scripture that is not divine truth. The difference between you and I is not the picking and chosing. It is the verses we pick and chose and I admit it and you deny it.

When scripture does not support your from the "heart felt" theology you say it is from the corrupt heart of man, but when you can break it down and take it out of context you do, just like you did above. Why do you do this?

Why do you ignore scripture that does not support your from other men theology and why do you take it out of context and spin it to say what it does not say when it indicates your theology is in error? Why do you do this?

 

[drich0150]

I am more interested in life and my questions would be show me what abundant life you have in store for me.

Then why not ask God for a preview of what you have coming to you?

I quote Scripture that is divine truth.

On your best day you quote scripture out of context. Most of the time what you quote is incoherent scraps of a larger message, that you have twisted to serve your own meaning. you use bits of the bible to support your perverted desires and then cast out all that conflicts with what you have created.

I reject what you and men call scripture that is not divine truth.

If you mean the bible then why not say the bible? Why not be honest? Isn't honesty apart of your version of elmanity/christianity?

The difference between you and I is not the picking and choosing. It is the verses we pick and chose and I admit it and you deny it.

At best you are mistaken here..
proof?

 

[Ken-1122]

Drich0150 said:
(quote)” Alzheimer's is more of analogy, I do think there is some retention of memory, but your ability to process or make sense of it will be taken. Alzheimer's is being used to illustrate how one can be "present and absent" at the same time. The memory aspect of it is neither here nor there….. The pain you feel is not physical in nature. It is more emotional I can only explain it like the sense of panic and trauma one experiences when being consumed by "fire." It is not the pain of burning flesh that consumes you at first. It is the fact that you are being consumed, and there is nothing you can do to stop it that burns you”

Elman said:
(quote)”I think sin is being unloving to others. I don't know how much unloving action results in spirital death. I suspect when it becomes a way of life for you. I believe that after we have killed ourselves by being unloving to others we can change our way of life to being loving to others and if we do, we are recreated by God spiritiually

(reply) Thank-you for your perspectives

Peace
Ken

 

[drich0150]

(reply) Thank-you for your perspectives

Peace
Ken

Thank you for the oppertunity.