Does one ceases to be human when one dies?

[Epic Beard Man]

I was wondering whether we lose our humanity when we cease to exist when we die....assuming the incorporeal soul exists, do we cease to be human or are we an undefined entity?

 

[siti]

One ceases to exist at all when one dies. The sooner one gets over that, the sooner one can focus on the life one really does have, one thinks.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

While I personally am not one that believes in souls, I can speculate that if you can divide the biological term for human and the sociological and philosophical term for human, that you can be human in some senses and not others. Once you don't have a biology than you cease to be biologically human, however.

 

[Father]

well, we cease to live. our bodies break down and are eaten by other animals and bacteria. so i guess?

 

[Deeje]

I was wondering whether we lose our humanity when we cease to exist when we die....assuming the incorporeal soul exists, do we cease to be human or are we an undefined entity?

That is a bit of an odd question.....what makes us human?

The word "soul" in Hebrew is neʹphesh and in Greek psy·kheʹ. Neither is ever used to describe a disembodied spirit. They mean a living breathing creature. Even animals are called "souls".

We don't HAVE a soul.....we ARE a soul. When we die, the soul that is us, ceases to exist.....there is no "incorporeal soul" mentioned in the Bible. Nothing survives the death of the body. (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10)

We have an opportunity to live again by means of a resurrection.....just as Jesus raised his friend Lazarus back to this life. He promised...."....for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, and those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment." (John 5:28-29)

Jesus calls people out of their graves, he does not call the "righteous" out of heaven and he does not call the "unrighteous" out of a place of punishment....he calls them both out of the same place. The righteous have already qualified for life, but the unrighteous will be judged by how they conduct themselves after their resurrection.

 

[Twilight Hue]

The form of human-ness ceases to exist. It seems our fundamental makeup continues on unabated.

 

[Eliab ben Benjamin]

No,
but seems we cease to age until reborn to try again

 

[BSM1]

One ceases to exist at all when one dies. The sooner one gets over that, the sooner one can focus on the life one really does have, one thinks.

I beg to differ. Having lived for over 45 years with a person who is almost constantly in communication with those who have "passed", I would caution you not to jump to this conclusion to rapidly. Of course, like you, I would not have believed this statement unless and until I experienced it first hand.

 

[Grandliseur]

I was wondering whether we lose our humanity when we cease to exist when we die....assuming the incorporeal soul exists, do we cease to be human or are we an undefined entity?

Since death means non-existence, if you don't exist you will have a bloody time being anything at all. It is a null state. You've become history. End of story.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

First off, I don't believe in an afterlife, not a "soul", or anything like that. So in my estimation, once you've gotten to "be" human, that's all you get to be, and then you're gone.

However, examining the question while pretending there is an afterlife, we do have to admit that most people do depict and describe heaven as containing these perfected versions of our "selves", don't they? And this usually contains or assumes a human-ish visage. Most probably picture themselves running up and hugging their grandparents/parents who "passed on" before themselves, but (as you seem to be hinting at in the OP) there is no reason for an incorporeal "you" to take on a human-esque aspect. There would be nothing "human" about "you" anymore.

If anything, this just further lays bare the glaring naivete of a lot of believers (those for whom something like "heaven" is a belief held, I mean) out there who simply don't give the details a passing thought - which, I believe, is the main reason they remain believers.

 

[Stevicus]

Since death means non-existence, if you don't exist you will have a bloody time being anything at all. It is a null state. You've become history. End of story.

I hope so. I've seen horror movies about people still having "consciousness" while being trapped inside a dead, rotting corpse.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

That is a bit of an odd question.....what makes us human?

The word "soul" in Hebrew is neʹphesh and in Greek psy·kheʹ. Neither is ever used to describe a disembodied spirit. They mean a living breathing creature. Even animals are called "souls".

We don't HAVE a soul.....we ARE a soul. When we die, the soul that is us, ceases to exist.....there is no "incorporeal soul" mentioned in the Bible. Nothing survives the death of the body. (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10)

We have an opportunity to live again by means of a resurrection.....just as Jesus raised his friend Lazarus back to this life. He promised...."....for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, and those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment." (John 5:28-29)

Jesus calls people out of their graves, he does not call the "righteous" out of heaven and he does not call the "unrighteous" out of a place of punishment....he calls them both out of the same place. The righteous have already qualified for life, but the unrighteous will be judged by how they conduct themselves after their resurrection.

This is according to your belief....

What makes us human?

We are hominids we belong to bipedal species that exist where we can create tools to help us do things. We speak words to convey intelligent thought. We design buildings, houses, where we can live away from elements.

What I stating Is that when the mortal flesh dies as in our heart and brain stop functioning and cease to exist as far as mortals, what are we thereafter. As far as your spiritual beliefs concerning this matter many would disagree with your interpretation. In the Bible God "breathed" into the soul of man. This breath can be interpreted as God giving mankind a soul. One could argue that all sentient beings come from divine providence. I would argue that if we have a soul then we too are incorporeal beings.

 

[Grandliseur]

I hope so. I've seen horror movies about people still having "consciousness" while being trapped inside a dead, rotting corpse.

I usually avoid horror stories. Too much real horror in my life already. Bloody hell - already - in this life, without adding to it unnecessary. Right now, I wade through hell doing what I can to enjoy a pastry, a piece of chocolate, a ride on a bike while having to deal with impossible tasks.
In my childhood, I learned that real cold temperatures could easier be dealt with when simply relaxing the body and 'not feeling' the discomfort. This I have found applies to other types of suffering; so, today, I went for a nice morning ride simply to enjoy the sun, nature where I am. Then I went to see my 'horror of a wife' at the hospital, and stayed for a little while, went home and had some nut-bread.

When in hell, try to douse the fires with good things. If the time comes when it becomes too much, I don't mind ending it either.

 

[DavidFirth]

I was wondering whether we lose our humanity when we cease to exist when we die....assuming the incorporeal soul exists, do we cease to be human or are we an undefined entity?

According to the Bible we continue to exist as spirits. We are either judged immediately or we sleep until Judgement Day comes, depending on how one interprets the Bible. Judgement is certain and there is no avoiding it. We are either judged by our own works or by the works of Christ, the choice is yours according to the Bible.

 

[Thief]

That is a bit of an odd question.....what makes us human?

The word "soul" in Hebrew is neʹphesh and in Greek psy·kheʹ. Neither is ever used to describe a disembodied spirit. They mean a living breathing creature. Even animals are called "souls".

We don't HAVE a soul.....we ARE a soul. When we die, the soul that is us, ceases to exist.....there is no "incorporeal soul" mentioned in the Bible. Nothing survives the death of the body. (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10)

We have an opportunity to live again by means of a resurrection.....just as Jesus raised his friend Lazarus back to this life. He promised...."....for the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, and those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment." (John 5:28-29)

Jesus calls people out of their graves, he does not call the "righteous" out of heaven and he does not call the "unrighteous" out of a place of punishment....he calls them both out of the same place. The righteous have already qualified for life, but the unrighteous will be judged by how they conduct themselves after their resurrection.

and God is Spirit
the sons of God are spirit
the kingdom is not of this world

and you think Jesus is just 'floating around' in the clouds?

 

[Revoltingest]

I was wondering whether we lose our humanity when we cease to exist when we die....assuming the incorporeal soul exists, do we cease to be human or are we an undefined entity?

I will become hostas (by fertilizing them).

 

[Thief]

According to the Bible we continue to exist as spirits. We are either judged immediately or we sleep until Judgement Day comes, depending on how one interprets the Bible. Judgement is certain and there is no avoiding it. We are either judged by our own works or by the works of Christ, the choice is yours according to the Bible.

I would reason other wise

God and heaven are seeking.....reflection
it is written.....heaven is within you

If God and heaven do not see reflection
they will leave you wherever you fell

 

[Windwalker]

I was wondering whether we lose our humanity when we cease to exist when we die....assuming the incorporeal soul exists, do we cease to be human or are we an undefined entity?

You have to first step back and ask the question, who, or what exactly is this "we" or "I" you speak of. Without adequately understanding that question first, how can you address the latter?

 

[Epic Beard Man]

You have to first step back and ask the question, who, or what exactly is this "we" or "I" you speak of. Without adequately understanding that question first, how can you address the latter?

That is the nature of the question. My body ceases to sustain life therefore I die. Assuming a soul exists am I still a human or am I just an incorporeal entity? I am trying not to use the word consciousness because that is a slippery slope. I want to say a life force that somehow sustains my physical body to continue. So again assuming such a force exist do I cease to be human?

 

[Epic Beard Man]

I hope so. I've seen horror movies about people still having "consciousness" while being trapped inside a dead, rotting corpse.

Scientifically speaking there were studies done to show there is a level of consciousness when one dies.