Do you think our souls are preexistent or do they mature over the course of our lives, through our experiences? Why or why not?
My hypothesis....I believe we are triune beings, we are spirit, we have a soul and we live in a body. I don't believe our souls preexisted, but were formed at the beginning of our conception and matured and /or developed throughout our entire earthly existence; from the womb, to our death....which to me, the term "soul "referring to the mind,will and emotions.
I believe the soul constitutes the essence of who we are or become and is based on our experiences, circumstances and influences, thus forming the personality, emotions, attitudes, etc.
The spirit is the intended driving force behind the soul, but if the spirit is dominated by our sensory perceptions, which often is the case,including our emotions..the spirit will become subject to the soul, which in turn will control and manifest through the body.
The soul preexisted in the mind of our creator, who I believe to be the God of Abraham ,Issac, and Jacob, but in no way preexisted on it's own or as it's own entity.
I also believe the it will exist for eternity once the body ceases to house the soul . Where that destiny is in my opinion is in one of two places.
There is a cause and effect in the universe, it is evidenced in nature and the mortality of the human body, if certain laws are not percisely followed the consequences are obvious.
I believe the soul falls under much the same criteria,that being self governing laws, , regardless of it's immaterial existence,there must be a cause and effect of the soul, which I believe determines it's eternal state and destiny.
I believe our actions,attitudes, behaviours and ultimate choices .....are all determinates of the destiny of the soul after this material existence.