The Soul

[RND]

I have a question for Christians. I am sure someone here will be able to answer.

From a Christian perspective, what is a soul?

In the Bible a 'soul' is defined as a living, sentient being. Genesis 2:7. Man does not possess a separate inner being that lives forever and ever outside man's physical being.

How do you define it?

It is the combination of the dust of the earth and the breath of God.

Why do humans 'have' a soul and animals do not?

Both are living, sentient beings so both would be considered 'souls.'

 

[lockyfan]

My understanding of the soul is this.

Animals have souls because a soul is the "life" of the being

Just like a human has a souls

we are all living beings, iti s jsut that humans were meant to live forever on a paradise. But then sin eneterd the world and now we have a slight detour before we get back onto the paraside road again

 

[Madhuri]

That makes sense to me, but it confuses me why so many Christians insist that animals do not have souls. Maybe they aren't putting too much thought into the scripture..

 

[lockyfan]

That makes sense to me, but it confuses me why so many Christians insist that animals do not have souls. Maybe they aren't putting too much thought into the scripture..

No it is because most christian religions are rife with men-created ideas, rather than ones that are actually in the bible

 

[Dunemeister]

No it is because most christian religions are rife with men-created ideas, rather than ones that are actually in the bible

'Cause, you know, the bible doesn't have any human man-created ideas.

 

[S-word]

In the Bible a 'soul' is defined as a living, sentient being. Genesis 2:7. Man does not possess a separate inner being that lives forever and ever outside man's physical being.



It is the combination of the dust of the earth and the breath of God.



Both are living, sentient beings so both would be considered 'souls.'

The Logos is the divine animating principle that pervades the entire universal body, and the Logos was the animating force in the infinitely dense, infinetly hot, infinitesimally small singularity of origin that has evolved to be this entire universal body and all therein.

The animating force or life force which was in the beginning has evolved to become who I am, the Logos has never died, nor can the universal life force ever die; and who I am is connected to my origin by an eternal and unbroken genetic thread of life, If that which has become who I am was not in the beginning, then "I" who the Logos has become, could not exist.


All the experiences of all my ancestors (Spirit) from all time human and pre-human, have been imprinted on that eternal life force and I, who am a servant to my ancestral spirit, "Who I Am," am but an extension of and one with the eternal "Who I Am."


For I am who I am and I never lose sight
of the fact that I am who I am day and night
I'm not who I was, nor who I will be
For "Who I Am" is the name my dad gave to me
So get behind me you charlatan priests and you shams
For I am true to my God, to my God, "Who I Am."

 

[lockyfan]

Soul is the life.

8 souls that survived the flood

8 lives survived the flood

animals have souls too. they have lives.

Soul is life

 

[S-word]

Soul is the life.

8 souls that survived the flood

8 lives survived the flood

animals have souls too. they have lives.

Soul is life

Absolutely correct my friend, it is the universal animating force in that body, which was created from the animated universal elements, in which body, the information and experiences taken in through its senses, are you, "the mind/spirit" that is imprinted upon the universal soul. And when that body is returned to the univeral body from which the animated elements were gathered in the creation of the body in which "You" developed, then, within the universal soul which is one and the same as the universal mind, which is all the experiences and information taken in through every living creature that is in, and one with, the universal body and is recorded in the universal soul,in which a facsimile of you is recorded, you may either be reborn on earth in the next age, or wiped clean from the eternal soul, that is the life force and animatting principle that pervades everything that ever was, everything that now is, and everything that ever will be.

 

[lockyfan]

there is no facsimilie of you. you are remembered for who you were with all your sins forgiven and then given a chance at new life (if you die before armageddon) on a paradise earth learning about God (if you dont know who he is already) and being judged on your deeds in your new life.

 

[Just_me_Mike]

I have a question for Christians. I am sure someone here will be able to answer.

From a Christian perspective, what is a soul? How do you define it? Why do humans 'have' a soul and animals do not?

The main reason I ask this is because basically every religion holds the concept of soul (except Buddhism perhaps) and each is able to explain it. But no matter how many Christians I speak to, none are able to answer me this. They all talk about the soul but nobody seems to know what it is! Very frustrating. So please if somebody is able to tell me what the Christian religions teaches about the soul let me know.

Thank you

Hi Madhuri,

For me, humans were created in the image of God. Animals were not. Animals were created for human companionship and usage. So while it does take a life force to have animals, it takes something more to be created in the image of God, and be able to live forever.

 

[Metalic Wings]

Alright. I'm not sure if anything I have to contribute would be technically "from the perspective of Christians" as a plural.

I hardly know the Bible at all. I view it more of a book of suggestions than fact or law (because it is hard for me to completely trust the words of any man, and you have to admit that it was men who wrote at least the New Testament.)

In my view the Christians I've had the most experience with (Which would be Catholics) would tell a priest that animals don't have "souls" but would probably think differently if their pet died. I have an aunt that worked for a church for a very long time and is a very religious woman. She lives alone, never married, but has two cats that are very, very dear to her. I doubt that when they die she'll just think to herself "Oh well. That's that."

To be honest, I don't think most people really know how to view a "soul" in regards to animals and tend to just imput their own ideas. As for priests and other clergy men.... The majority probably just follow what they're told to believe.

 

[S-word]

Alright. I'm not sure if anything I have to contribute would be technically "from the perspective of Christians" as a plural.

I hardly know the Bible at all. I view it more of a book of suggestions than fact or law (because it is hard for me to completely trust the words of any man, and you have to admit that it was men who wrote at least the New Testament.)

In my view the Christians I've had the most experience with (Which would be Catholics) would tell a priest that animals don't have "souls" but would probably think differently if their pet died. I have an aunt that worked for a church for a very long time and is a very religious woman. She lives alone, never married, but has two cats that are very, very dear to her. I doubt that when they die she'll just think to herself "Oh well. That's that."

To be honest, I don't think most people really know how to view a "soul" in regards to animals and tend to just imput their own ideas. As for priests and other clergy men.... The majority probably just follow what they're told to believe.

We lost a very dear friend a few years ago. She was a dog by the name "Missy." She was with us for just over 15 years, and she was almost human, she may not have been able to speak in English, but we could understand everthing that she wished to convey to us. I have no doubts whatsoever, that one day, she will be reincarnated as a spirit attached to the soul of a human being in the eternal progression of life to life.

 

[lockyfan]

'Cause, you know, the bible doesn't have any human man-created ideas.

No it doesnt. It has Gods ideas that then get twisted by men.