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Nang you may find my answer a bit zany, but you asked.
Every living thing contains spirit which is part of God and animates all life. That includes plants, animals and mankind. Soul is the spirit of God within humans that has its own unique identity and awareness. Remove spirit from any living thing and it will die in the physical. In the case of every living thing except man spirit is reabsorbed into God. For the vast majority of mankind the only way souls can exit the body is through the natural process of decay through the life cycle which ultimately causes the physical to die. When a person dies the soul (which is the self aware spirit) leaves the body yet retains its individuality. A companion if you will to God. Losing ones soul is the situation where your spirit force is reabsorbed into God without retaining your individual self awareness or soul. You die in that sense because while the spirit still exists nothing of your individuality remains.
Please don't ask me about the mechanics of all of this because I have no idea how God makes all of creation function. It is entirely possible that I am wrong in how I comprehend these things. I'll have a better understanding when my physical body dies. That is, of course, predicated on the assumption that I do not lose my soul at that time.
Let me say, however, that it is a beautiful thing to see the spirit force in all living things. I have no hatred of others because that would be hating God. I might not like or understand the perspective or acts of another soul but that soul is still part of God.
Slogan/motto:
". . Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4
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December 1st, 2012, 03:01 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eeset
Nang you may find my answer a bit zany, but you asked.
Every living thing contains spirit which is part of God and animates all life. That includes plants, animals and mankind. Soul is the spirit of God within humans that has its own unique identity and awareness. Remove spirit from any living thing and it will die in the physical. In the case of every living thing except man spirit is reabsorbed into God. For the vast majority of mankind the only way souls can exit the body is through the natural process of decay through the life cycle which ultimately causes the physical to die. When a person dies the soul (which is the self aware spirit) leaves the body yet retains its individuality. A companion if you will to God. Losing ones soul is the situation where your spirit force is reabsorbed into God without retaining your individual self awareness or soul. You die in that sense because while the spirit still exists nothing of your individuality remains.
Please don't ask me about the mechanics of all of this because I have no idea how God makes all of creation function. It is entirely possible that I am wrong in how I comprehend these things. I'll have a better understanding when my physical body dies. That is, of course, predicated on the assumption that I do not lose my soul at that time.
Let me say, however, that it is a beautiful thing to see the spirit force in all living things. I have no hatred of others because that would be hating God. I might not like or understand the perspective or acts of another soul but that soul is still part of God.
Your reply describes a false view called Pantheism and does not pertain to the question, let alone give a biblical answer.
"The immutable God never learned anything and never changed his mind. He knew everything from eternity."
"Experience teaches us nothing; revelation teaches all we need to know."
Those who proclaim that the sovereignty of God determines what justice is, (do so) by observing what God actually does. Whatever God does is just.
Your reply describes a false view called Pantheism and does not pertain to the question, let alone give a biblical answer.
Well I missed where you wanted a doctrinal response. Sorry. But you are incorrect because Pantheists thus do not believe in a personal or anthropomorphic god. I do.
Slogan/motto:
Try to be civil in the face of incivility. This is a test.
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December 1st, 2012, 05:02 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eeset
Well I missed where you wanted a doctrinal response. Sorry. But you are incorrect because Pantheists thus do not believe in a personal or anthropomorphic god. I do.
With respect Eeset. I would not argue with Nang. She knows what she is talking about.
she doesn't seem to know anything about the second death
Actually I don't know how someone can literally lose their soul. I thought the soul was eternal. It goes to one of two places and lives on in eternity in one of those two places.
Slogan/motto:
". . Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4
Reputation:
December 1st, 2012, 05:14 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by sky.
Actually I don't know how someone can literally lose their soul. I thought the soul was eternal. It goes to one of two places and lives on in eternity in one of those two places.
Good thinking.
Take this a bit further . . .
"The immutable God never learned anything and never changed his mind. He knew everything from eternity."
"Experience teaches us nothing; revelation teaches all we need to know."
Those who proclaim that the sovereignty of God determines what justice is, (do so) by observing what God actually does. Whatever God does is just.