Questions tagged [souls]

Questions regarding the spiritual part of a person that is believed to give life to the body and is considered to be immortal

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At what point is a new soul created according to the Catholic Church?

It seems clear that the Catholic Church rejected Origen's claim that souls were created and existed before conception and birth. Does the Church pinpoint fertilization of the egg as the moment a soul ...
User 14's user avatar
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The Greatest Commandment - Loving God with all our 1) heart, 2) soul, and 3) strength [closed]

Jesus highlights Deuteronomy 6:5 as the greatest commandment in the law. This commandment highlights three aspects of loving God, specifically with our hearts, our souls, and our strengths. Love ...
Narnian's user avatar
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19 votes
3 answers
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When are souls "received"? [closed]

(I'd prefer a Biblically-based answer, but if an early-church author or someone like C.S. Lewis needs to be referenced, that's fine.) Few Christians will dispute that we humans have souls, but the ...
El'endia Starman's user avatar
17 votes
3 answers
947 views

What is the biblical basis for the eternal existence of the lost in hell?

I've heard particular denominations claim that although hell is definitely a real place and hell itself will burn forever, people who are condemned to hell don't actually exist forever in hell but ...
2tim424's user avatar
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16 votes
6 answers
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Does the Catholic Church teach there is only one person?

I’ve stumbled upon a person who has made a few interesting claims. According to her, among others: Other people are only another physical form of yourself. There exists only one unposseded [by ...
gaazkam's user avatar
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15 votes
7 answers
86k views

What does the Bible say about life before conception?

I recently spoke with a friend of mine and he was wondering if we are alive before conception. We know that there is life after death according to the Bible, but what does the Bible say about "life" ...
Chris Bier's user avatar
14 votes
7 answers
38k views

What is the difference between man's soul and spirit? [closed]

It is easy to recognize the body as the physical matter that makes up a person. The body is clearly distinct from the soul and spirit in several ways: The body is visible to others. (When I see you,...
jimreed's user avatar
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Is there any substance to the claim that Origen supported reincarnation?

Origen of Alexandria is considered one of Christianity's greatest systematic theologians, and it is said that he was a believer in reincarnation. Is there any substance (textual evidence) to the ...
Eduard Florinescu's user avatar
14 votes
3 answers
4k views

Did any other early church fathers besides Origen teach the pre-existence of souls?

Origen taught about the pre-existence of our souls, which, among many other of his teachings, was later condemned as heresy. Did any other early church fathers teach this doctrine?
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12 votes
5 answers
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What did God mean when He said 'lest they live forever'?

I was talking to a Jehovah's witness who did not believe in the immortality of soul and he pointed out a scripture to me. Genesis 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold ... lest he put forth his hand,...
Monika Michael's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
854 views

What is the source of the quote attributed to Origen, that "the soul has neither beginning nor end"?

Related answer: Is there any substance to the claim that Origen supported reincarnation? The following quote is widely attributed to Origen in books and on the internet (e.g., here and here): The ...
Nathaniel is protesting's user avatar
10 votes
4 answers
541 views

What are the Biblical arguments against man having an immortal soul separate from the body?

Belief in an immortal soul seems quite common in Christianity although some denominations do not seem to believe in this. What specific scriptures, and scriptural arguments, are used by those that do ...
SherlockEinstein's user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
822 views

Does Jesus's soul exist before his incarnation?

I am referring to clause III in "The Anathematisms of the Emperor Justinian Against Origen": If anyone says or thinks that the soul of the Lord pre-existed and was united with God the Word before ...
Graviton's user avatar
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2 answers
25k views

What is the difference between mind and soul (if any) [closed]

For reference, this question asks whether there is a difference between the soul and spirit. Assuming that there is a difference between the two (i.e., that man's nature is tripartite), and that your ...
Sinker's user avatar
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9 votes
1 answer
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In Reformed Theology, what are seen as the implications of Traducianism versus Creationism (of the soul)?

Traducianism says that one's soul is derived from one's parents' souls, but creationism says that God creates a soul for each body. The Wikipedia articles are a start, but I'm especially interested ...
Cohen_the_Librarian's user avatar
9 votes
6 answers
22k views

Do angels possess 1) a body, soul and spirit, 2) a soul and spirit or 3) just a spirit?

My personal understanding is that plants have a body, animals have both a body and a soul, and mankind has a body, a soul and a spirit. However, angels, as I understand, do not have a body that is ...
Narnian's user avatar
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What are modern Christian views of the soul? [closed]

The soul, the immaterial “breath of life”, was originally thought (I believe) to be where most of our thoughts, feelings, and personality originate. However, a lot of the functions of the brain, like ...
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8 votes
3 answers
2k views

According to adherents of 'soul sleep', how did Moses and Elijah appear to Jesus, Peter, James, and John?

At Matthew 17:3-4 "Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, I will put up three shelters - one ...
Only True God's user avatar
8 votes
4 answers
10k views

Do Fetuses have souls? Is the aquisition of a soul instantenous or continuous? [closed]

Christian fundamentalists argue against abortion on the grounds that fetuses have souls. The argument starts with two premises: that people have souls while animals do not, and that the right to life ...
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7 votes
3 answers
1k views

How to reconcile the original creation of every soul (Creationism) by God with original sin?

The Catholic Church teaches that (CCC 366), every spiritual soul is created immediately by God — it is not 'produced' by the parents. So, if every soul is uniquely created by God and is not produced ...
WolfgangP's user avatar
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Where did our spirit come from? (Overview)

Where did our spirit come from? Did it exist before we were born? Or did it come into existence when we were born or later? What is an overview of the major Christian answers to this question?
Benny van der Griend's user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
2k views

What are the biblical arguments against soul sleep?

Quoting from this site: Soul sleep is the teaching that when a person dies that his soul "sleeps" until the time of the future resurrection. In this condition, the person is not aware or conscious. ...
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A.W. Pink and the Tripartite Theory of Man

Related I have asked a similar question on Philosophy.SE. Background Reading Arthur W. Pink's pamphlet Regeneration: Or, the New Birth recently, I was surprised to find that he had a tripartite ...
Kazark's user avatar
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What are the different views on the nature of 'hellfire'?

Fire as understood by physical humans consumes and destroys the fuel that it ignites and then goes out. The unredeemed soul is what many religions teach will be tormented eternally in fire of hell. ...
User 14's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
301 views

According to Catholicism, why do we need a resurrection if we have an immortal soul?

Here's this other question that asks the question "According to Roman Catholicism, how old will our resurrection bodies be?" The answers to the question talk along the line of that a persons physical ...
alec's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
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How does John Polkinghorne define the soul?

The Reverend Doctor John Polkinghorne, Anglican priest, theoretical physicist, and knight of the British Empire, seems to have interesting ideas about what the soul is. From Wikipedia: He regards ...
Mr. Bultitude's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
395 views

Could "The human soul is created at the moment of conception." be defined as dogma?

Could the proposition The human soul is created at the moment of conception. be defined as dogma? (question idea courtesy Peter Turner, who asked "What paths exist in the Catholic Church for a ...
Geremia's user avatar
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6 votes
2 answers
98 views

Anathemas concerning the soul

In pre-search-engine days, I once found a volume in the library that documented the outcomes of many church councils. At the time, I was particularly interested in the doctrine of the soul, and I ...
Timothy Chow's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
280 views

Did only Jesus human body remain in the grave for the three days?

Jesus told the thief at Calvary : Luke 23:43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." And yet he was not resurrected until after the Sabbath. So ...
BYE's user avatar
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What does it mean for the soul to be "immediately" created by God?

It is a Catholic dogma (De Fide) that human souls are immediately created by God. In this answer, the issue arose about what exactly "immediately" means. I'm not sure a satisfactory answer ...
luchonacho's user avatar
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5 votes
3 answers
2k views

What was Jesus' soul? [closed]

In the following Scriptures Jesus refers to my soul: Matthew 26:38 KJV Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. Mark 14:34 KJV ...
BYE's user avatar
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5 votes
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943 views

According to mainstream Christianity, what happens after one dies? [closed]

Old Belief [held for decades] After a person dies, the person sleeps until Judgment day, and is then awakened and goes into either heaven or hell. New Belief (realized only yesterday) Immediately ...
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5 votes
1 answer
2k views

According to the Catholic Church, do conjoined twins have two souls?

Do conjoined twins have two souls or one? The Catholic position would be useful to know.
user35971's user avatar
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5 votes
4 answers
615 views

What is an overview of Christian viewpoints on what happens to humans after death?

My (rather superficial) understanding is that most Christians would agree that human beings are composed of body, spirit and soul. Now, I'm aware that the terms "soul" and "spirit" ...
user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
478 views

What was Origen's view of Jesus' soul?

Origen believed in the pre-existence of souls (prior to conception), and that people's souls did things before their embodiment. For example, he taught that Jacob was loved and Esau hated because of ...
Mr. Bultitude's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
270 views

According to soul sleep adherents, if unclean spirits can be conscious without bodies, why can't human spirits also be conscious without bodies?

Most soul sleep adherents find no issue in accepting that demonic/unclean spirits are conscious beings despite the fact that they lack physical bodies. The scriptural evidence for this is quite ...
user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
510 views

How do soul sleep adherents explain Lk 23:43?

Luke 23:43 says: And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus told the thief on the cross beside him that he'll be in paradise with Jesus that day. Being ...
srbhnrng's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
285 views

What were the main arguments put forth at the Fifth ecumenical council against the preexistence of human souls?

As far as I know, the idea of the preexistence of human souls was condemned on the Fifth ecumenical council (the Second Council of Constantinople). The Wikipedia page on the decrees of that council ...
brilliant's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
537 views

Did JWs believe in trinity and immortality of the soul before they got their own Bible?

This is a question about the Bible translation called the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT) that was produced by Jehovah's Witnesses as a complete Bible first in 1961, and about its ...
ravn's user avatar
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4 votes
3 answers
2k views

Does Roman Catholicism teach that man is body and soul (bipartite) or body, soul, and spirit (tripartite)?

According to Rev. S. D. F. Salmond's English translation, John of Damascus wrote,(1) For since man’s nature is twofold, consisting of soul and body, He bestowed on us a twofold purification, of ...
user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
391 views

According to Roman Catholicism, what is the soul and its purpose?

In the Catholic Tradition does there exist a teaching on the purpose or role of the human soul in the makeup of a human being? I could also settle for a theologian's thoughts and writings on the ...
shiningcartoonist's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
2k views

What does Reformed Protestantism teach regarding 'spirit and soul and body' (I Thessalonians 5:23)

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I Thessalonians 5:23 KJV Paul lists '...
Nigel J's user avatar
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4 votes
3 answers
733 views

How do adherents of soul-sleep interpret the parable of Rich man and Lazarus (Lk 16:19–31)?

Doesn't this parable indicate that people have some kind of soul or spirit that is conscious even after death?
srbhnrng's user avatar
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4 votes
4 answers
741 views

What is the biblical basis for the immortality of the soul?

The Immortality of the Soul is "the doctrine that the human soul will survive death, continuing in the possession of an endless conscious existence." (source). What is the biblical basis for the ...
R. Brown's user avatar
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4 votes
3 answers
891 views

Why did St. Augustine and St. Thomas endorse ensoulment at 40 or 80 days?

I know the story that they lacked our current biological knowledge. I know the story that they still considered abortion to be a grave evil. These two excuses seem inadequate to me. Regardless, they ...
chris griffin's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
307 views

Immortal soul concept: afterlife and the sentence spoken to Adam (Catholic perspective)

This is partially a follow-up question onto this question which left some unanswered questions in my mind. According to an answer to that earlier question, Jesus seems to have literally died on the ...
user100487's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
172 views

According to Roman Catholicism, at what point does original sin affect the human soul?

CCC 366 teaches that every soul is immediately created by God and not produced by the parents. The Church teaches that every spiritual soul is created immediately by God - it is not "produced&...
Mike Borden's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
1k views

How does the Catholic church distinguish between the human soul and spirit?

I see questions about the creation of the human soul, and the soul's "infusion" into the body. But the Bible considers a human being to "have" three parts or concepts: spirit, soul, and body. How does ...
Bit Chaser's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
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Heart, Mind, Soul and Spirit [closed]

Is there a diagrammatic representation of soul, spirit, heart and their components based on the tripartite view of man? I understand there can be overlapping but I'd like to know if there is a visual ...
Jabez's user avatar
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4 votes
0 answers
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What are the correct pairings between the soul's faculties and the 3 transcendentals?

The three transcendentals and imago dei Medieval scholastic theology inherited the notions of transcendentals from Greek metaphysics. CCC 41, interpreting Wis 13:5, teaches that our soul has the ...
GratefulDisciple's user avatar