Thought I would ask this again since I did not get a good answer from a Christian. See the ABC News item below. This woman started as two separate embryos that later fused in the womb into one. She has two different sets of DNA in her cells. Some cells have the set from one twin, some from the other.
Let's be clear. Two entirely separate embryos in the womb with presumably 2 souls. The two embryos combine into one embryo. Neither embryo dies because the cells from both are still in the combined embryo.
How many souls are there?
Seems like four possibilities to me:
1) Zero (correct answer by the way)
2) Two
3) One (Because one of the embryo souls "dies" when they combine and the other is left)
4) One (Because both embryo souls "die" and god creates a new one. So three total souls are involved)
If you pick 3 or 4, please explain in detail how this would work.
Look here for the story from ABC:
http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=2315693&page=1
2007-01-08 05:17:00 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
OK....if she now has one soul, what happened to the other one?
2007-01-08 05:30:51 · update #1
The only ways the woman could have a single soul would be
1) both embryos started with a soul and one got 'lost' or they fuse into one
2) at the time of fusion neither embryo had acquired a soul. This of course would be against Catholic teaching that the soul is there from conception
I would suggest placing this on the 'Religion and Spirituality' site, it is not something that has a biological answer
2007-01-08 05:40:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Lord works in mysterious ways, and we must not be misled by our limited minds. We see a paradox, but for the Lord there is no paradox. Quantum physicists observe things in a superposition of states in the laboratory, and the fused embryo seems like such an example. It may temporarily exist in a superposition of states |0> + |1> + |2> + |3> as you've outlined. If we attempted to measure the number of souls the subsequent baby has, we could find it having anywhere from 0 to 3 souls. However, the Lord having omnipotent powers, even quantum probability is not beyond his control. Since it is necessary for the baby to have exactly 1 and only 1 soul for purposes of being burdened with sin at birth and salvation thereby afterwards on account of personal and singular responsibility, the Lord forces the outcome of |1>, and the paradox is resolved. The Lord has his own bookkeeping on souls.
2007-01-08 05:33:46 · answer #2 · answered by Scythian1950 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Lord works in mysterious procedures, and we could desire to consistently no longer be misled via our constrained minds. We see a paradox, yet for the Lord there is no paradox. Quantum physicists observe themes in a superposition of states indoors the laboratory, and the fused embryo feels like such an social gathering. it might desire to quickly exist in a superposition of states |0> + |a million> + |2> + |3> as you have defined. If we tried to degree the form of souls the subsequent infant has, we ought to locate it having everywhere from 0 to 3 souls. no remember if, the Lord having all-useful powers, even quantum possibility isn't previous his administration. with the help of potential of certainty this is mandatory for the infant to have precisely a million and truthfully a million soul for applications of being under pressure with sin at beginning up and salvation thereby afterwards with the help of potential of very own and singular duty, the Lord forces the consequences of |a million>, and the paradox is resolved. The Lord has his very own bookkeeping on souls.
2016-11-27 20:04:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can imagine that this question is somewhat similar to asking things like, "Does this woman have two minds, two hearts?" Individuals who came from two embryos fused together is not unheard of; it's not too uncommon, but it is certainly a strange phenomenon when you experience it. Nevertheless, the woman has just one soul, as she is just one human being, not two. You can seek salvation by confessing to God your sins, and accepting Jesus Christ into your life - you need only do that once, and your soul is saved. This woman certainly wouldn't need to find salvation twice, once for each soul.
2007-01-08 09:50:15 · answer #4 · answered by Jin 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm a Christian. I would say one because their is only person/one mind responsible for that person's actions/beliefs, unless I misunderstood. There is still only one person. However, my answer isn't grounded in any Biblical reference, just analytical reasoning. Someone who believes, though, that genetics are responsible for behavior (and many do. I think it's a combination of choice/reasoning and genetics, since reasoning could be hindered by severe genetic anomolies). A trickier question would be about someone who either suffered multiple personality disorder or conjoined twins. Now that's something to think about.
2007-01-08 05:30:56 · answer #5 · answered by Lady in Red 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1 soul
2007-01-08 05:23:55 · answer #6 · answered by Russianator 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Very good question! Amazingly enough, I don't have an answer for you! My gut says one soul, but like you I don't know how God works that out....
2007-01-08 05:22:21 · answer #7 · answered by acafrao341 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One brain - one soul. As our "soul" is really our essence, our mind ,our intellect, our uniqueness then she would have one "soul". I don't mean the Biblical soul that leaves the body when we die. Our "soul" dies with our brain.
2007-01-08 05:24:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋