2007-01-27 05:45:27 · 8 answers · asked by Morgan H 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It is a soul.
SOUL
The original-language terms (Heb., ne´phesh [???]; Gr., psy·khe´ [????]) as used in the Scriptures show “soul” to be a person, an animal, or the life that a person or an animal enjoys.
The connotations that the English “soul” commonly carries in the minds of most persons are not in agreement with the meaning of the Hebrew and Greek words as used by the inspired Bible writers. This fact has steadily gained wider acknowledgment. Back in 1897, in the Journal of Biblical Literature (Vol. XVI, p. 30), Professor C. A. Briggs, as a result of detailed analysis of the use of ne´phesh, observed: “Soul in English usage at the present time conveys usually a very different meaning from ??? [ne´phesh] in Hebrew, and it is easy for the incautious reader to misinterpret.”
More recently, when The Jewish Publication Society of America issued a new translation of the Torah, or first five books of the Bible, the editor-in-chief, H. M. Orlinsky of Hebrew Union College, stated that the word “soul” had been virtually eliminated from this translation because, “the Hebrew word in question here is ‘Nefesh.’” He added: “Other translators have interpreted it to mean ‘soul,’ which is completely inaccurate. The Bible does not say we have a soul. ‘Nefesh’ is the person himself, his need for food, the very blood in his veins, his being.”—The New York Times, October 12, 1962.
2007-01-27 05:48:41 · answer #1 · answered by Tim 47 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Peace!
Although the Old Testament sometimes refers to soul as human life or the entire human person, soul in the New Testament refers to the spiritual principle in man. "Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul." - Jesus (Matthew 10,28)
Since the soul is not created by the parents but comes from God, the answer to your question will have to wait. Let's just cross the bridge when we get there.
2007-01-27 15:15:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dear Morgan H: Lately, I seem to be tripping through where angels fear to tread ! But, I am going to give the Truth as in my 26 years of spiritual study, I have come to understand it, personally :
We are Created by a Creator Who brings into Being souls or spirit-mind (those are human expressions) like Himself. In His vast Knowledge of All, He knows of many forms, but has chosen His Highest Thought for His Beloved Creation: Something more of Himself. We are part OF Him, but not Him. As part of His Creation we exist within Him. Through human "eyes" He is not seen, but He is Known. Within our souls, He is Known Intimately.
Behind the human Intellect lies this Being of soul or spirit-mind. Always fully Connected to it's Creator and part of Him, it thinks it's own thoughts autonomously - not simply the thoughts God thinks - although we receive His Thought, Creation impulses and Ecstacy ceaselessly. Although we think autonomously, as well, all Thought belonged first to God and all Thought lies in His Thought Pool.
The experience of physical life has a purpose. It exists as a "maintained thought" in the minds of the sons of God while we exist within Him. This physical experience is honored by God for His Kingdom is based on non-opposition, unlimitedness, and expansiveness. Hence, the human expression, Free Will. What will be learned from this experience, in the physical, has vast importance for us, in our Relationship with Him. His "Kingdom" has attributes of safety, steadfast love, inclusion, peacefulness, non-opposition, unlimitedness and His joy in One-ness. We consider individuality, exclusiveness, opposition, adventure, and self-interest. There are many conclusions for us to arrive at.
We have considered "cloning," in our joint thinking, amongst the sons of God. But a clone is still a physical thing, as we consider ourselves to be - a thought we have. Whoever would appear as a clone would still be a son of God having the experience of being a clone. The Mind Created by God is still in charge of it's thoughts and is still what humans call soul or spirit: Cloning would be duplication of some, but through spirit-minds that desire that experience. Truly, if we think upon it, we are, in our Created state, a duplicate of God. So, "cloning," a different word, is something we Know about.
God Creates. Man "makes." All clones are within a spirit-mind or soul who makes them - as an experience to have, as are all adventures in physical life.
Best regards, Lana
2007-01-27 15:15:25 · answer #3 · answered by Lana S (1) 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No.
But then the soul is a fiction, so this is a trick question.
2007-01-27 14:06:16 · answer #4 · answered by Phil Knight 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nope.
2007-01-27 13:48:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.
but then so what? Nobody else has a soul, either.
2007-01-27 15:59:59 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, neither do you or I.
2007-01-27 13:49:07 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
No.
2007-01-27 13:48:21 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋