Or spirits? In other words, is there something more to groups of people, than the simple sum of the individuals? And are innocent individuals in that group responsible for what the body of people does? I suspect that nations, groups, corporations, etc are fictional identities, that are convenient to use in conversation, but have no spiritual identity at all.
I know what the Bible says, what do you think about, 'espirit de corp'?
2007-10-28 06:36:59 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Good point Spartacus, right is right, and civil rights are redresses of civil wrongs. But, do groups of people add up to a spirit?
2007-10-28 07:10:00 · update #1
The soul is simply your life, even beasts have a soul. Nations, businesses, etc. are inanimate.
Christ foretold; Isa 53:12, "...because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors". When God the Spirit left Jesus' body, His soul died. Jesus knew his soul would not be left in hell, the grave.
I know most will disagree, but our soul is a two-fold being; our inward man of spirit, and outward man of flesh. When the spirit leaves our body, we die. There is no life without God being in us, because He is the Life. Our spirit is eternal, and goes back to God who gave it, but our flesh is carnal, and returns to the dust. 2 Cor 6:16, "...ye are the temple of the LIVING God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people".
2007-10-28 10:26:08 · answer #1 · answered by TruthSeeker 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible was not intended to be an historical narrative which chronicled the life and times of Jesus when he walked upon the earth -- and neither is it a declaration to man as to what he is required to (unquestionably) believe. The purpose of the written word (written equals Old Covenant) of the scriptures is to prepare you to become the "good ground" (Mt 13:23;Mk 4:20; Lk 8:15) within which the Word of God is implanted -- good ground that will enable you to embrace the teachings of the New Covenant which is spiritual, and learn directly from the True Prophet. While our present-day Bibles are sufficient for the people of the simple faith who are not willing to pick up their crosses and take upon themselves the yoke of the Christ -- which in effect would alienate them from the quasi-religious institutions and culture of this world -- the sincere disciple who desires to walk in The Way of Truth and Life will need scriptures of a higher spiritual substance than what is used in our churches today. While the original Hebrew Gospel of Matthew which was used among the Ebionites is not available to us at the present time, there does exist many transitory gospels which will assist in preparing the truly sincere believer and disciple to come into the Presence of the Light and be taught the Mysteries of God directly from the Source of all Truth.
2007-10-28 06:43:59 · answer #2 · answered by a yound child of GOD 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nations do not have souls, but the people living in the nations have souls. When a nation turns their back on God, I believe He might punish them. Examples are in the Bible. However, God always gave people plenty of warnings to accept him and be saved. Examples: Noah and Ark-- Noah spread God's message everyday, but no one would listen. There hearts had been hardened by sin. Sodom and Gomorrah- Lot went to warn the cities but they was not ONE pure soul or believer in the cities. They would not listen, to how upset God was with their sin.
2007-10-28 06:53:34 · answer #3 · answered by michelle 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Very thought provoking.
I don't know yet.
Never thought .
Thanks
I've read the answers here and I don't have anything much to contribute to the discussion except to point out that God once changed His mind about destroying an entire nation because there was one 'righteous' man in the nation. I think it was Abraham who prayed for God to spare the sinful nation because there was one innocent there.
2007-10-28 06:42:18 · answer #4 · answered by Prof Fruitcake 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Certainly God punishes and blesses nations. Yes individuals in those nations suffer because of it, but they can overcome with their own direct relationship to God.
Galatians 3:8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU ."
2007-10-28 06:41:39 · answer #5 · answered by oldguy63 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nation in the Bible refers to the size of a group of people with the same ethnicity & language. It does not necessarily refer to a geographical location.
Making the assumption that there are still innocent people on the earth is a error in your question.
There are no innocent people, only condemned sinners in need of forgiveness.
2007-10-28 06:45:57 · answer #6 · answered by realchurchhistorian 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why would the Creator of the Universe care what humans do to each other. Each country or faith claims to have God on their side or that God favors them. Why do people make God out to be so petty and political? Sounds pretty human to me.
Only we can make wars and make peace, we had better learn or will go the way of the Neanderthal.
Pantheist
2007-10-28 06:45:09 · answer #7 · answered by Equinoxical ™ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Genesis 3:17 ".....cursed is the ground for thy sake....."
If we live in sin upon our land, we curse the ground that we live on.
Psalm 33:12,13
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance.
The Lord looks from heaven; he beholds all the sons of men.
It is the people of the nation that curse the nation or bless the nation.
The wages of sin is death. So to say sin is good for any nation is wrong.
2007-10-28 07:02:34 · answer #8 · answered by Jeancommunicates 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think a corporation with share holders can be sued for things that the corporation did even if all the shareholders are different,
like a company that profited off the slave trade in 1859 and now in 2007 has new shareholders that they should be able to be sued and held accountable
2007-10-28 06:52:21 · answer #9 · answered by Spartacus 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yeah well read the Book of Malachi. God was thinking of smiting the entire earth with a curse.
His tantrums and rancorous entanglements with mortals, that's a whole big subject unto itself. And through it all you will see the concept of collective punishment, so read your Bible and get all the info.
2007-10-28 06:45:04 · answer #10 · answered by 2.71828182845904 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋