Isn't the soul eternal?
368866
In the Bible,"soul" is translated from the Hebrew ne'phesh and the Greek psy khe'.Bible usage shows the soul to be a person or an animal or the life that a person or an animal enjoys.To many persons,however,"soul" means the immaterial or spirit part of a human being that survives the death of the physical body.Others understand it to be the principle of life.But these latter views are not Bible teachings.\n\n"The concept of immortality is a product of Greek thinking,whereas the hope of a resurrection belongs to Jewish thought....Following Alexander's conquests Judaism gradually absorbed Greek concepts."- Dictionnaire Encyclopedique de la Bible (Valence,France;1935),edited by Alexandre Westphal,Vol 2 p. 557.\n"Immortality of the soul is a Greek notion formed in ancient mystery cults and elaborated by the philosopher Plato."-Presbyterian Life,May 1,1970,p.35.
170970
A very interesting question and metaphysical question.  The soul is classically understood as the principal of life, once created, is destined for God.  Your question link into a lot of pop spirituality influenced by eastern thoughts of reincarnation.\n\nSo the suggestion is that the soul can be seen as existent before life and actually choose to "come to earth" and live out a particular life.  This is not classic understanding but it would make sense of a lot of experiences I have had.  Its as if I know when somebody I meet for the first time, is going to be a significant presence in my life, as if I had a memory from heaven, no details just a sense of knowing they will be someone to me.\n\nNow I am very tentative about this because any suggestion of predestination is anathema to me; so that why I say its just an interesting question.
304818
yes, what we refer to as our souls have always been and i believe will always be. the body goes and may come again in another form but who we are is infinite and eternal.
324009
I believe that our soul journeys through this world, in many different lifetimes, till we have learned all the lessons put before us and we attain enlightenment.  Then our soul is freed from this earth and obtains a celestial form.  I don't believe in heaven or hell.  Hell is re-living the same lesson over and over again because we're too stupid to get it!  I've known a few people who have done that!  I don't think our souls could inhabit an animal body.  That just doesn't make sense to me.
1167269
:) Okay. From a strictly scientific standpoint. What does your brain operate on? Electrical energy. We have a scientific law which states; Energy can neither be created, nor destroyed. It can only be altered in form. Okay, the energy in our brains cannot be destroyed, upon the death of our physical bodies. Then what happens to it??? I think there's your Ghosts. Who we are changes form, but is not destroyed. We still exist. I guess maybe it's a science based definition of a soul?
1089628
I like your question -- it is very difficult to answer, because there is no simple response!  This is the first challenging question that I've been asked before concerning my religion -- I just don't have all the reasons behind the answers.\n\nSome of your question I can answer, though.  The philosophy of the soul does not pertain to the idea that it has a quanitfiable existence.  It is the ego and spirit of a person, something intangible yet certainly present.  As far as the theology behind this concept, you're right, it's difficult to say when a "soul" would be created.  I couldn't say when the "second soul" comes into the picture, but it certainly wouldn't be "half" of the first.
114587
God is eternal and as such not bound by an age.  He is outside of time as we understand it.
530199
The soul never dies.  The Greek word translated into "souls" below actually stands for "persons."  The soul is not a proven body part.  It is spiritual belief.\n\nNow the answer:  With God time is irrelevant.  The dead body lies in the grave.  The soul is in limbo, waiting for Judgment Day.  Someday there will be a resurrection into new bodies, needing no raiment nor sustenance.  Souls will enter Heaven or  Hell according to judgment of deeds while the body was alive.
987965
An “Immortal Soul”?\n\nThe movement teaches non-Biblical doctrines that long have been taught by sects of Christendom. One is the idea that man has an “immortal soul” that will suffer in “hellfire” if man is not saved. But the Bible does not say that an “immortal soul” lives on to receive rewards or punishments. Rather, it says just the opposite. It says the soul dies.\n\nOpen your Bible to Ezekiel 18:4. There, according to the King James Version, you will not read that the sinning soul goes into “hellfire.” Instead, it says: “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” See also verse 20.\n\nAccording to the Bible, the dead could not be suffering in “hellfire.” The Bible specifically says, at Ecclesiastes 9:5: “The dead know not any thing.” Verse 10 of the same chapter adds: “There is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” Psalm 146:4 says of the day a man dies: “In that very day his thoughts perish.”\n\nIf the dead know nothing, and have no thoughts or knowledge, they obviously could not be suffering torments or pain, as the “Jesus people” believe.\n\n“Then what about the word ‘hell’?” you may ask, adding: “It certainly appears in the Bible!”\n\nBible writers used the Hebrew word “sheol” and the Greek word “hades,” which some Bibles translate as “hell.” But sheol and hades did not mean a place of torture at all. Instead, they simply meant the common grave of mankind—including men like Jesus who obeyed God. Yes, the apostle Peter applied Psalm 16:10 to Jesus, saying: “David speaketh concerning him [Jesus] . . . thou wilt not leave my soul in hell [Hebrew, sheol; Greek, hades], neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” (Acts 2:25-27) Surely none of the “Jesus people” will argue that Jesus went to hellfire when he died!\n\nIn several instances Jesus used the valley of Hinnom (Greek, Gehenna), Jerusalem’s community garbage dump, to symbolize the complete destruction of those who willfully disbelieve. No resurrection hope is held out for those “pitched into Gehenna” in contrast to those in the common grave of mankind.\n\nJesus was in Hades, which is mankind’s common grave. And the Bible says that there is “no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol, Hades.” So he was out of existence in Hades, as was the evildoer.—Eccl. 9:5, 10.\n\nThen, on the third day from his death, God raised Jesus from the dead as a mighty spirit creature. But the evildoer was not raised; he stayed in the grave.—1 Pet. 3:18.
12554
i have found such to be true...  but that the soul doesn't have to just jump right back in to another body.  it can live in the astral realms for a time first, if it so wishes.\n\nmost religions will explain this with philosophical statements and questions rather than cold, scientific facts.  truly, this is a quest you must follow for yourself.  if you need help, i suggest checking out some of the teachings of buddhism.  you don't have to believe in them if you don't want to, but comparing texts often gives you a fine base from which you can draw your own personal conclusions.\n\ni frequent the y-messenger chat rooms under the name Suhrim, and only that name.  i wrote a paper on my personal theories regarding this (too long to cut and paste into here).  if you want, you can find me in the paganism rooms.. usually the higher numbers.. about once a week.  if you wish, i can then cut and paste that paper into the pm window.  :)
656102
It was always my thought that the spirit and soul were the same thing, not two separate entities. In that respect, your spirit/soul and your body could be in two different places at one, after death. The fact that you are living and etc, means they are still striving together!  :-)
659412
I think the question that you ask is a valid and an intelligent one- but the answer is very hard to formulate.\n\nSorry to disappoint you, but indeed, God has always existed since time immemorial, so there is nothing more ancient than God. Since God is an immortal entity, he has been here forever, and will thusly remain here forever...it's up to you to decide what 'here' means.\n\nNothing nor no one created him- although we tend to think of things in these concrete terms, and have a deep appreciation for causality and logic, many of the terms we use just don't apply to God, the creator of the cosmos. Again, he wasn't created- he has always been there. We can't see back that far into time.\n\nSorry if my answer fails to suffice. \n\nI am a Christian, by the way, if you were curious or if you hadn't gathered.
1079155
Science is limited to the physical. Your soul is eternal. The Bible deals with what is eternal where science cannot venture. The physical realm will pass away, and science will pass away with it. What you want to do is latch onto that which will last forever, and that is the Word of God.\n\nMatthew 24:35\nJesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."\n\nHowever, with a little study and reference, you can find proof that God DOES exist. My writing at the link below shows how this is possible.\n\nhttp://schnebin.blogspot.com/2006/05/gods-word-proven.html\n\n*Emma* - God can be known personally. THAT is the essence of the Gospel. Science will not help you in that venture. God is a Spirit, and those who wish to know Him must seek Him in spirit and in truth. Read the above link to start your own quest.
1156896
The soul is what evolves and matures. The body is only the shell the soul resides in. It has to be a complicated mechanized system to be as functional as it is.\nWhy? Scientists can't ansewer that question because it's not a science question, and becuase it's an answer God hasn't allowed us to discover yet.
870511
Nope, God is eternal, he has always existed. But remember, it is not possible that the Universe is infinite, that would be against scripture.\nI have really seen this answer before man, it's kind of sad.
651727
I believe when I die here, I will go either to heaven or hell.  the soul never dies.  it will keep on living, because the Bible speaks of eternity in heaven or hell so even fire can not kill the soul.
588617
I think the answer to that question lies in whatever a certain person believes in. Some people believe in heaven and hell, some people believe in reincarnation and some believe everything ends.\nI think the human soul consists of energy, just like everything else in this universe. When we die this energy is released and can be used for other things, like as a soul in another person. So technically the soul never dies.