Christians, does everyone have a soul or spirit? Are they the same?
927484
All persons are composed of 3 parts, a body, soul, and a spirit.  The body is what you can see now, the soul is the thinking part of you and your spirit is the part that goes on after the body dies.  The spirit is the part of you that experiences heaven or hell.  Some people think that the soul can be reborn into different bodies.  I haven' t determined what I think yet, I'm just gathering evidence from different sources.  I don't think anyone knows for sure exactly.  I think it may be a blend of everything.  I am sure that we are spiritual beings having an earthly experience.
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.
632216
We are eternal spirit souls RIDING in the temporary VEHICLE of a human animal-mammal-primate-vertebrate-chordate-hominid Homo sapiens. Genetically inherited animal vehicles are born, eat, mate-breed, defend, sleep, get ill, cheat, steal, die. Genetically inherited ego structures-intellect-minds and personalities assist the body in these things so the karmic wheel of this huge cosmic computer-machine can keep on turning.  We are different from-superior to animals in one KEY AREA.  As humans we have the ability to ask the correct-wise-higher questions of WHO AM I REALLY AND WHY AM I HERE REALLY. Animals can't-don't do that! Answer to these questions are to know, love, serve, remember and glorify the Creator, and to know the difference between the three items listed below, not just say you believe and go to church for hour on sunday and be kinda "good" when you feel like it. It takes effort, grace, willpower and mercy!\n\nDo you know the difference between:\n\nillusion and Truth\ntemporary and Eternal\nmatter and Spirit\n\nOnce we KNOW who we REALLY are, why we are REALLY here (Bhakti Prema) then we can go back to the Eternal Home where we can serve the Creator. Until then, we are just here playing with matter, trying to be controllers and enjoyers of matter and the material world and play the role of "little pseudo-gods" instead of doing what He wants. Once we want to play with Spirit more than matter then we have BEGUN the REAL PURPOSE of human life, to NOT BE ANIMALS-INHUMANE.....but to become Self and God Realized (not ego realized!) and go back Home. Thus, most humans are behaving like animals.  \n\nEstimates are that about\n\n5-6% of humans are infant souls\n20 % baby souls\n30% young souls%\n33% mature souls\n10% old souls \n\nTypically it is not until souls are "later old souls," probably the last 2%,that humans start to REMEMBER the real purpose of life and are INTERESTED-COMMITTED in its deep pursuit. Christ came to help humans open their hearts and become at least "mature human" if they can do what He teaches instead of living the Old Testament animal way of "eye for an eye." Compassion is one of His many major teachings. If humans are incapable of love-compassion on any level, then they are animal Homo sapiens.  Some dogs are more compassionate, kind, caring, serving, devoted than some humans.\n\nbody\nmind\nintellect\nintelligence\nego\nSpirit\n\nThis is the "order of hierarchy-lowest to highest" of our utilizable components while here.  Once Spirit runs the show we are spiritual beings riding within a human experience.  But if body-mind-intellect-ego are "trying to run the show," then we are just animals, fancy and intellectually sharp sometimes, but not truly human-humane.\n\nStages of development of love (in order) include:\n\nnurturance\nbonding\nalliance\nreciprocity\nunderstanding-comprehension\nappreciation-gratitude\naltruism-selfless service\nagape-unconditional love\n\nIf we aren't doing these,then we must be going down the rung to lower animal behavior, aka "hell on earth".\n\nIf you can be tolerant and "agree to disagree" then you can be a "civilized human", but if not, the following DOWNHILL ANIMAL CANCER spreads:\n\ndisagree\naggravation-grudge-repressed anger-frustration\ncivil disputes\nfeuds-gang-regional warfare\ncriminal disputes\nwar (>1000 die over a specific issue)\nannihiliation\n\nbut the highest level of spiritual love (the only true-deepest love) is Prema!\n\nHave a great day-life!
355279
Yes you can prove your mind!  Brain chemistry!\n\nSoul and spirit, totally different!\n\nNo matter how much you believe in them or faith etc, you are going to find it very, very hard to actually come up with any scientific proof for the existence of a soul or spirit!\n\nSorry folks...! ;-)
1002084
Like everyone elses....different?
896205
Aren't we the same?  We're animals that inhabit this planet, the same as many others.  What sets humans apart?  The idea that we have a soul?  That is very debatable and has never been proven or disproven to exist but the same could be said for animals possessing souls.  The fact that many believe that only humans have souls only proves that our egos WANT to believe ourselves somehow better.  In many ways we are superior to the other animals, hence our dominance of the planet.  But also in many ways we are far inferior to other animals.  So where is the balance?
321793
If you read somewhere (I don't recall it right now) in the Bible, it says that The Lord knew all of Us before being born!..So We for sure existed before coming to this earth!...\n\nIf you ask me as a personal question I believe we are souls, Angels, and that we are being tested in this Earth to see if we deserve to be with The Lord (Jesus) for the rest of eternity!...\n\nI think Jesus is doing a cleansing in the "universe-heaven" after Satan was expelled from heaven (remember he was God's favorite angel and was in charge of the music, but he tried to be better than God)!..It's a plan, it's a process!...I think when God put all of humans in this earth, He somehow erased our minds so we can't recall anything but once We "die" has humans!...\n\nI think We are souls, but We're also Light!...
1003703
United in One Spirit points towards the idea that all Christians, true Christians, are united and together.  Paul, to the Corinthians, uses the idea of a body.  We are the body of Christ.  The eye cannot operate alone and it needs the head.  The body needs the legs.  We all need each other and belong to God, the One Holy Spirit.  Also it's the Holy Spirit that binds us all and adopts us into the Heavenly Family.  We are all connected and are one family.  \n\nYou've heard of one country under God; well, you can say that we are one Family under God.
1015416
I am a very spiritual person, but I am weary about the so called "good Christians".  They are usually the most closed minded people, and they are usually self serving.  If it's in their best interest, they invoke that Jesus would want things to be done their way. And if they don't like something, they say it is against Jesus.  Really, how do they know what Jesus would want.  That is why he gives us the Holy Spirit, so that we can be connected with Him, and make our own decisions.
555229
Jesus is our soul, we all sit beside him every day as he is within us.  Deep within us and when we dig deep enough we find him.  He's our conscience.  If we learn to follow him we will always be happy.x
235322
We need to distinguish between Mind and Soul.  The mind is indeed a function of the brain, and the Soul is mostly indistinguishable from it while the brain is functioning.  We therefore leave open the question of whether the Soul is something quite apart, which can exist without the physical "housing" of the brain.  I personally think it is something different, and does exist apart from any physical structure, but my reasons are all spiritual/religious, and not in the least scientific.  The most scientific analogy is an idea or a concept, perhaps an archetype.  They clearly exist outside of any physical structure, and I believe the soul does, too.  My real question is whether it is an individual soul, and therefore there are billions of them, or whether we share souls at a higher dimension/level than we normally perceive.  The jury is still out on that one.
348044
If you asked the same question of a Christian he would still have to refer you the the New Testament to read about the teachings of Jesus for yourself to find out about Christianity.\nI have said many times what the basic belief is on this forum but I will say it again:\nScientology belives than each man is his own immortal soul.That he does not Have a soul but IS a soul.\n\nJust out of curiosity how many Scientologists have you actually asked?
243740
You'll never find one spirit, one unity, one like-mind, one accord.\n\nThe Bible, being highly subjective, is a guideline for living.  Not everyone lives OR THINKS the same way, therefore, you will have "sects," as you call them, breaking off just slightly from the overall teaching of the Word.\n\n*yawn* what an absolutely boring world it would be if everyone believed the same way, talked the same way, acted the same way, and taught "religion" the same way.\n\nYou are NEVER going to find a satisfying answer because you are asking a question that has many different answers.  Since none of them has satisfied you yet, you'll search until, one day you die.  After death, however, God has promised that all our questions will be answered.
957178
I read something about this a long time ago.\nIf I remember correctly.??\nWe all have a group of souls that we are the most connected with.   \nOutside of that small group is a larger group of souls that we are very connected with.   \nOutside of that group is an even larger group of souls that we are somewhat connected with.    (on and on...)\n\nThe soul family are the ones we are the most connected to for various reasons.   Life lessons or help when we need it. Spouses, parents, children, siblings. friends, and strangers on the street.   We know them when we see them.   Some are in our lives for a short time....some for a long time.   There is a sense of familiarity upon meeting the person and a strong remembrance of them when they are gone.\n\nI think that's what I read, and I liked the concept.\n\nI hope you get better answers....I will read them.  \n\nThis is a fabulous question!
179654
I say that I'm a Spiritual person as I am filled with the Holy Spirit.  I wish that my life and actions were more in line with being a Spiritual person, but God isn't finished with me yet.  I just hope He gets me progressing a little more! :)
717120
Black & white, male & female are all aspects of the human physical body.  They will pass and be replaced by our eternal spiritual body.  No sterotypical soul exists because the soul is not dependent on the body.  It exists as an entity in itself.  Otherwise, when the body dies, you would have to believe that the soul goes with it.\n\nBaptist & Jewish, etc. are views or doctrines.  They are not the soul.  They make up part of the mind.  However, those views and doctrines do affect the mind and thus have an impact on the soul.\n\nBottom line, no...souls are not stereotypical.  And I can't wait to get to heaven and see the looks on the faces of those who thought there was really something called a "black church" or a "white church" or only a Catholic Church or Baptist Church (I'm referring to those who believe that only certain denominations of Christians will inherit Heaven).  I think that we all are going to be shocked at what exists and how it all exists in eternity.  And I can't wait to be a part of it all.  When we get there, I believe that we WILL be stereotypical.  We will all be the Saints of God!
569745
The Holy Spirit has self identity, is aware, and is not merely a force because a force doesn't speak, love, grieve, and have a mind.  But the cults tend to ignore these verses and tell us that the Spirit is nothing more than some presence or power.  Sure, the Spirit is a presence and a power, but that is not all He is.  He is the third person in the Trinity.  He is the one who applies the redemptive work of Christ to the believer.  He is the one who convicts the world of sin (John 16:8), who teaches (John 14:26; 15:26), and who anoints (1 John 2:27).\n     But, the Holy Spirit is also humble because He points to Jesus (John 15:26).  Therefore, anyone who is truly indwelt by the Holy Spirit will likewise bear witness of Jesus.\n     Okay, so what is the devotional aspect here?  Simple, the Holy Spirit indwells you and convictions of righteousness and sin.  The Holy Spirit is very active in working in your lives as Christians to bring you into a closer relationship with Jesus.  We should know more about the One who makes so much possible with our Savior.