Do Souls Prexist?

[Benson]

One or some of the following must exist regarding the human soul:

1.) It comes into existence at the moment of meiotic inception in the womb, or in a laboratory container.

2.) It comes from another dimension or place to be inserted into the newly formed human zygote, or possibly at the first breath when birth occurs.

3.) It is a small spark of God Himself which He puts into humans when they arrive at a sentient state of accountability.

4.) Human souls exist only in humans which are chosen by God according to the integrity of their DNA.

5.) God ordains some humans shall be possessed by a prexistent nonhuman evil spirit.

Perhaps this Forum has those who claim to have knowledge of God's Omnipotence, Providence, and Love and will thereby confidently pontificate. Or, perhaps someone will arise with patronizing verbation to hide their lack of thought and information. The best answer will assuredly be germane and to the point without being dismissive or divergent.

A clue to an answer is that God "breathed into Adam" before Adam became a living soul, something not done with animals. Jesus also purposefully "breathed" upon His Disciples. As well, Mosaic Law specifies unborn children are persons to be protected. Strangely, Pagan worship sought and prioritized the sacrifice of infants, as if the infancy contained a certain aspect of being they utilized.

[William]

So JWs don't believe in any kind of resurrection at all, but rather re-creation.

In Jehovahs Witntess language "resurrection" is interpreted to mean re-creation.

Another example of lexical semantics. The concern with the analysis of word meanings and relations between them.

In relation to the soul, as per offered definitions in the OP:

2.) It comes from another dimension or place to be inserted into the newly formed human zygote, or possibly at the first breath when birth occurs.

3.) It is a small spark of God Himself which He puts into humans when they arrive at a sentient state of accountability.

The branch of Christendom known as "JWs" believe that they are bound for death and re-creation is something of a gift where a god will recreate their form (implying the form they had when alive on earth) and until this occurs, they will remain dead/dust. They believe this is the case for all humans beings - that once an individual dies, that is the end of the individuals experience.

Most cultures have the belief that death is not the end of the individual, but merely the end of the individuals experience of life on this planet. This belief is due largely to a number of humans having always experienced the unusual/alternate realities.
JW's argue that such belief is from 'lying spirits' and any experience one has which causes such belief is of the devil and a lie for that.

The play on interpretation of the meanings [resurrection/re-creation.] appears to be potato/potato as the outcome is the same as far I understand this particular theology.

IF one dies, and 1000 [or 100,000] years into the future, is 're-created' then for that person it can only be as if they died and were immediately re-created because time doesn't exist as something they can experience.

So there is no real difference between the beliefs people have which JWs claim are 'from the devil' and what JWs claim as their beliefs on the subject, other than interpretation.

[William]

You are confusing the issue with the facts. Tread carefully. Human hearts are in the balance.

Please specify what issue and which facts I'm confusing, and in what way.

Jesus contended with no one,

If memory serves me, he had quite a contentious go-around with the merchants and dealers in some temple. Right?

but only spoke axiomatic reality.

What is "axiomatic reality." A Google search doesn't turns up a thing.


.

Axiom & Reality

Jesus' driving out the moneychangers from the Temple was not a contention where He argued with them. He did not bother with an "educational event," or a political move, or a "suggestion" to them, or some ultimatum. He acted. It was not two way communication, but strictly one way from Him.

[JehovahsWitness]

So JWs don't believe in any kind of resurrection at all, but rather re-creation.

In Jehovahs Witntess language "resurrection" is interpreted to mean re-creation.

Another example of lexical semantics. The concern with the analysis of word meanings and relations between them.

Yes Jehvahs Witnesses hold to the words and the meaning of the words as found in the bible canon as I demonstrated in my post above and fully and unequivocately reject beliefs based on pagan teachings such as the immortality of the soul. An expression incidently never found in scripture.

Thus our belief in a resurrection of a person from death (as opposed to the eternal transformation of an unending life from one form of life to another) is entirely different to the majority of religions on earth.

[JehovahsWitness]

They believe this is the case for all humans beings - that once an individual dies, that is the end of the individuals experience.

That is exactly correct; at least until a resurrection (see above). Note the following scriotures :

ECCLESIATES 9:10

Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your might, for there is no work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the Grave, where you are going.

GENESIS 3:19

In the sweat of your face you will eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you are and to dust you will return.”

[JehovahsWitness]

IF one dies, and 1000 [or 100,000] years into the future, is 're-created' then for that person it can only be as if they died and were immediately re-created because time doesn't exist as something they can experience.

Yes that exactly the right! Jesus likened death to sleep. Why? Because when asleep we are not consciousnof the passing of time. Thus for the millions (maybe billions) of people "awakened" from death, it will be as if an instant has passed... even if they in reality have been dead for many thousands of years!

What Is the Condition of the Dead? VIDEO



https://www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#e ... 58_1_VIDEO


JW

RELATED POSTS

Does the human experience end with death?
viewtopic.php?p=1030494#p1030494

To read more please go to other posts related to...

THE HUMAN SOUL , THE CONDITION OF THE DEAD and ...RESURRECTION

[William]

So JWs don't believe in any kind of resurrection at all, but rather re-creation.

In Jehovahs Witntess language "resurrection" is interpreted to mean re-creation.

Another example of lexical semantics. The concern with the analysis of word meanings and relations between them.

In relation to the soul, as per offered definitions in the OP:

2.) It comes from another dimension or place to be inserted into the newly formed human zygote, or possibly at the first breath when birth occurs.

3.) It is a small spark of God Himself which He puts into humans when they arrive at a sentient state of accountability.

Yes Jehvahs Witnesses hold to the words and the meaning of the words as found in the bible canon as I demonstrated in my post above ...

Yet there is no known formula which allows for one to test the legitimacy of Christendom's take on the subject of afterlife, as the mythology presents itself in need of interpretation. All Christendom's branches have their particular beliefs wrought through their particular interpretations. JWs are part of that tree the branches swing from...even that they infer not to being.

...and fully and unequivocately reject beliefs based on pagan teachings such as the immortality of the soul...

Well it must be stored somewhere or how else are you going to be you when you are eventually recreated? Are you suggesting that you will be a new thing ready to develop a new personality?
So 1000 [or 100,00] years after this present time, 'you' are going to be given back your old identity, in a new imperishable form...how is that 'you' from 1000 [or 100,00] years from now been able to survive all those years?

... And expression incidently never found in scripture.

Well why are you using it? And what does it matter?

Thus our belief in a resurrection of a person from death (as opposed to the eternal transformation of an unending life from one form of life to another) is entirely different to the majority of religions on earth.

What isn't entirely different is that JWs still use middle eastern mythology ["Scirpture"] as their authority on all matters to do with the subject The Creator/The Creation. That is [of course] questionable, but remains unquestioned by every branch of the Tree of Christendom - including the branch known as JWs.

So really when you say "We Jehovah's Witnesses are the ones telling "The Truth" and everything else is "The Devil" - this is the sound of belief in something being true which may not be true at all. It is questionable, along with everything else.

Even invoking "The Devil" is a form of paganism, since The Devil was invented by pagans.

[William]

IF one dies, and 1000 [or 100,000] years into the future, is 're-created' then for that person it can only be as if they died and were immediately re-created because time doesn't exist as something they can experience.

Yes that exactly the right! Jesus likened death to sleep. Why? Because when asleep we are not consciousnof the passing of time. Thus for the millions (maybe billions) of people "awakened" from death, it will be as if an instant has passed... even if they in reality have been dead for many thousands of years!

Which is why JWs particular beliefs about it are pointless as an opposing view against [so-called] "paganism". Because it does not matter if an instant or 100,000 years have passed. Potato/potato. {"The Devil" indeed }

[myth-one.com]

One or some of the following must exist regarding the human soul:

1.) It comes into existence at the moment of meiotic inception in the womb, or in a laboratory container.

2.) It comes from another dimension or place to be inserted into the newly formed human zygote, or possibly at the first breath when birth occurs.

3.) It is a small spark of God Himself which He puts into humans when they arrive at a sentient state of accountability.

4.) Human souls exist only in humans which are chosen by God according to the integrity of their DNA.

5.) God ordains some humans shall be possessed by a prexistent nonhuman evil spirit.

Why must at least one of the above exist?

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7 King James Version)

The Hebrew word translated in the King James Bible as "soul" is the same word used to describe the other animals which were created. That Hebrew word is nephesh. Nephesh is correctly translated as "a breathing creature or being." In the majority of the other versions of the Bible (about 76%) it is translated correctly. For example, in the New International Version of The Holy Bible:

And the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7)

The King James Version of the Bible is not necessarily the inspired words of God! Only the original scriptures were inspired by God:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God... (II Timothy 3:16)

If a different word was truly needed to distinguish between man and the other animals when the scriptures were originally written as the inspired word of God, that different word would have been used. God did not inspire any of the original authors to use a separate word when describing man.

All creatures described in the original scriptures as a nephesh, including man and the other animals, are mortal physical beings, because they all breathe. When they stop breathing, they die:

For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. (Ecclesiastes 3:19-20)

When the Hebrew was translated into English and other languages, the King James translators decided on their own initiative to distinguish between man and other animals. When the word nephesh obviously referred to man, it was invariably replaced with the word soul.


Thus:

...and man became a nephesh

became

...and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7)

But

...whatsoever Adam called every nephesh

became

...whatsoever Adam called every living creature (Genesis 2:19)

===================================================================

The "soul" has evolved into the spiritual part of man capable of surviving death and subject to everlasting happiness or everlasting misery in a life to come.

This is supported no where in the scriptures. The myth of mankind's immortal soul was planted in mankind by the serpent in the Garden of Eden:

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: (Genesis 3:4)

The immortality of the "soul" is based on the serpent's lie.
=================================================================

Those human beings which believe in Jesus as their Savior will be born again as everlasting spiritual bodied beings at the Second Coming.

That is the only way mankind can gain everlasting life.

[Benson]

Pity so much talk and speculation by human endeavor misses the essential reality of human soul.

Seperation from God through sin causes not annihilation of human existence, but eternal fire upon it in Hades. If the soul needed salvation through Christ to become eternal, then it could not be apart from such salvation eternal in Hades.

Why does it require a massive explanation above to answer a simple question?

[William]

One or some of the following must exist regarding the human soul:

1.) It comes into existence at the moment of meiotic inception in the womb, or in a laboratory container.

2.) It comes from another dimension or place to be inserted into the newly formed human zygote, or possibly at the first breath when birth occurs.

3.) It is a small spark of God Himself which He puts into humans when they arrive at a sentient state of accountability.

4.) Human souls exist only in humans which are chosen by God according to the integrity of their DNA.

5.) God ordains some humans shall be possessed by a prexistent nonhuman evil spirit.

Why must at least one of the above exist?

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
(Genesis 2:7 King James Version)

The Hebrew word translated in the King James Bible as "soul" is the same word used to describe the other animals which were created. That Hebrew word is nephesh. Nephesh is correctly translated as "a breathing creature or being." In the majority of the other versions of the Bible (about 76%) it is translated correctly. For example, in the New International Version of The Holy Bible:

And the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7)

The King James Version of the Bible is not necessarily the inspired words of God! Only the original scriptures were inspired by God:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God... (II Timothy 3:16)

If a different word was truly needed to distinguish between man and the other animals when the scriptures were originally written as the inspired word of God, that different word would have been used. God did not inspire any of the original authors to use a separate word when describing man.

All creatures described in the original scriptures as a nephesh, including man and the other animals, are mortal physical beings, because they all breathe. When they stop breathing, they die:

For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. (Ecclesiastes 3:19-20)

When the Hebrew was translated into English and other languages, the King James translators decided on their own initiative to distinguish between man and other animals. When the word nephesh obviously referred to man, it was invariably replaced with the word soul.


Thus:

...and man became a nephesh

became

...and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7)

But

...whatsoever Adam called every nephesh

became

...whatsoever Adam called every living creature (Genesis 2:19)

===================================================================

The "soul" has evolved into the spiritual part of man capable of surviving death and subject to everlasting happiness or everlasting misery in a life to come.

This is supported no where in the scriptures. The myth of mankind's immortal soul was planted in mankind by the serpent in the Garden of Eden:

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: (Genesis 3:4)

The immortality of the "soul" is based on the serpent's lie.
=================================================================

Those human beings which believe in Jesus as their Savior will be born again as everlasting spiritual bodied beings at the Second Coming.

That is the only way mankind can gain everlasting life.

If the god also therefore breathed life into all the animals and insects and everything else which is alive, then this breath behaves differently depending upon the form in which the breath was breathed into.

The problem with your belief above is that it invokes "The Devil" which is a form of practicing paganism - which in turn renders your argument null because your argument insists that paganism is "Of the Devil" therefore, you are being a pagan by practicing paganism.

Another problem with your belief in the interpretation of the scriptures and is that this comes from Christendom, itself an organized religion which used pagan concepts and incorporated these into the script whilst claiming the script itself was 'inspired' by a god. This was a necessary tactic in order to attract pagans into the fold and thereby control the way pagans then thought about life [and formed beliefs based upon said thoughts]

The most glaring problem with your beliefs as stated is that IF the god is immortal, then any essence from that god which is placed into forms in order that the forms animate, [become alive] has to be eternal in nature.
Therefore the 'pagan' concept of 'saving' the data of experience which comes from that process must have to be done through the properties inherently existing within said creator/god.

All said and done, there is no point to such a belief unless it were to to be used in attempt to hide truth from those who think they will die and no longer exist, only to discover [too late] that this was not -ever- the truth.

Better to be prepared than to simply believe that I will cease to exist once this body I Am currently wearing, dies.

And anyway, what scripture prevents a god from immediately granting continuation of an individuals experience should the god so deem it appropriate to do so? The unrequired can be left in the ground to await another time and place, and miss out on what occurs in between times...