Immortal Soul ?

[Altair]

Originally Posted by Molearner

Under my parameters we can have hope for lost souls….not so much for lost spirits….

You made a distinction between 'soul' and 'spirit'. I'm not sure where this is coming from and from when onwards it became 'the same'.
There is in my view an immaterial 'part' to every organism. Soul and spirit and interchangeable.

And I don't believe any soul will or can be condemned or destroyed. Being 'lost' is a perspective of something/someone with an ego, which reasons ''I am lost''. This is a development from that which changes. If the soul or spirit is immaterial and pure, than it cannot be 'sinful' nor can it be harmed.

[Guillaume]

Originally Posted by Molearner

Under my parameters we can have hope for lost souls….not so much for lost spirits….

If another language can help.
In French "âmes perdues" (lost souls) is said to people wandering just like in English. Lost spirit "esprit perdu" is more used to refer to the Now, we would say "I have my spirits lost" (j'ai perdu les esprits, meaning losing consciousness or fainting). Or to have "the spirit somewhere else" (avoir l'esprit ailleurs) is about having the mind continuously wandering, not focused in the Now.
Indeed a lost spirit is a way to dementia on the long run.

Spirit is the clarity of mind, it's finer than the soul. I would relate the purification of the soul with karma or sins.
But honestly, for those matters, French and English are both strongly influenced by the bible which is, in my understanding, much less structured and refined than the Yogic and Buddhist texts.
Hoping I won't offend anyone by saying that.

One thing coming to mind: would we say that souls go to heaven?
Momentarily for another incarnation maybe (not even sure it's in heaven), but I would say the spirit only lives in Heaven.

[sky]

Originally Posted by Molearner

Is the soul immortal ? Yes or no……:). This presents a challenge to commonly held beliefs…….

What is a 'Soul' ?.
According to Ezekiel the Soul that sinneth shall die so it is not immortal. I personally don't know what a 'Soul' is so maybe I'm a lost soul

[Altair]

Originally Posted by sky

What is a 'Soul' ?.
According to Ezekiel the Soul that sinneth shall die so it is not immortal. I personally don't know what a 'Soul' is so maybe I'm a lost soul

Do you believe you live on after the body stops functioning completely, and that part of you is immaterial?

[Morpheus]

The greater reality and truth is about the timeless and eternity.
John 1:29 is about time and space and our evolution in it.

Originally Posted by Altair

You made a distinction between 'soul' and 'spirit'. I'm not sure where this is coming from and from when onwards it became 'the same'.
There is in my view an immaterial 'part' to every organism. Soul and spirit and interchangeable.

.

Altair,

The distinction is clearly made in Hebrews 4:12….”dividing soul and spirit”….2 distinct things. In the Bible spirit is understood as incorruptible….it comes from God. The soul is understood as corruptible….re ‘the soul that sins’ and 1 Peter 1:22 speaks of ‘purifying the soul’. Nowhere can one find reference to purifying the Spirit of God.

The soul, in effect, the receptacle of everything we call life…..every experience, feeling, emotion, desire, prejudice etc. Unpurified it can be an impediment to the receiving of the Spirit. That is why the first step in the mystical process is purification…….this cleansing allows entrance for the Spirit.

Meditation techniques differ. Mine, in reality, is an effort to suspend the soul….meaning any and all thoughts, any perceptions, any input. I deem it successful especially if I have no perception of time. That signals to me that I have escaped time and have visited eternity….the realm of God and the Spirit.

With patience I await any Scriptures that speak of the immortality of the soul……

Originally Posted by Altair

Do you believe you live on after the body stops functioning completely, and that part of you is immaterial?

Altair,

The Bible frequently uses ‘sleep’ as a metaphor for what we call death. The resurrection is understood as the process of awakening. Matthew 9:18…the ruler said….”My daughter has just died” it was apparent to all….continuing v. 24…Jesus says…”The girl is not dead but asleep. But they laughed at him.”

As I am defining it, soul is the thing that defines what we call life and our experience of it. We can have it both ways here….saying death is death or that death is an extended sleep….the soul(being life) can have no experience of either. All that happens when one ‘awakes’ is that they simply experience ‘a new day’ just like we do in normal life….each day is a new beginning.

Sometimes we just reach an impasse. Do we ask ourselves as Christians just how much of the Bible do we believe ? For example, if we believe that the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth will the Spirit inform us that soul and the Spirit are one and the same ? And then will it tell us that the Bible had that particular part wrong ? Like a Catch 22 ?…….:). Entrenched beliefs are difficult to dismiss….I understand this….and in this case, like all others, to each his own….:)

[Guillaume]

Originally Posted by Molearner

All that happens when one ‘awakes’ is that they simply experience ‘a new day’ just like we do in normal life….each day is a new beginning.

365 anecdotes a year, how cool is that?!

[sky]

Originally Posted by Altair

Do you believe you live on after the body stops functioning completely, and that part of you is immaterial?

I personally believe in Rebirth...