• Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
    • Access to private conversations with other members.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

Can the soul die?

Trailblazer

Veteran Member
Ah, so animals and plants, whidn also move (are animated) also have invisible souls pushing them hither, thither and yon?

And while we're at it, what animates the winds and the rain? Or the earth, when it moves -- and it does?
Animals have a spirit but they do not have a soul. Only humans have souls.
I think it is the spirit of animals is what animates them.
I do not know exactly what animates the plants and wind and rain, maybe God does.

This quote explains the difference between man and the other animals. Please note that I do not agree that when animals die their spirits are extinguished, I believe their spirit continues to exist in the spiritual world just as the human soul continues to exist.

“The animal spirit is the power of all the senses, which is realized from the composition and mingling of elements; when this composition decomposes, the power also perishes and becomes annihilated. It may be likened to this lamp: when the oil, wick and fire are combined, it is lighted; and when this combination is dissolved—that is to say, when the combined parts are separated from one another—the lamp also is extinguished.

The human spirit which distinguishes man from the animal is the rational soul, and these two names—the human spirit and the rational soul—designate one thing. This spirit, which in the terminology of the philosophers is the rational soul, embraces all beings, and as far as human ability permits discovers the realities of things and becomes cognizant of their peculiarities and effects, and of the qualities and properties of beings. But the human spirit, unless assisted by the spirit of faith, does not become acquainted with the divine secrets and the heavenly realities. It is like a mirror which, although clear, polished and brilliant, is still in need of light. Until a ray of the sun reflects upon it, it cannot discover the heavenly secrets.

But the mind is the power of the human spirit. Spirit is the lamp; mind is the light which shines from the lamp. Spirit is the tree, and the mind is the fruit. Mind is the perfection of the spirit and is its essential quality, as the sun’s rays are the essential necessity of the sun.”
Some Answered Questions, pp. 208-209
 

Trailblazer

Veteran Member
But my personality changes and ends when I die
Your personality continues after you die because the soul is eternal.
Your personality (soul) changes throughout your life and it continues to change after you die.

In this life we have a physical body through which the soul expresses itself and in the next life we will have a spiritual body through which the soul will express itself. It is simply a different form we will have after we die.

“The answer to the third question is this, that in the other world the human reality doth not assume a physical form, rather doth it take on a heavenly form, made up of elements of that heavenly realm.”
Selections From the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 194
 

cataway

Well-Known Member
I certainly don't think of myself as a soul.
I think as myself as a person.

btw Science does not operate on 'beliefs'. It operates on evidence and proofs - there is much of that to prove that humans are animals.
animals are souls to
 

Saint Frankenstein

Wanderer From Afar
Premium Member
If you look at Ezekiel 18:20 in the kjv.It says the soul that sins it shall die.It doesn't say he or she will die.It says it shall die(referring to the soul).Also in James 5:20 it says the exact opposite.
Damnation (going to hell) is the "death" referred to there, not ceasing to exist.
 

Trailblazer

Veteran Member
as it turns out Hell is nothing more than the grave . the place where the dead are put .
Hell is being distant from God. Nothing goes in the grave but the body, the soul lives on.
The soul that is distant from God is in hell, the soul that is close to God is in heaven.
 

cataway

Well-Known Member
That is not what I believe. I believe all the religions are right, although the older religions have been messed with my man so they are devoid of much of the truth that was originally revealed by God to the Messengers.
you dont seem to understand ,,there can only be one way to please God
 

Saint Frankenstein

Wanderer From Afar
Premium Member
its a
Parable
Yeah, because it makes total sense that God's son is going to tell parables about the afterlife (separate from the body) when we cease to exist after death until the resurrection at the end of the world, right? :rolleyes:

He also told the repentant thief on the cross, that he would be with Him in paradise that day (Luke 23:43). He didn't say at the end of the world or if he's one of the 144,000 who receive some special "private" revelation. :rolleyes:
 

cataway

Well-Known Member
Yeah, because it makes total sense that God's son is going to tell parables about the afterlife (separate from the body) when we cease to exist after death until the resurrection at the end of the world, right? :rolleyes:

He also told the repentant thief on the cross, that he would be with Him in paradise that day (Luke 23:43). He didn't say at the end of the world or if he's one of the 144,000 who receive some special "private" revelation. :rolleyes:
(Luke 23:43) And he said to him: “Truly I tell you today, you will be with me in Paradise.”
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
If you look at Ezekiel 18:20 in the kjv.It says the soul that sins it shall die.It doesn't say he or she will die.It says it shall die(referring to the soul).Also in James 5:20 it says the exact opposite.
The soul was never alive in the first place.

It's metaphorical at best.
 

cataway

Well-Known Member
Yes, that's what JWs say. I'm not a JW.

Rich man and Lazarus - Wikipedia
Jesus here uses the rich man to represent the Jewish religious leaders, including not only the Pharisees and the scribes but the Sadducees and the chief priests as well. They are rich in spiritual privileges and opportunities, and they conduct themselves as the rich man did. Their clothing of royal purple represents their favored position, and the white linen pictures their self-righteousness.
This proud rich-man class views the poor, common people with utter contempt, calling them ‛am ha·’aʹrets, or people of the earth. The beggar Lazarus thus represents these people to whom the religious leaders deny proper spiritual nourishment and privileges. Hence, like Lazarus covered with ulcers, the common people are looked down upon as spiritually diseased and fit only to associate with dogs. Yet, those of the Lazarus class hunger and thirst for spiritual nourishment and so are at the gate seeking to receive whatever meager morsels of spiritual food may drop from the rich man’s table.
 

Saint Frankenstein

Wanderer From Afar
Premium Member
Jesus here uses the rich man to represent the Jewish religious leaders, including not only the Pharisees and the scribes but the Sadducees and the chief priests as well. They are rich in spiritual privileges and opportunities, and they conduct themselves as the rich man did. Their clothing of royal purple represents their favored position, and the white linen pictures their self-righteousness.
This proud rich-man class views the poor, common people with utter contempt, calling them ‛am ha·’aʹrets, or people of the earth. The beggar Lazarus thus represents these people to whom the religious leaders deny proper spiritual nourishment and privileges. Hence, like Lazarus covered with ulcers, the common people are looked down upon as spiritually diseased and fit only to associate with dogs. Yet, those of the Lazarus class hunger and thirst for spiritual nourishment and so are at the gate seeking to receive whatever meager morsels of spiritual food may drop from the rich man’s table.
This is a copy and paste from:
https://www.jw.org/en/library/books/The-Greatest-Man-Who-Ever-Lived/The-Rich-Man-and-Lazarus/

Plagiarism is a violation of the forum rules, you know - rule 7.
 

Altfish

Veteran Member
Your personality continues after you die because the soul is eternal.
Your personality (soul) changes throughout your life and it continues to change after you die.

In this life we have a physical body through which the soul expresses itself and in the next life we will have a spiritual body through which the soul will express itself. It is simply a different form we will have after we die.

“The answer to the third question is this, that in the other world the human reality doth not assume a physical form, rather doth it take on a heavenly form, made up of elements of that heavenly realm.”
Selections From the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 194
No.

My personality, isn't the same as that you call a soul.
There is no next life - make the most of this one.
 

MatthewA

Active Member
Hello, saw the title was
Can the soul die?

My conclusion: No but you can forfeit or exchange your soul for the world if you desire.

Here is Jesus Christ talking to His Disciples about Eternal life compared to material life.

Matthew 16:

24Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

Verse 24: Jesus Christ after rebuking Peter for telling Jesus that he would not die ~ He turned to His disciples and said to them.

If anyone wants to come after Me, - If any persons wants to come after me ~ (To learn from, to seek, to find,), He much deny himself (deny his fleshly ways ~ living by the spiritual ways (holy spirit/spirit of Christ) (Galatians 5) (Romans 5:1-5; 6:1-6; 8:1-8).

and take up his cross and follow Me. ~ To pick up his own cross - because Jesus Christ had died for all the people in the world. He died to pay the price of sin. When we die to our fleshly ways, with living by the spirit of Christ we are raised to new life. (Colossians 3:1-4)​

25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

Verse 25: Jesus then says to His disciples : Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Who ever desires to save his own life may but will lose his life.
Who ever loses his own life - to know and for my sake - will find life -> Eternal life from Christ. (Matthew 7:13-14), (John 3:16), (Ephesians 2:8-10), (1 John 5:13-14)​

26What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Verse 26: What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world; Jesus asks His disciples.

What will profit a man if he gains the whole world?

The priorities of a human man or female, tries do anything and everything that can do in life, and try to achieve worldly things, wealth, material, pride of life, lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes , (1 John 2:16) ~~ ~ At the stake of this, he forfeits his mind, will, and emotion for the things of the world.​

Another question Jesus Christ ask: What can a man give in exchange for his soul?

What would a man give to give up on his mind/will/emotion for whatever it is in the world the man or woman is chasing after to get.​

27For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done.

Verse 27: Jesus Christ tells His disciples: that The Son of Man will come in His Father's glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what He has done.

Note 27: Coming judgement upon the nation of Israel ~ When Christ returns. ~ (I personally believe this happened in 70ad)​

28Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Verse 28, Honestly I (Jesus Christ) tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in HIs Kingdom.

Jesus tells his disciples ~ Some who are

standing here will

not taste death before they see the Son of Man

coming in His Kingdom.​

Respect all people/ live in peace with everyone ~ (Romans 12:8-18)


(Please do not believe or take my word for fact, if you have any issues, that is okay, just hold on to what is good, but also you seek for truth too, and my hope is for you to find the truth, if you so desire it, if not that is okay too.)

Thank you for reading take care.
 
Top