Does God have a soul?

Asiaprod

Here is an interesting little question that popped into my mind the other day.
If man is made in the image of God, body and mind, does it follow that God also has a soul?

Keyzer

Asiaprod wrote:

Here is an interesting little question that popped into my mind the other day.
If man is made in the image of God, body and mind, does it follow that God also has a soul?

Ring God and ask him , 1800 - GOD - ROCKS

Seriously, how the flock can any human answer that question?

Asiaprod

Keyzer wrote:

Ring God and ask him , 1800 - GOD - ROCKS

Seriously, how the flock can any human answer that question?

Have you ever thought about?

Keyzer

Asiaprod wrote:

Have you ever thought about?

No...

Excelsior

We'd know it if he told us Keyser!

But he hasn't told us.

©® CB

That's a loaded question. But, no, God doesn't have a soul. Neither does man. Any belief that our being is some spirit residing within our bodies is directly descendent from mythological belief systems that entertained an afterlife.

I know I'm going to catch heat on this. But think about this first:

If we do have a soul - a spirit residing in our earthly flesh - and it is freed upon death, why would there be any need for a ressurection? If our souls all go to heaven or hell when we die, why would there be a "judgement day"?

There's just way to many loose ends if you follow that road. And what's so different between Christians having a soul going to heaven, reincarnation, Pharoahs going into an afterlife, etc.?

You have to remember that the truth gets muddied the more times the story's told.

patzer117

©&#174 wrote: »

You have to remember that the truth gets muddied the more times the story's told.

now there's something to talk about - what parts of Christianity are taken from other religions and what parts are our own. I know a few things but the most recent thing i learned was that 'Amen' was actually a God in Egypt who had a town named after him!

Anyway as for the OP's question, why would God need a soul if he himself is immortal anyway? and if he does then does that not beg the question of who gave it to him, and who created him? did he himself make the decision to become immortal?

Asiaprod

patzer117 wrote:

now there's something to talk about - what parts of Christianity are taken from other religions and what parts are our own. I know a few things but the most recent thing I learned was that 'Amen' was actually a God in Egypt who had a town named after him!

That was an interesting fact. It prompted me to do a little research and it would seem that the writers or editors of the Pyramid Texts assigned great antiquity to the existence to Amen and his consort Amet. Of the attributes ascribed to Amen in the Ancient Empire is"hidden" which is usually given to his name, we must conclude that he was the personification of the hidden and unknown creative power which was associated with the primeval abyss, gods in the creation of the world, and all that is in it.

The word or root amen, certainly means "what is hidden," "what is not seen," "what cannot be seen," and the like, and this fact is proved by scores of examples which may be collected from texts of all periods. In hymns to Amen we often read that he is "hidden to his children, "and "hidden to gods and men." Now, not only is the god himself said to be "hidden," but his name also is "hidden," and his form, or similitude, is said to be "unknown;" these statements show that "hidden," when applied to Amen, the great god, has reference to something more than the "sun which has disappeared below the horizon," and that it indicates the god who cannot be seen with the mortal eyes, and who is invisible, as well as inscrutable, to gods as well as men. In the times approaching the Ptolemaic period the name Amen appears to have been connected with the root men, "to abide, to be permanent;" and one of the attributes which were applied to him was that of eternal.

When reading this and seeing all the attributes assigned to Amen, one cannot but help think of the Christian God. They seem to both have a lot in common. Maybe Excelsior can give us some background on the usage and origin of the word Amen that is used at the end of most prayers.

[SIZE=+0]The Cross symbol is something that has been taken by many religions. The original Cross symbol is taken from the Egyptian Ankh (better know as the peace cross) and was a fertility symbol, while the Celtic cross is taken from the Odin's cross and I have also heard it called the Agnostic Cross?[/SIZE]

Anyway as for the OP's question, why would God need a soul if he himself is immortal anyway? and if he does then does that not beg the question of who gave it to him, and who created him? did he himself make the decision to become immortal?

So now you can see how intriguing the question really is. I have no idea. I am interested in learning what others think.

©® CB

As I stated before, the idea of a soul that is separate from our bodies was born from myths.

God gave Adam shoel (sp?), the breath of life. If you go into the original language, you'll see that he gave the animals the same thing. So my question is "Where does the turkey's soul go when it's slaughtered for a Thanksgiving feast?"

wolfsbane

Asiaprod said:

If man is made in the image of God, body and mind, does it follow that God also has a soul?

Interesting question. There is a difference between soul and spirit, but it is debated. What we can say for sure is that man-in-God's-image refers not to the body, but to the spirit. The nature of his spirit is what marks man as different from the rest of living things. God the Father is spirit only, as is the Holy Spirit. God the Son was only spirit until He also became a man. Now He exists in both body and spirit.

God is a spirit: John 4:23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Our spirit is the 'inner person': 1 Peter 3:1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

wolfsbane

©® CB said:

If we do have a soul - a spirit residing in our earthly flesh - and it is freed upon death, why would there be any need for a ressurection? If our souls all go to heaven or hell when we die, why would there be a "judgement day"?

Because God made us body and spirit and He has not changed His mind on it. So both body and spirit are to be glorified in the new heavens and new earth He has promised:
Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

As to your judgement day point, yes, when we die our eternal position is beyond change. We either go to be with Christ or we go to Hades. 'Hell' is misleading, for it is used for more than one place. It may refer to the ultimate place of punishment for the wicked, Gehenna, the 'lake of fire' or it may refer to Hades, the place we the wicked death go on death to await the Judgement Day. It is sort of a remand prison, but unlike our earthly version, it contains only the guilty. They are taken from there on Judgement Day and subsequent to the Judgement are thrown into Gehenna.

Jesus said:
Luke 12:4 “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!

Cantab.

If we look at the resoning of gradation from inanimate matter right up to God Himself, who is a Supreme Pure Being with no beginning and no end, has no mortal body and is pure in spirit, is omnipotent and omnipresent, then surely he must be all souls if he created everything.

But if He created everything, then he also created hell. I guess this is one of the greatest theological and philosophical questions: Why create the world at all if there's to be so much suffering and pain?

I'm but an amateur. I'll stick to going to Mass on Sundays and pray for the repose of all souls into heaven.