The human spirit - Revision history

Mxmsj: Text replacement - "--" to " — "

2022-12-10T10:18:12Z

Text replacement - "--" to " — "

Mxmsj: /* Spirit vs. flesh */

2018-05-01T01:10:04Z

Spirit vs. flesh

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	:: Two things emerge from the spirit's absence of parts--it does not occupy space; it is everlasting.		:: Two things emerge from the spirit's absence of parts--it does not occupy space; it is everlasting.

			:; Jean Marc Laporte, Grace, Fall 1980

			:: Chase away a person's natural disposition--and it returns on the run.

	== The Gnostic heresy ==		== The Gnostic heresy ==

Mxmsj at 14:56, 11 April 2018

2018-04-11T14:56:36Z

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	The angels are pure, created, spirits.		The angels are pure, created, spirits.

	We are incarnate (enfleshed) spirits--"geist im welt" (Rahner).		We are incarnate (enfleshed) spirits--"''geist im welt''" (Rahner).

	We are like God in our spiritual powers (intellect and will), but God is not like us (matter in-formed by soul).		We are like God in our spiritual powers (intellect and will), but God is not like us (matter in-formed by soul).

Mxmsj: /* Ïƒá½°ÏÎ¾ */

2017-03-19T15:23:27Z

Ïƒá½°ÏÎ¾

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	:: Ï„á½¸ Ïƒá¿¶Î¼Î± Ï‡Ï‰Ïá½¶Ï‚ '''Ï€Î½ÎµÏÎ¼Î±Ï„Î¿Ï‚''' Î½ÎµÎºÏÏŒÎ½ á¼ÏƒÏ„Î¹Î½		:: Ï„á½¸ Ïƒá¿¶Î¼Î± Ï‡Ï‰Ïá½¶Ï‚ '''Ï€Î½ÎµÏÎ¼Î±Ï„Î¿Ï‚''' Î½ÎµÎºÏÏŒÎ½ á¼ÏƒÏ„Î¹Î½

	== ~~Ïƒá½°ÏÎ¾~~ ==		== Flesh (''sarx'') ==

	The Greek word, ''sarx,'' appears 149 times in the New Testament.<ref>[http://concordances.org/greek/4561.htm ''Strong's Greek Concordance.'']</ref>		The Greek word, ''sarx,'' appears 149 times in the New Testament.<ref>[http://concordances.org/greek/4561.htm ''Strong's Greek Concordance.'']</ref>

Mxmsj: /* Vocabulary */

2017-03-19T15:21:28Z

Vocabulary

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	\|		\|
	\|		\|
	ÏˆÏ…Ï‡Î® <br>		'''ÏˆÏ…Ï‡Î®''' <br>
	psyche		psyche
	\|anima, mens		\|anima, mens
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	\|- valign="top"		\|- valign="top"
	\|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit ruah]		\|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit ruah]
	\|Ï€Î½Îµá¿¦Î¼Î± <br>		\|'''Ï€Î½Îµá¿¦Î¼Î±''' <br>
	pneuma		pneuma

	Ï€Î½ÎµÏÎ¼Î±Ï„Î¿Ï‚<br>		'''Ï€Î½ÎµÏÎ¼Î±Ï„Î¿Ï‚'''<br>
	pneumatos		pneumatos
	\|spiritus		\|spiritus
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	\|- valign="top"		\|- valign="top"
	\|lev		\|lev
	\|ÎºÎ±ÏÎ´Î¯Î± <br>		\|'''ÎºÎ±ÏÎ´Î¯Î±''' <br>
	cardia		cardia
	\|cor		\|cor
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	\|- valign="top"		\|- valign="top"
	\|		\|
	\|Î¼Î¿ÏÏ†Î®		\|'''Î¼Î¿ÏÏ†Î®'''
	\|forma		\|forma
	\|form		\|form
	\|- valign="top"		\|- valign="top"
	\|		\|
	\|á½•Î»Î·		\|'''á½•Î»Î·'''
	\|materia		\|materia
	\|[[matter]]		\|[[matter]]
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	\|the whole human being: body and soul		\|the whole human being: body and soul
	\|- valign="top"		\|- valign="top"
	\|[http://biblesuite.com/hebrew/2416.htm hayah (×—Ö·×™Ö¸Ö¼×”)]		\|[http://biblesuite.com/hebrew/2416.htm hayah ('''×—Ö·×™Ö¸Ö¼×”''')]
	\|		\|
	\|		\|

Mxmsj: /* Deuteronomy */

2017-03-19T15:19:01Z

Deuteronomy

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	=== Daniel ===		=== Daniel ===

			The book of Daniel uses both "psyche" and "pneuma" in the same verse [http://www.usccb.org/bible/daniel/3:86 (3:86):]

	:: '''Spirits and souls''' of the just, bless the Lord;		:: '''Spirits and souls''' of the just, bless the Lord;

Mxmsj: /* Deuteronomy */

2016-01-06T23:09:12Z

Deuteronomy

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	== Deuteronomy ==		== Deuteronomy ==

	: "And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your '''soul''' [http://biblehub.com/hebrew/5315.htm <nowiki>[</nowiki>nephesh<nowiki>]</nowiki>,] and with all your might."		: "And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart [http://biblehub.com/hebrew/3824.htm <nowiki>[</nowiki>lebab<nowiki>]</nowiki>], and with all your '''soul''' [http://biblehub.com/hebrew/5315.htm <nowiki>[</nowiki>nephesh<nowiki>]</nowiki>,] and with all your might."
	: <font style="font-size:200%">×•Ö°×Ö¸Ö£×”Ö·×‘Ö°×ªÖ¸Ö¼Ö” ×ÖµÖ–×ª ×™Ö°×”×•Ö¸Ö£×” ×Ö±×œÖ¹×”Ö¶Ö‘×™×šÖ¸ ×‘Ö°Ö¼×›Ö¸×œÖ¾×œÖ°×‘Ö¸×‘Ö°×šÖ¸Ö¥ ×•Ö¼×‘Ö°×›Ö¸×œÖ¾'''× Ö·×¤Ö°×©Ö°××šÖ¸Ö–''' ×•Ö¼×‘Ö°×›Ö¸×œÖ¾×žÖ°×Ö¹×“Ö¶Ö½×šÖ¸		: <font style="font-size:200%">×•Ö°×Ö¸Ö£×”Ö·×‘Ö°×ªÖ¸Ö¼Ö” ×ÖµÖ–×ª ×™Ö°×”×•Ö¸Ö£×” ×Ö±×œÖ¹×”Ö¶Ö‘×™×šÖ¸ ×‘Ö°Ö¼×›Ö¸×œÖ¾×œÖ°×‘Ö¸×‘Ö°×šÖ¸Ö¥ ×•Ö¼×‘Ö°×›Ö¸×œÖ¾'''× Ö·×¤Ö°×©Ö°××šÖ¸Ö–''' ×•Ö¼×‘Ö°×›Ö¸×œÖ¾×žÖ°×Ö¹×“Ö¶Ö½×šÖ¸
	</font>		</font>

Mxmsj: /* Deuteronomy */

2016-01-06T23:07:55Z

Deuteronomy

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	== Deuteronomy ==		== Deuteronomy ==

	: "And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your '''soul''' [http://biblehub.com/hebrew/5315.htm <nowiki>[</nowiki>~~nephes~~<nowiki>]</nowiki>,] and with all your might."		: "And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your '''soul''' [http://biblehub.com/hebrew/5315.htm <nowiki>[</nowiki>nephesh<nowiki>]</nowiki>,] and with all your might."
	: <font style="font-size:200%">×•Ö°×Ö¸Ö£×”Ö·×‘Ö°×ªÖ¸Ö¼Ö” ×ÖµÖ–×ª ×™Ö°×”×•Ö¸Ö£×” ×Ö±×œÖ¹×”Ö¶Ö‘×™×šÖ¸ ×‘Ö°Ö¼×›Ö¸×œÖ¾×œÖ°×‘Ö¸×‘Ö°×šÖ¸Ö¥ ×•Ö¼×‘Ö°×›Ö¸×œÖ¾'''× Ö·×¤Ö°×©Ö°××šÖ¸Ö–''' ×•Ö¼×‘Ö°×›Ö¸×œÖ¾×žÖ°×Ö¹×“Ö¶Ö½×šÖ¸		: <font style="font-size:200%">×•Ö°×Ö¸Ö£×”Ö·×‘Ö°×ªÖ¸Ö¼Ö” ×ÖµÖ–×ª ×™Ö°×”×•Ö¸Ö£×” ×Ö±×œÖ¹×”Ö¶Ö‘×™×šÖ¸ ×‘Ö°Ö¼×›Ö¸×œÖ¾×œÖ°×‘Ö¸×‘Ö°×šÖ¸Ö¥ ×•Ö¼×‘Ö°×›Ö¸×œÖ¾'''× Ö·×¤Ö°×©Ö°××šÖ¸Ö–''' ×•Ö¼×‘Ö°×›Ö¸×œÖ¾×žÖ°×Ö¹×“Ö¶Ö½×šÖ¸
	</font>		</font>

Mxmsj: /* Deuteronomy */

2016-01-06T23:07:41Z

Deuteronomy

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:07, 7 January 2016
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	== Deuteronomy ==		== Deuteronomy ==

	: "And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your '''soul''', and with all your might."		: "And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your '''soul''' [http://biblehub.com/hebrew/5315.htm <nowiki>[</nowiki>nephes<nowiki>]</nowiki>,] and with all your might."
	: <font style="font-size:200%">×•Ö°×Ö¸Ö£×”Ö·×‘Ö°×ªÖ¸Ö¼Ö” ×ÖµÖ–×ª ×™Ö°×”×•Ö¸Ö£×” ×Ö±×œÖ¹×”Ö¶Ö‘×™×šÖ¸ ×‘Ö°Ö¼×›Ö¸×œÖ¾×œÖ°×‘Ö¸×‘Ö°×šÖ¸Ö¥ ×•Ö¼×‘Ö°×›Ö¸×œÖ¾'''× Ö·×¤Ö°×©Ö°××šÖ¸Ö–''' ×•Ö¼×‘Ö°×›Ö¸×œÖ¾×žÖ°×Ö¹×“Ö¶Ö½×šÖ¸		: <font style="font-size:200%">×•Ö°×Ö¸Ö£×”Ö·×‘Ö°×ªÖ¸Ö¼Ö” ×ÖµÖ–×ª ×™Ö°×”×•Ö¸Ö£×” ×Ö±×œÖ¹×”Ö¶Ö‘×™×šÖ¸ ×‘Ö°Ö¼×›Ö¸×œÖ¾×œÖ°×‘Ö¸×‘Ö°×šÖ¸Ö¥ ×•Ö¼×‘Ö°×›Ö¸×œÖ¾'''× Ö·×¤Ö°×©Ö°××šÖ¸Ö–''' ×•Ö¼×‘Ö°×›Ö¸×œÖ¾×žÖ°×Ö¹×“Ö¶Ö½×šÖ¸
	</font>		</font>

Mxmsj: /* psyche and pneuma */

2016-01-06T23:06:27Z

psyche and pneuma

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:06, 7 January 2016
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	== psyche and pneuma ==		== psyche and pneuma ==

			== Deuteronomy ==

			: "And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your '''soul''', and with all your might."
			: <font style="font-size:200%">×•Ö°×Ö¸Ö£×”Ö·×‘Ö°×ªÖ¸Ö¼Ö” ×ÖµÖ–×ª ×™Ö°×”×•Ö¸Ö£×” ×Ö±×œÖ¹×”Ö¶Ö‘×™×šÖ¸ ×‘Ö°Ö¼×›Ö¸×œÖ¾×œÖ°×‘Ö¸×‘Ö°×šÖ¸Ö¥ ×•Ö¼×‘Ö°×›Ö¸×œÖ¾'''× Ö·×¤Ö°×©Ö°××šÖ¸Ö–''' ×•Ö¼×‘Ö°×›Ö¸×œÖ¾×žÖ°×Ö¹×“Ö¶Ö½×šÖ¸
			</font>

	=== Daniel ===		=== Daniel ===

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:18, 10 December 2022
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	The angels are pure, created, spirits.		The angels are pure, created, spirits.

	We are incarnate (enfleshed) spirits--"''geist im welt''" (Rahner).		We are incarnate (enfleshed) spirits — "''geist im welt''" (Rahner).

	We are like God in our spiritual powers (intellect and will), but God is not like us (matter in-formed by soul).		We are like God in our spiritual powers (intellect and will), but God is not like us (matter in-formed by soul).
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	Hayah is the verb "to be."		Hayah is the verb "to be."

	:; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul#Judaism ''Wikipedia,'' "Soul--Judaism"]		:; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul#Judaism ''Wikipedia,'' "Soul — Judaism"]

	:: The Hebrew terms × ×¤×© ''nephesh'', ×¨×•×— ''ruach'' (literally "wind"), × ×©×ž×” ''neshama'' (literally "breath"), ×—×™×” ''chaya'' (literally "life") and ×™×—×™×“×” ''yechidah'' (literally "singularity") are used to describe the soul or spirit. The soul is believed to be given by God to a person by his/her first breath, as mentioned in Genesis, "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" [http://www.usccb.org/bible/genesis/2:7 (Gen 2:7, NAB).]		:: The Hebrew terms × ×¤×© ''nephesh'', ×¨×•×— ''ruach'' (literally "wind"), × ×©×ž×” ''neshama'' (literally "breath"), ×—×™×” ''chaya'' (literally "life") and ×™×—×™×“×” ''yechidah'' (literally "singularity") are used to describe the soul or spirit. The soul is believed to be given by God to a person by his/her first breath, as mentioned in Genesis, "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" [http://www.usccb.org/bible/genesis/2:7 (Gen 2:7, NAB).]
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	From this perspective, plants and animals have souls, because they are an organic ''form of matter.'' The human soul is elevated above all other kinds of animal souls because it is given the power of intellect and free will at the moment of conception. Aristotle recognized that these spiritual powers make us immortal; they are simple and cannot decompose when we die, even though at death the soul ceases to form (in-form!) the body. Theologically, the conception of a new human being requires the personal action of God to infuse these spiritual powers into the soul. Intellect and will come "from the top down," as a gift of God, and not "from the bottom up" as a function of the complexity of matter.		From this perspective, plants and animals have souls, because they are an organic ''form of matter.'' The human soul is elevated above all other kinds of animal souls because it is given the power of intellect and free will at the moment of conception. Aristotle recognized that these spiritual powers make us immortal; they are simple and cannot decompose when we die, even though at death the soul ceases to form (in-form!) the body. Theologically, the conception of a new human being requires the personal action of God to infuse these spiritual powers into the soul. Intellect and will come "from the top down," as a gift of God, and not "from the bottom up" as a function of the complexity of matter.

	Metaphysically, the soul cannot be opposed to the body. There is only one principle of life--the soul. The soul ''causes'' the body. There is only one living being as a consequence.		Metaphysically, the soul cannot be opposed to the body. There is only one principle of life — the soul. The soul ''causes'' the body. There is only one living being as a consequence.

	:; [http://www.ewtn.com/library/councils/vienne.htm#09 Council of Vienne (1315 AD)] (''emphasis added'')		:; [http://www.ewtn.com/library/councils/vienne.htm#09 Council of Vienne (1315 AD)] (''emphasis added'')
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	:; Frank Sheed, ''The Action of the Holy Spirit,'' pp. 103-104		:; Frank Sheed, ''The Action of the Holy Spirit,'' pp. 103-104

	:: By nature we are a union of matter and spirit--body "ensouled," soul embodied. The last four words are true of any living being with a material component, a body. We must not think that the words "soul" and "spirit" have the same meaning, are interchangeable. A soul is a life-principle in a body, human or animal or vegetable. A spirit is a being, not in space, that has abstract knowledge and love. Our bodies are "inlivened" by a spiritual soul as no other body is; our spirit "inlives" a body as no other spirit does.		:: By nature we are a union of matter and spirit — body "ensouled," soul embodied. The last four words are true of any living being with a material component, a body. We must not think that the words "soul" and "spirit" have the same meaning, are interchangeable. A soul is a life-principle in a body, human or animal or vegetable. A spirit is a being, not in space, that has abstract knowledge and love. Our bodies are "inlivened" by a spiritual soul as no other body is; our spirit "inlives" a body as no other spirit does.

	== The heart is a courtroom ==		== The heart is a courtroom ==
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	:; Frank Sheed, ''The Action of the Holy Spirit,'' pp. 18-19		:; Frank Sheed, ''The Action of the Holy Spirit,'' pp. 18-19

	:: I had used the word "spirit" in a lecture and a questioner said, "What is a spirit?" I answered--a spirit has no shape, no size, no dimensions, does not occupy space." The questioner said, "That's the best definition of nothing I've ever heard." He shook me, all right. I had told him what a spirit isn't and doesn't, with no word about what it is and does.		:: I had used the word "spirit" in a lecture and a questioner said, "What is a spirit?" I answered — a spirit has no shape, no size, no dimensions, does not occupy space." The questioner said, "That's the best definition of nothing I've ever heard." He shook me, all right. I had told him what a spirit isn't and doesn't, with no word about what it is and does.

	:: What does the spirit do in us? It knows and loves and decides. A myriad ["10,000"] of activities flow from those three activities beyond the power of matter--general ideas, ideals and ideologies, mathematical and philosophical systems, moral convictions, the splitting of the atom, voyaging in outer space. In all these activities, mind and matter (including the matter of man's own body) are involved, but there is no question of which uses which. ...		:: What does the spirit do in us? It knows and loves and decides. A myriad ["10,000"] of activities flow from those three activities beyond the power of matter — general ideas, ideals and ideologies, mathematical and philosophical systems, moral convictions, the splitting of the atom, voyaging in outer space. In all these activities, mind and matter (including the matter of man's own body) are involved, but there is no question of which uses which. ...

	:: Spirit is the being that has no parts. ...		:: Spirit is the being that has no parts. ...
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	:: The body has parts, each with its own function, which only it can perform. But all the things the soul does are done by the whole soul, for there is no element in the soul that is not the whole of it. It knows, loves, hates, wants, chooses, refuses to choose, decides, animates a body. And one single soul does each of these things with the whole of itself.		:: The body has parts, each with its own function, which only it can perform. But all the things the soul does are done by the whole soul, for there is no element in the soul that is not the whole of it. It knows, loves, hates, wants, chooses, refuses to choose, decides, animates a body. And one single soul does each of these things with the whole of itself.

	:: Two things emerge from the spirit's absence of parts--it does not occupy space; it is everlasting.		:: Two things emerge from the spirit's absence of parts — it does not occupy space; it is everlasting.

	:; Jean Marc Laporte, Grace, Fall 1980		:; Jean Marc Laporte, Grace, Fall 1980

	:: Chase away a person's natural disposition--and it returns on the run.		:: Chase away a person's natural disposition — and it returns on the run.

	== The Gnostic heresy ==		== The Gnostic heresy ==
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	Gnosticism dates from the second century of the Christian era. Its view of the relation between spirit, soul, matter, and body is found in Hinduism, Buddhism, the ''Harry Potter'' novels, animism, and many forms of New-Age religion.		Gnosticism dates from the second century of the Christian era. Its view of the relation between spirit, soul, matter, and body is found in Hinduism, Buddhism, the ''Harry Potter'' novels, animism, and many forms of New-Age religion.

	The thought that matter can contain and control a spirit or a soul is ludicrous. Spirits can act on matter, but matter cannot bind spirits. The idea of a spirit ''contained in'' a physical reality--a tree, the moon, the ocean, a totem, an idol, a horcrux, a river, an ocean, a cave, a magic wand, a ring, or the like--makes no sense metaphysically.		The thought that matter can contain and control a spirit or a soul is ludicrous. Spirits can act on matter, but matter cannot bind spirits. The idea of a spirit ''contained in'' a physical reality — a tree, the moon, the ocean, a totem, an idol, a horcrux, a river, an ocean, a cave, a magic wand, a ring, or the like — makes no sense metaphysically.

	The soul is not "imprisoned" in the body. It is the ''formal cause'' of bodily existence. The soul forms or in-forms matter to produce the body. The soul is "in" the body in a metaphysical sense, but not in a physical sense. No part of the body is absent from the soul. The human soul is not truly itself without the body, although it has a God-given principle of immortality as a consequence of the spiritual powers of intellect and will given to the person by God at conception.		The soul is not "imprisoned" in the body. It is the ''formal cause'' of bodily existence. The soul forms or in-forms matter to produce the body. The soul is "in" the body in a metaphysical sense, but not in a physical sense. No part of the body is absent from the soul. The human soul is not truly itself without the body, although it has a God-given principle of immortality as a consequence of the spiritual powers of intellect and will given to the person by God at conception.
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	One of Karl Rahner's early works was entitled ''Geist im Welt'': "Spirit in the World." It is a beautiful expression, and the book is an excellent synthesis of the Aristo-Thomist vision of reality.		One of Karl Rahner's early works was entitled ''Geist im Welt'': "Spirit in the World." It is a beautiful expression, and the book is an excellent synthesis of the Aristo-Thomist vision of reality.

	By nature, our minds are oriented toward knowledge of the material universe. "All knowledge begins in the senses" (Aristotle), and the senses operate through physical interaction with the material world. The physical sciences are ultimately based on sense knowledge--what we can see, hear, taste, touch, and smell. We easily understand matter acting on matter because that is what we see all the time: my fingers tap the keys, the keyboard sends signals to the computer, the computer produces characters on the screen, and so on.		By nature, our minds are oriented toward knowledge of the material universe. "All knowledge begins in the senses" (Aristotle), and the senses operate through physical interaction with the material world. The physical sciences are ultimately based on sense knowledge — what we can see, hear, taste, touch, and smell. We easily understand matter acting on matter because that is what we see all the time: my fingers tap the keys, the keyboard sends signals to the computer, the computer produces characters on the screen, and so on.

	Science traces cause-and-effect in physical relationships. For the most part, we can readily envision one material thing or force acting on another material thing or force. The thought that everything we see in the universe is nothing but particles and forces is a comprehensive and attractive cosmology. Where a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtles_all_the_way_down primitive mythology] saw the earth as a flat plate standing on the back of a turtle, which in turn stood on the back of an elephant, which stood on a turtle standing on the back of an elephant, ad infinitum, so that it was "turtles and elephants all the way down," modern science says that everything is particles and fields, all the way down.		Science traces cause-and-effect in physical relationships. For the most part, we can readily envision one material thing or force acting on another material thing or force. The thought that everything we see in the universe is nothing but particles and forces is a comprehensive and attractive cosmology. Where a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtles_all_the_way_down primitive mythology] saw the earth as a flat plate standing on the back of a turtle, which in turn stood on the back of an elephant, which stood on a turtle standing on the back of an elephant, ad infinitum, so that it was "turtles and elephants all the way down," modern science says that everything is particles and fields, all the way down.
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	From the standpoint of natural theology, matter is disposed to the action of pure spirits because it is created by God. The five ways of Aristotle and Thomas show that there must be a single, infinite, existing, good, all-powerful, intelligent, spiritual being who is the ''cause'' of the material universe; if there were no First Cause, there would be no matter. But if there is a First Cause, it necessarily follows that spirit can act on matter. We have no ''picture'' of what the "interface" between spirit and matter ''looks like.'' All we can say is ''that'' spirit can produce and act on matter; we do not have, and cannot have, a scientific map of ''how'' this is so.		From the standpoint of natural theology, matter is disposed to the action of pure spirits because it is created by God. The five ways of Aristotle and Thomas show that there must be a single, infinite, existing, good, all-powerful, intelligent, spiritual being who is the ''cause'' of the material universe; if there were no First Cause, there would be no matter. But if there is a First Cause, it necessarily follows that spirit can act on matter. We have no ''picture'' of what the "interface" between spirit and matter ''looks like.'' All we can say is ''that'' spirit can produce and act on matter; we do not have, and cannot have, a scientific map of ''how'' this is so.

	Besides this certitude that matter can be acted on by pure spirit because it is produced by pure spirit, we also have the evidence of embodied spirit acting in the world--all of our own consciousness of ourselves and our intelligent actions. Aristotle saw that the powers of intelligence and free will are spiritual in nature and, as a consequence, not subject to decay when we die. These spiritual powers act in and through our bodies, but do not come from the body. Our inner life is not a by-product of material complexity, as the materialists assert, but is the product of our spirit.		Besides this certitude that matter can be acted on by pure spirit because it is produced by pure spirit, we also have the evidence of embodied spirit acting in the world — all of our own consciousness of ourselves and our intelligent actions. Aristotle saw that the powers of intelligence and free will are spiritual in nature and, as a consequence, not subject to decay when we die. These spiritual powers act in and through our bodies, but do not come from the body. Our inner life is not a by-product of material complexity, as the materialists assert, but is the product of our spirit.

	We cannot ''see'' that this is so, but we can ''know'' it by reasoning metaphysically. We cannot ''see'' our own spirit because it is the immaterial cause of our human nature. "The soul is the ''form'' of the body" means that our bodily life is ''caused'' by our soul, which has the distinctive spiritual powers of intellect and will that set us apart from all other animals. We reason to the existence of these spiritual powers by understanding the kind of cause that alone can account for the effects that we observe, just as we reason to the existence of force fields and quantum phenomena, which are, in themselves, invisible, by reasoning from the effects produced by these fields and phenomena.		We cannot ''see'' that this is so, but we can ''know'' it by reasoning metaphysically. We cannot ''see'' our own spirit because it is the immaterial cause of our human nature. "The soul is the ''form'' of the body" means that our bodily life is ''caused'' by our soul, which has the distinctive spiritual powers of intellect and will that set us apart from all other animals. We reason to the existence of these spiritual powers by understanding the kind of cause that alone can account for the effects that we observe, just as we reason to the existence of force fields and quantum phenomena, which are, in themselves, invisible, by reasoning from the effects produced by these fields and phenomena.

The human spirit - Revision history

Mxmsj: Text replacement - "--" to " — "

Mxmsj: /* Spirit vs. flesh */

Mxmsj at 14:56, 11 April 2018

Mxmsj: /* Ïƒá½°ÏÎ¾ */

Mxmsj: /* Vocabulary */

Mxmsj: /* Deuteronomy */

Mxmsj: /* Deuteronomy */

Mxmsj: /* Deuteronomy */

Mxmsj: /* Deuteronomy */

Mxmsj: /* psyche and pneuma */

Mxmsj: /* Ïƒá½°ÏÎ¾ */