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What about the Soul?

What about the Soul?. James Van Slyke Azusa Pacific University. Human Nature. The primary problem is Christianity tends to hold to a form of dualism Modem sciences understand humankind as entirely physical.

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What about the Soul?

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  1. What about the Soul? James Van Slyke Azusa Pacific University

  2. Human Nature • The primary problem is • Christianity tends to hold to a form of dualism • Modem sciences understand humankind as entirely physical. • There is an increasing amount of humanness that appears to be an expression of physical (neural) processes.

  3. Theological Issues • Primary Thesis • The Bible does not hold a specific view on human nature, but a plurality of views • A particular view is often read into scriptural passages • Developing a definition of human nature takes into account several voices • Science • Philosophy • Theology • Bible

  4. Biblical Sources • Bible verses which support Dualism • Gen 35:18 – “As her soul was departing” • Matt 10:28 – “Do not fear those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul” • Luke 23:46 – “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” • Trichotomism – • 1 Thess 5:23 – “Spirit, soul, and body”

  5. Biblical Sources • Old Testament • Word for soul – nephes • soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion • Typically refers to whole person, not separable part • Genesis 2:7 • God breathes into Adam and he becomes a living soul (being) • Same word is used to describe living animals

  6. Biblical Sources • New Testament • Psyche • Typically translated for “soul” • Also means breath of life, earthly life, emotions, feelings, center of life, inner life, living creature • Nephes is typically translated as psyche

  7. Biblical Sources • Aspective vs. Partitive account – (Paul’s usage) • Body – Soma • Embodiment – more than just the physical body (personal possession (I or me) • Aspect of Personhood • Flesh – Sarx • Spectrum of uses – physical body but also weakness, moral conception, sin

  8. The Embodied Soul • Nonreductive physicalism • Soul is embodied the physicality of the human person • Not an immaterial property • Soul is an aspect of the person rather than a separable part • Develops through the emergence of personal relatedness with others and God

  9. Theology and Science • Levels of Explanation • Any Phenomenon can be studied from different levels of explanation • Each level by itself is incomplete • Each level gives us a broader understanding of the phenomenon in question

  10. Theology & Religion Literature & Philosophy Integrative Disciplines Complex Systems Sociology Psychology Biology Basic Sciences Building Blocks Chemistry Physics

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