The Soul

Question 1

Define briefly what the soul is.

Answer 1

Christians believe that the soul is a part of humans that is not physical and survives after death.

Question 2

Define what the resurrection of the soul entails.

Answer 2

The idea of physical afterlife, both body and soul come back to life.

Question 3

What does ‘eternal’ mean?

Answer 3

Can live forever

Question 4

What is death?

Answer 4

The end of physical and mental life

Question 5

What is the meaning of the term ‘immortal’?

Answer 5

Cannot be destroyed and cannot ever die.

Question 6

What is the importance of the soul to a person? (4 things)

Answer 6

• The soul is the essence of a person, gives them personality etc
• Spiritual representation of a person, not physical
• Makes each person unique from each other
• Allows a person to relate to God
• The soul defines who you are and helps make the decisions between what is right and wrong.

Question 7

When God made Adam in the Bible, it is described as God having “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” (Genesis 2:7) What does this tell Christians about the soul?

Answer 7

“The breath of life” is a way of explaining the soul that is given by God to each person - it tells Christians that humans do have souls.

Question 8

Why do Christians believe in the immortality of the soul?

Answer 8

• Jesus conquered death when he resurrected
• The Ascension of Jesus also shows that there is life after death for the souls of humans
• Apostle’s Creed says “I believe in the resurrection of the body”
• Humans were made in the likeness of God, who is eternal

Question 9

Why do Christians believe that the soul is sacred?

Answer 9

In the Bible the body is described as a temple for God’s spirit.

Question 10

What verse in the Bible helps Christians believe that the soul is sacred?

Answer 10

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s spirit lives in you?”)

Question 11

The body and soul are often in conflict with one another. What verse in the Bible backs this idea up?

Answer 11

Romans 7:21-22 (“When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For my inner being I delight in God’s love.”)

Question 12

Give some points about an atheist’s view on the soul.

Answer 12

• The soul cannot be seen so it’s not real
• Once you’re dead, you’re dead. If a soul is real then it does not live on when you die.
• No scientific evidence to prove it exists
• Far-fetched idea
• Used as a comfort so that people don’t fear death