What does it mean that we are divinely created? God creates us through a three-fold process: first, through cosmic evolution leading to the body and mind; second, by acting directly to bestow a unique personality upon that body-mind system and to send his spirit to dwell within us; and third, by creating the soul. But what is the soul? How can we recognize it in our experience? And what part do we play in its growth?[podcast src=”https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/4887027/height/0/width/0/theme/standard/autonext/no/thumbnail/yes/autoplay/no/preload/no/no_addthis/no/direction/forward/” height=”” width=””]
It is difficult to define what the soul is, but here is my take.
Just as the material selfhood needs a material mind and material body to interact with the material environment, so does the spiritual selfhood need a spiritual mind and spiritual body to interact with the spiritual environment.
The soul is a sub spiritual, but evolving spiritual selfhood that will survive the destruction of the material selfhood. It is the recreation of our selves, only spiritually. The soul is the result of the Father’s spirit invading the material mind. This contact with the material mind gradually evolves the soul. It is the beginning of our relationship with the heavenly Father.
The soul is that part of us that is to function more fully on the next level of our partnership with the Father. It makes Itself known by its thirst for truth, and hunger for righteousness. It is the haven of faith, trust, and hope. It responds to the values of truth, beauty, and goodness. It is the recipient of grace and mercy. It sees the universe as friendly and fatherly, despite the material contradictions. It flourishes under the canopy of the Father’s love. It feels the presence of the divine spirit, the outward urge of loving service.
The soul is the self reflecting aspect of the self, and recognizes the difference between good and evil and wisely chooses between them. Each time the self makes a moral decision, chooses good over evil, the divine spirit invades the soul by that much more, spiritualizing it. When it chooses to enter the Kingdom of heaven, it begins the character display of the fruits of the spirit.
The soul increasingly faith realizes eternal life and sonship with the heavenly Father as its character gradually takes on the moral and spiritual image of the heavenly Father.
Ultimately the soul is the response of the heavenly Father to the desire of the material creature to know him.
Dr. Perry
Thanks again. I was especially touched by this last sentence: the soul is the response of the heavenly Father to the desire of the material creature to know him.