How To Be A Christian Without Being A Jerk » nephesh http://danahanson.org Faith in real life Sun, 10 Sep 2023 19:51:43 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 soul http://danahanson.org/?p=1330 http://danahanson.org/?p=1330#comments Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:52:58 +0000 dehanson http://danahanson.wordpress.com/?p=1330 Genesis 2:19 describes God bringing birds and animals he had already created to Adam. These are called “creatures.” The Hebrew word is “nephesh.” We would translate this “soul.” Emotions, passion, and willful decision-making are all atributes linked to this word.

If you ever wanted to know why humans throughout the ages have worked with certain birds (hawks) and mammals (dogs, horses, oxen, etc.), as well as kept birds and mammals as pets, now you know.  We also have snakes and lizards and fish, but they aren’t “nephesh” biblically, and wouldn’t you know, they don’t fetch too well!

]]> http://danahanson.org/?feed=rss2&p=1330 0 soul http://danahanson.org/?p=1269 http://danahanson.org/?p=1269#comments Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:34:54 +0000 dehanson http://danahanson.wordpress.com/?p=1269 In Genesis 2:7, after God breathes life, we read, “…and man became a living soul.” The word for “soul” is related to “breath” and “spirit.” The man created is a spiritual being. A “soulish” creature. Our connection with God begins when life begins. God gives this life when we are conceived.

What does it mean to you to realize we all share the same Father?

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