Anthropology 2024/2025 Discussion Board 1

[Chibuike Onyeogulu]

The theological view of the origin of the human soul have been subjected to three main theories.
The theory of pre-existence
According to this view, every human soul existed before mortal conception and eventually entered or was placed into the body prior to birth. Origen Adamantius, an early Christian scholar, proposed the idea of pre-existence, in that God created each human soul before conception.
Origen referenced Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb, I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations” as his basis of his argument and then brought forth a question, “How could his soul and its images be formed along with his body, who, before he was created in the womb, is said to be known to God, and was sanctified by Him before his birth?
His argument sounds logical, couple with scriptural backing, however I do not agree to it because further studies on this theory totally contradicts God’s foreknowledge (Omniscience), mosaic account of man’s creation in the image of God and lastly, it shed no light on the origin of sin as well as inherited sensual sin which it holds to have come from Adam or upon God’s justice in dealing with sin.
The theory of traducianism
The term ‘traducianism’ comes from the Latin word ‘tradux’, meaning ‘layer’. According to this notion, all souls are, in some way, descended from Adam’s original soul. Tertullian, a prominent early Christian author, taught that the soul is ‘passed on’ from father to child via the organic process of generation. During procreation, both the soul and the body pass on a portion of themselves to their offspring, resulting in the full person, soul and body, being derived from the progenitors.
Again, his argument sounds logical and had scriptural backing as it gives more explanation to the original sin, inherited sensual sin and the subsequent redemption we have in Christ. Traducianists find support in Romans 5:12, “Therefore, just as through one person sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all, and 1 Corinthians 15:22 “For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life”, However, I do not agree with this theory because it still raises a few insuperable problems about personal identity. Psalm 139: 14 and Romans 12:6 laid emphasis on the fact that every human is created fearfully and wonderfully, and God have given every individual a unique gift for doing thing so well.
The theory of creationism
This theory belief is that God created each soul and individual at the very moment he joins it to the developing organism thus, God creates a soul for each body that is generated. This theory gives support to the marked individuality in a child which cannot be explained as a mere reproduction of the qualities existing in parents (Psalms 139:13).
Furthermore, I partially agree to this theory with relation to the fact God is the creator of the human soul however, my general belief regarding the origin of the soul agrees to Pearlman view as seen in the course content, which suggest a cooperation of both God (creator) and parent as the origin. Man begets man in cooperation with “the father of Spirit” (John 1:1-4 and Genesis 5:1-3)
References
• Yates, J. C. (1989). The origin of the soul: New light on an old question. Evangelical Quarterly, 61(1), 121-140.
• Augustus Hopkins Strong (1908). Outlines of systematic theology. Philadelphia, the Griffith and Rowland press, 1701 Chestnut street.

[Humble oluchi God’s power]

Thank you chibuike.
Your points are very interesting and clear, but in addition to what you have said on traducianism, creationism and pro-existence, each view has it’s strengths and weaknesses, they also raise important questions about the nature of God and the relationship between the body and the soul, however they have a unique perspective on this complex and debate topic, here’s a brief comparison:

Traducianism :Emphasizes human involvement, but raises questions about the origin of the first human soul.
Creationism: Stresses God’s direct involvement, but may imply a lack of human involvement in the origin of the soul.
Pre-Existence: Suggests a prior existence of the soul, but raises questions about the nature of this pre-existence.

Ultimately, the origin of the soul remains a mystery that may not be fully comprehensible by human understanding. Each view has its theological and philosophical implications, even though their thought might not be appropriate right, but there are so many lessons that can be achieved from them. The truth still remains the same,God is the creator , (John 1:1-4)God created and man pro- created, the process, the pattern has already been created and programmed by God,(Genesis 2:7)man only needs to follow the pattern that has been designed by God to pro-create.

[VictorKachi]

Scholars and various religious traditions hold divergent perspectives regarding the origin of the soul. It is evident that God breathed life into Adam, resulting in his transformation into a living soul. However, several question arises concerning the source of souls for subsequent generations. This essay aims to examine three theological viewpoints regarding the origin of the soul.

1. Creationism
This view holds that God creates a new soul into each individual at the moment of conception or birth (Ps 139:13) . This theory teaches that the human body is transferred from the parents, but the soul, since it is immaterial, comes from God. Their Support for this is found in the fact that after creating Adam, God breathed life into his body—giving him a soul (Gen 2:7).
This theory does face some challenges. How is the sinful nature passed on if God provides each person with a soul?
The soul, often seen as the centre of activities and the essence of our mind, is referred to in the Bible as “desperately wicked.” This raises another intriguing question; if God is the creator of the soul, when does it become corrupted? Because this seem unlikely, some reject this view

2. Traducianism
This view suggests that the soul is transmitted from parents to children through the process of reproduction. This view emphasizes the fact that both the body and soul are inherited from the parents (Ps 51:5). Supporters of this idea believe that God’s act of creating things from nothing ended after the sixth day of creation, which is backed up by the fact that God took a break on the seventh day.
Paul Enns said it this way, “If the parents pass on the nonmaterial nature then it explains the propagation of the sin nature and the tendency, from birth, of every human being to sin”.
I contest this viewpoint by asserting that accepting it implies the belief that Jesus inherited the sinful nature of Mary, which is not accurate. Neither do I propose that sin was exclusively associated with the male genetic lineage, since Mary did not inherit this gene because Jesus was born without sin.
One additional strength of the traducian theory lies in its emphasis on hereditary influences; individuals not only inherit physical traits from their parents but also often share similarities in personality, intelligence, and emotional responses. If the soul were to be directly imparted by God, independent of parental influence, such resemblances would likely be less pronounced.

3. Pre-Existence
 This third view is devoid of biblical backing, as it suggests that God created all human souls simultaneously and “assigns” a soul to an individual at the point of conception. According to this view, there exists a kind of “warehouse of souls” in heaven, where God keeps souls in anticipation of being connected to a human body.

Conclusively, In accordance with Perlman’s suggestion of cooperation between creator and parent as discussed in our prior course session, I am inclined to support a partnership instead of contradiction between creationism and traducianism. This perspective is rooted in the belief that God’s power governs and infuses the world, ensuring that all beings come into existence in accordance with the divine laws established by God. Consequently, even the natural process of reproduction activates these divine principles of life, resulting in the birth of a human endowed with a soul.Adam fathered a son in his own likeness, as noted in Genesis 5:3, suggesting that Adam’s offspring are also “living souls” without the necessity of divine breath being bestowed upon them. Romans 5:12 appears to indicate that we all sinned “through one man,” which points to everyone’s connectedness to Adam and his original sin. The commencement of a new existence and the innovative application of means are initiated by a Creator God (Jhn 1:3)

[Chibuike Onyeogulu]

Its being an interesting exercise with regards to the new insight and revelation obtained in course of engaging in this assignment and also a challenging one with regards to sorting out materials for this assignment.
However, the concept of creationism with regards to the origin of the human soul is one concept most believers could easily agree with or buy into since we can all agree that God is the creator but the verse of the scripture (Jeremiah 17:9) which says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” will definitely make you think twice or ask questions like “Did God actually create a deceitful and wicked heart.
A friend told me while on this assignment that the heart and soul are two different things, I quickly looked up the meaning of heart as used in Jeremiah 17:9 from “Bible Strongs concordance” and it literally mean same thing as soul which is the center of activities and having its components of will, intellect and emotion
So, in conclusion God did not create a wicked or deceitful heart thus this concept is rejected and wanting to lean on the concept of traducianism which gives answers to this argument that the soul comes from the parents and the wicked heart as used here is transcend from Adam to us after he disobeyed God.

[VictorKachi]

Thank you for your work; I found your perspective on the viewpoints presented quite compelling.It seems that traducianism and creationism are gaining more attention. I want to clarify that my response is not a full endorsement of either view, but rather to illustrate how both can be seen as coherent. The issue at hand cannot be neatly settled with biblical references, even though we must make numerous inferences. For instance, creationism appears to have stronger biblical backing in verses like Psalm 139, where God is depicted as the direct creator of each individual soul. However, the true purpose of that scripture is not to settle this debate; it leaves us with questions that another Psalm, like Psalm 151:5, would compel us to consider.
God breathed life into Adam, forming the inner essence of humanity, and bestowed blessings upon him (Gen 1:28), a command was given, and even after humanity’s fall, creation continued through mankind.

This raises the question of how the sinful nature is transmitted from Adam to each individual, leading to curiosity about how this relates to the human nature of Jesus Christ.

Think of it this way; If God had sent a baby Savior or a fully grown Savior thrown down from heaven to save humanity, it would have strongly supported the idea of traducianism. However, God chose to honor and work with His previously declared word in Genesis 1:28, where He issued a blessing and a command for fruitfulness as part of His creative mandate. This illustrates the collaboration between God, the Creator, and parents in the origin of the soul.

[Humble oluchi God’s power]

The origin of the soul is a profound and intriguing question that has been debated by theologians, philosophers, and scholars for centuries, it invites us to contemplate the mysteries of creation, the nature of humanity, and the workings of the divine. May our exploration of this topic inspire a deeper appreciation for the complexities of human existence and the wonders of God’s creation.
Theological views of the origin of the human soul:
1) Traducianism
Traducianism is the theological view that the human soul is generated by the parents, either through biological reproduction or through some other means.
This view originated in the early Christian church, particularly among the Eastern Fathers.
Traducianism holds that the soul is generated in the biological process of reproduction, just like the body.
The view might be complicated because of the lack of explanation in the relationship between the soul and the body, however the point seems relevant because of the fact we see during creation, looking at what happened in the Bible as regards to the sin Adam committed that affected his descendants, through that, both spiritual and physical death was transmitted to the world.(Psalm 51:5)
God created a perfect and unique soul from the beginning but the disobedience of Adam affected the soul and brought corruption to the transmission of the soul.
2) Creationism
Creationism is the theological view that the human soul is directly created by God, and that it’s existence is not dependent on a natural process.
This view has its roots in the biblical account of creation, particularly in Genesis 2:7, where God breathes the breath of life into Adam, this suggests that God is directly involved in the creation of human life.
I might be tempted to accept this view, because in this view we can realize that the human soul is directly created by God, this point shows that God is the creator and the giver of life, Without the breath of God into the nostrils of man there will be know creation of the human soul . First, God formed man from the dust and in order to activate the soul he breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul.
3) Preexistence (or Pre-Existence Theory)
This view proposes that souls exist before conception or birth, and that God assigns a pre-existing soul to each person. This view emphasizes the eternal nature of the soul.
But this view since it has no Bible reference, it is not as relevant as the order two.

In conclusion, Traducianism, Creationism, and pre- existence theory offer different perspectives on how the soul comes into existence. However, with the knowledge gotten from the previous lessons , (Act 17:28) (Hebrew 1:3) (John 1:1-4) (psalm 51:5-6) (Genesis 5:1-3)what we see from these verses of scriptures is that God created, and man procreate, (Adam begot Seth). Gods power controls the world so that all comes in to being according to the laws he has ordained, so everything in life follows the pattern that is already Placed by God. It is God who gave man the ability to cooperate with him giving birth to another man.

[Odinachi Onyemkpa]

Throughout history, there have been three primary views on the origin of the human soul: Pre-existence theory, Creation theory, and Traducian theory.
Pre-existence Theory
Ancient Greeks and Hindus have upheld pre-existence theory, and even forms of it can be found in Islamic thought. This view posits that God created several souls, and these souls are joined to human bodies at conception. There is no clear statement in Scripture supporting this view. This perspective, rooted in ancient Greek philosophy and some early Christian thought, suggests that souls exist in a pre-corporeal state before being united with a physical body, implying that souls may have lived in a spiritual realm before incarnation. Some Christian traditions have considered this view heretical, challenging the idea that the soul is a creation of God rather than something that pre-existed creation.
Creation Theory
Creation theory teaches that while the human body is inherited from the parents, the soul, being immaterial, is created by God. At conception, God creates a soul and places it within the developing baby, as noted in Psalm 139:13: “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.” Support for this theory is found in the biblical account of God breathing life into Adam’s body, thereby giving him a soul (Genesis 2:7). Numerous Scriptures highlight God’s ongoing involvement in the creation of humans, including their spirits. Consider the following verses:
– “The revelation of the word of the Lord concerning Israel: The Lord—He who stretches out the heavens and lays the foundations of the earth, who forms the human spirit within a person” (Zechariah 12:1).
– “And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7, ESV).
These texts clearly indicate God as the Creator of the immaterial aspect of humans, emphasizing His role as the ultimate creator of the soul. Some argue that creationism avoids the complication of the soul being passed down from parents, which might suggest a pre-existing and potentially flawed soul.

Traducian Theory
Traducian theory, also found in some Christian circles, proposes that both the soul and body are passed down from parents through natural generation. This perspective argues that God’s direct creation of new beings ceased on the sixth day of creation, as evidenced by His resting on the seventh day. While God remains involved in the creation of human bodies and souls, this involvement occurs through secondary means—specifically through human parents. Some theologians find this view more consistent with the concept of humanity inheriting a fallen nature from Adam and Eve.

One strength of the Traducian theory is its acknowledgment of hereditary factors—just as we inherit physical traits from our parents, we also commonly share personality traits, intelligence, and emotions. If God directly created the soul independently of the parents, these similarities might not be as pronounced. John MacArthur supports Traducian theory, stating that while several verses mention God creating a person’s soul or spirit, the same is true for the body1. He cites Psalm 139:13-15, which underscores that the body is formed through natural procreation, indicating that God is the Creator, yet He ordained human reproduction for populating the earth (Genesis 1:28). Thus, although God uses natural means for procreation, He remains the ultimate cause of the process.

In conclusion, it is essential to recognize that God is the Creator of humans. I choose to align with The Creation Theory, which clearly instructs that God is the Sole Creator of humanity, but every other creature that exists came to be through Him.

[ambcovenant]

The origin of the human soul has been a subject of theological and philosophical debate for centuries. Within Christian theology, three primary views attempt to explain how and when the soul comes into existence:

1. Traducianism
2. Creationism
3. Preexistence
Each of these perspectives carries theological and philosophical implications, shaping how believers understand human nature, sin, and divine sovereignty.

1. Traducianism argues that the soul is inherited from the parents at the time of conception, much like the physical body. This view suggests that both the material and immaterial aspects of a person are passed down through human reproduction. Early church theologians such as Tertullian and later reformers like Martin Luther supported this view, citing passages such as Romans 5:12, which teaches that sin entered the world through Adam and spread to all humanity. Proponents also point to Hebrews 7:9-10, where Levi is said to have paid tithes to Melchizedek while still in the body of his ancest…

One of the strengths of Traducianism is that it provides a logical explanation for the transmission of original sin. If both the soul and body are derived from the parents, then the sinful nature can be naturally passed down. However, the view faces theological challenges, particularly in explaining how each soul remains unique if it is merely a continuation of ancestral existence. Additionally, it raises questions about God’s direct role in the creation of individual human beings.

2. Creationism, on the other hand, holds that God creates each soul directly and individually at the moment of conception or birth. This perspective is upheld by church fathers like Augustine and later theologians such as John Calvin. Supporters often cite Zechariah 12:1, which states that God “forms the spirit of man within him,” as evidence that each soul is an act of divine creation rather than a product of human reproduction.

One of the strengths of the Creationist view is that it upholds the uniqueness of every individual, affirming the belief that God is personally involved in the creation of each human being. However, this perspective also presents a theological challenge regarding original sin. If God directly creates each soul, how does that soul inherit Adam’s sinful nature? Some theologians address this issue by suggesting that while the soul is created sinless, it enters a fallen world and is placed in a body tainted by sin, thereby becoming subject to sinfulness.

The third view, Preexistence, proposes that souls exist before birth and are assigned to human bodies at the appropriate time. This idea is rooted in Platonism and was supported by early Christian theologian Origen. According to this perspective, souls were created before the physical world and are placed into human bodies according to divine wisdom.

3. The Preexistence theory faces significant theological challenges, primarily its lack of biblical support. Nowhere in Scripture is it explicitly stated that souls exist before birth. Instead, Genesis 2:7 teaches that God breathed life into Adam, indicating that the soul comes into existence at the moment life begins. Additionally, Hebrews 9:27 states that “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment,” which contradicts the idea that souls existed prior to earthly life and then entered human bod…

After carefully considering these perspectives, I find the Creationist view to be the most biblically sound. The idea that God creates each soul uniquely affirms both divine sovereignty and human individuality. While Traducianism provides a compelling explanation for the transmission of original sin, its implications regarding individuality and the direct involvement of God in creation make it difficult to fully accept. Preexistence, on the other hand, lacks scriptural foundation and introduces speculative con…

In conclusion, the debate over the origin of the human soul remains complex and deeply theological. Traducianism accounts for inherited sin but struggles with the uniqueness of individuals, Creationism affirms God’s role as Creator but raises questions about original sin, and Preexistence lacks biblical foundation. Among these views, Creationism aligns best with biblical doctrine, maintaining God’s personal involvement in human life while preserving the soul’s uniqueness.

References:
1. Augustine of Hippo, City of God, Book XII, Chapter 26.
2. Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 2, Chapter 1.

[bright022]

Introduction
The origin of the human soul has been a subject of theological and philosophical analysis for years. Many scholars have proposed different explanations, leading to various schools of thought, each offering a different perspective on how the soul comes into existence. There are three basic theological perspectives on the origin of the soul:

1. Those who believe that the soul and body are inherited from one’s parents at birth.
2. Those who believe that the soul is created by God at the moment of a child’s conception.
3. Those who believe that souls existed before conception or birth and are sent by God into bodies.

Each view has its biblical, philosophical, and theological arguments, and understanding them helps in forming an informed position.

First View:
The first view holds that the human soul, along with the body, is inherited from the parents. Proponents of this view argue that since humans inherit their sinful nature from Adam (Romans 5:12), it makes sense that the soul, like the body, is passed down through natural generation. Additionally, Genesis 2:7 states that God created Adam’s soul directly, but there is no mention of God continuing to create individual souls after Adam. Further study shows that proponents of this view believe that the inheritance of the soul from one’s parents aligns with modern genetics, as it provides a way to explain the transmission of personality traits and moral tendencies.
However, one major criticism of this view is that it suggests the soul is divisible or material in some way, which contradicts the Christian belief that the soul is an indivisible, immaterial entity.

Second View:
Another view holds that each soul is created directly by God at the moment of conception or birth. Advocates of this view use passages like Ecclesiastes 12:7, which states, “the spirit returns to God who gave it,” as evidence that the soul is given directly by God. This perspective preserves the immaterial nature of the soul and aligns with the idea that humans are uniquely made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27).
However, this view faces some challenges, particularly regarding the doctrine of original sin. If God creates each soul directly, how does the sinful nature pass from Adam to his descendants? Some argue that original sin is transmitted through the body rather than the soul, but this raises further theological questions.

Third View:
This theological view proposes that human souls existed before birth and are either sent by God into bodies or choose to inhabit them. This view has been associated with Origen in early Christianity and has parallels in Eastern religions. Some cite Jeremiah 1:5 (“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you”) as support for this perspective.
The major problem with this view is that it lacks strong biblical support and is often associated with ideas foreign to Christian doctrine, such as reincarnation.

Personal View and Conclusion
After examining these views, I find the second view, that God creates the human soul directly at the moment of conception, to be theologically and biblically sound to some extent, though it does raise questions about original sin. The idea that God directly creates each soul preserves the immaterial, unique nature of human beings and aligns with Scripture’s depiction of God as the giver of life. However, the first view provides a compelling explanation for inherited sin, so I acknowledge its strengths while maintaining that God creates the human soul at conception.

Ultimately, while the exact mechanism of the soul’s origin remains a bit unclear, Scripture affirms that humans are made in the image of God and possess an eternal soul. As Christians, our focus should be on living in a way that honors God, regardless of the finer details of how our souls came into existence.

[Miriam IfeanyiChukwu]

I agree with your submissions Bro Bright. However, while you think the origin of the soul is still unclear, scripture is clear about the origin of the first soul that ever existed. According to Gen. 2:7, 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 being. Also, Isa. 42:5 says Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, And spirit to those who walk on it: while as humans we may not comprehend the mechanism through which God gives breath to the people on the earth because it is supernatural, scripture is clear that it is God’s job description. While God created the soul, the body is generated by the combination of the genetic materials from both parents.
The second view also known as creation theory is the only view that has concrete scriptural backing; and gives dignity to human life, and there are scientific arguments that prove that genetic information is present at conception.

[Oziie]

Thank you for your thoughtful response. I completely agree that Scripture clearly affirms God as the originator of the soul, especially in Genesis 2:7 and Isaiah 42:5. These verses provide a solid foundation for the Creationist view and uphold the dignity of human life as directly formed and breathed into by God. I also appreciate your emphasis on the supernatural nature of the soul’s origin—something that transcends human understanding and scientific observation.

However, while the Creationist perspective honors God’s role, one area that still presents a theological challenge is the explanation of original sin. If every soul is directly created by God at conception, how then do we account for the inherited sinful nature of all humanity, as taught in passages like Psalm 51:5 and Romans 5:12? This is where Traducianism seems to offer a more coherent framework, as it connects the soul’s origin with human lineage and the fallen nature passed down from Adam.

I acknowledge that both views have their strengths and limitations. Ultimately, the mystery of the soul’s origin invites us into a deeper reverence for God’s creative power, even as we hold differing theological interpretations.

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