If a person is truly brain dead

[Big Steve]

I was kind of thinking about this with all news coverage of Terri Schiavo lately.

First, this is NOT a thread about her specifically, I don't want it to turn into a debate about her tragic situation.

My question is, if a person is really, truly brain dead, with no activity, and is honestly in a vegetative state, does the soul still stay with the body until it physically dies? Is it possible that, once consciousness is lost and brain activity ceases forever, God may bring your soul to Him in heaven, even though your body, your "shell", is still physically alive?

I've just been thinking about this and wondering what other's opinions would be. To me, it would seem possible.

[Ovedya]

I think that's a good question considering the fact that only with recent technology have we been able to keep someone's body alive almost indefinately.

The soul is composed of the mind, emotion and will of a person. Therefore it seems reasonable to assume that if a person has no thoughts, expression, or ability to put each in action, that his soul has left his body.

If you believe as I do, that Terri Schiavo is "still there" - in other words, that she is aware of what is happening around her - then you have to believe that her soul still resides in her body. But if someone is hooked up to a machine that is doing their breathing for them, cleans and pumps their blood, keeps their body alive, etc., and there is only an elementary amount of brainwave activity, I would say that that person's soul no longer resides in their body.

[dwinkjr]

I agree with Ovedya my personally belief is that once a person is brain dead the Soul has left the body, so even keeping the body alive via a resperator is merely mainting an empty vessel.

God Bless,

Dave

[nebula]

I was flipping through channels the other night, and came across a program on a Christian station about whether the spiritual realm can be determined scientifically.

The end part focused on those who died and came back to life.

They shared a story of a 9-10 year old girl, I think, who had some kind of accident in a swimming pool and practically drowned.

The state of her life was questionable, but she was put on a ventilator and such in attempts to completely revive her.

Her family circled around her and prayed to the LORD to heal her.

A few days later, she awoke - with no brain damage!

In a follow-up apointment, she talked about the people in the room when she recovered and described them perfectly - the odd part was that her eyes were closed the whole time!

What really shocked the doctor, though, was when he asked her about what happened at the swimming pool.

She responded, "Oh! You mean when I met Jesus and Heavenly Father!"

He was so shocked he couldn't continue the interview.

Later, though, her asked her to continue.

She explained how at one point Jesus said to her, "It's time for you to go home now."

She replied, "But I don't want to leave! I'm having so much fun here."

Jesus responded, "Don't you want to see your mommy again?"

She thought about it and said, "Yes, I do."

That's when she recovered.

I thought that was so sweet, I almost cried!

[Catsmeow]

The spirit separates from the body when a person's body is dead. It's appointed unto man once to die, then the judgement.

If the person still lives in the body, the spirit remains connected to it.

[Guest Bro David™]

I think that's a good question considering the fact that only with recent technology have we been able to keep someone's body alive almost indefinately.

The soul is composed of the mind, emotion and will of a person.  Therefore it seems reasonable to assume that if a person has no thoughts, expression, or ability to put each in action, that his soul has left his body.

If you believe as I do, that Terri Schiavo is "still there" - in other words, that she is aware of what is happening around her - then you have to believe that her soul still resides in her body.  But if someone is hooked up to a machine that is doing their breathing for them, cleans and pumps their blood, keeps their body alive, etc., and there is only an elementary amount of brainwave activity, I would say that that person's soul no longer resides in their body.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree,

Let us just devote a second to praying for her and for God's will in her life to be fuflfilled.

Was she saved ?

Love is the uniform that shows everyone that we are His children.

David King

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings,

A couple terms being used here are often confused, and that is "soul and spirit". So let me expound just a bit:

1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This verse reveals that we are composed of (1) Spirit, (2) Soul and (3) Body.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

We see here that the Word of God will give us discernment between the differences between "soul" and "spirit".

We know that when God breathed into Adam - Adam became a "living soul". In other words - LIFE. Terri Shaivo IS alive in this sense, and all bodies, as long as they live and breathe, remain a "living soul". The soul is connected to the body inextricably interwound. The body is DEAD, DEAD, DEAD without the soul. If a person has no brain activity AND oxygen and food and water must be forced into maintaining its existence on a perpetual basis, then I do not believe the "soul" is still there, and I emphasize those criteria. Yet surely Lazarus met these conditions and God is able to raise anyone up from the DEAD, DEAD, DEAD.

The soul is that part of the body/soul that concerns itself ONLY with the body. It's only motivating force is to make the physical part of us happy. Some people are caled "soulic" or "soulish", that is they seek only what pleases themselves.

Now the "spirit" is different. He who worships God must worship Him in SPIRIT and in truth. It is the "spirit" that reaches out past the body to others and to God. In the beginning of a human life, the "spirit" is subject to the "soul", but as the life grows, and it is taught, the "spirit" also grows and will eventually come to the place (in most cases), that it will put the body/soul into subjection of itself. When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well, He had stopped there because "He thirsted". This is a natural function of the body/soul. But upon meeting the woman His "spirit" took charge and if you notice, He may never have gotten His drink to quench His thirst, but instead offered the woman "living water", and subsequently many in the town believed. God had a much greater reason for Jesus being there which was discerned by the "spirit", although I truly believe it was the desire of the body/soul for water that brought Him there.

So does Terry Shaivo have a "spirit"? From all accounts, YES. She responds to stimuli, to friends and even has attempted to converse in some limited way. I just hope that someone with the Gospel of Jesus Christ has spoken to her and in her "spirit" she has accepted Christ as her Savior. It looks mighty grim for her body/soul. But for everyone, there is no doubt that she can still be reached through the "spirit". May God have mercy upon her and hold her tightly in His loving arms.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[Work in Progress]

Great question, Big Steve.

I would have said that the soul is with the body as long as the body is physically alive - whether it's by machines or not.

However, after reading some of the responses, I'm not sure.

[RustyAngeL]

I agree with Ovedya. When a person is brain dead, I mean a flat line on an EEG then the soul, the person is long gone. It's only the machine what is keeping the body alive, or the house if you will in which that person lived.

[his-servant-too]

I agree with Ovedya.  When a person is brain dead, I mean a flat line on an EEG then the soul, the person is long gone.  It's only the machine what is keeping the body alive, or the house if you will in which that person lived.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Can we trust a machine made by man to measure the spirit and soul of a creation of GOD How Presumptuous of us to think that is the case. If our creator has given us the skill to preserve a life then He must have a plan for that life.