The Spiritual Dimension of Existence

De: Elihu Carranza

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

This work explores the Spiritual Dimension of Existence to determine what implications can be deduced about the afterlife that are supported by and do not contradict the Scriptures. The Spiritual Dimension of Existence throughout this work refers to what lies beyond the physical dimension of existence, yet governs all that transpires within it. It is Mind, the reality of thinking, thought, memory, meaning, knowledge, truth, value, consciousness, and a host of other mental properties and capacities that together comprise the image of God as male and female human beings. God endowed His creature Adam with mental or spiritual powers to the extent that one would not err to think of man as essentially mind (nous) housed in a body of flesh and bone. While naturalistic science attempts to reduce mind to the functions of brain matter alone, it offers no hope of creating mind. The attempt itself makes use of the properties of mind proving that the spiritual dimension of existence is not some physical aspect of the material known as brain matter. If mind is nothing more than the epiphenomenon of complex and complicated relations between brain matter and other parts of a body, it still remains something that cannot be measured, stored, weighed, or tested as any ordinary physical object. Mind is not a thing, it is a spiritual reality, invisible yet necessary for any knowledge of the physical dimension of existence as well as the spiritual. The methodology in this exploration of the spiritual dimension of existence is one framed in the language of a thought experiment. Given or assuming that such and such is the case, what follows logically from the premises? What are some of the logical implications of premises assumed to be true for a project that seeks to establish truths about the spiritual dimension? In other words, what follows logically and biblically about thought and life for existence now and for eternity. The reader will find here no attempt to argue, persuade, or convince anyone about the reality of an afterlife or the destinies that await all the living. This project assumes the spiritual dimension as axiomatic because it is a Scriptural truth. For those who think and believe otherwise, there is nothing in this work that will provide relief from the burden of sin and the reality of death. Also, it is important to keep in mind that in using thought experiments no attempt is made to prove or test any biblical doctrine true or false. For those who hold that there is no after-death life, the materialist's worldview that all life ends at death being one of its axioms, the reader will find here no attempt to argue or persuade a change in worldview assumptions. After the Introduction, this project develops the thought experiment in ten chapters covering the spiritual realities as put forth in Scripture. The last chapter examining biblical truths about dreams and visions concludes the thought experiment. Three Appendices (In Christ, Scripturalism, and Mehilism) provide additional information in support of this after-life thought experiment. A Glossary, Index, Resources, Author Books, and About Author sections close the project.