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To: kosta50; HarleyD; Kolokotronis
Man's soul was created immortal because it is life which is from God. Had Adam not sinned, he would have never died. Adam's damaged soul is passed on to all of us. God does not created damaged souls.

Does this mean that in Orthodoxy, the spiritual and the physical are treated the same, or in fact ARE the same? Do you consider a soul in hell to be nonexistent, or do you simply rename it "dead", thus it is mortal? I think that the Latins and the Protestants see the issue of mortality as simply one of existence, not one of destination.

The unrepentant soul will perish, as Ezekiel states. If the unrepentant departed are to "exist" in a state of complete darkness (separation from Light, which is God), not knowing where they are for all eternity, and you want to call it "life" then, sure, they will be "immortal."

On the one hand there is "life" and "death", and on the other hand there is existence. Two separate issues. It just doesn't seem like hell is that big a deal in Orthodoxy.

In addition, what makes you think that the damned will not know where they are? I think it will be clear to them since:

Rom 14:10-11 : 10 You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. 11 It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'"

After the judgment, how can anyone not know where he winds up?

10,373 posted on 11/03/2007 8:30:44 PM PDT by Forest Keeper (It is a joy to me to know that God had my number, before He created numbers.)
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To: Forest Keeper; HarleyD; Kolokotronis
Does this mean that in Orthodoxy, the spiritual and the physical are treated the same, or in fact ARE the same?

I am not sure where you get this idea or what you mean by this. God created man as body and soul. This is our "natural" state. Neither the body without the soul, nor the soul without the body is how God created us. We cannot separate the two and have man.

I think that the Latins and the Protestants see the issue of mortality as simply one of existence, not one of destination

The Orthodox deal with "nature" or essence, not with destinations, FK. Is man immortal by nature? If a soul is created immortal, then it is divine by nature. The Church always believed that man is made immortal by grace. Christ tells us "I am Life." We are given life in Christ. It is not a property we have by nature.

In addition, what makes you think that the damned will not know where they are?

What will they "know" separated from God who is everything and all? What will they "see" being separated from Light? What will they "feel" being separated from Love? The entire hope of Christianity rests on the knowledge that those who come to Christ will continue to live, see, feel, love. How will the condemned be any different from a rock? Is the prospect of being separated from everything for all eternity not torture itself?

After the judgment, how can anyone not know where he winds up?

I would worry about that before the Judgment.

10,377 posted on 11/04/2007 6:16:37 AM PST by kosta50 (Eastern Orthodoxy is pure Christianity)
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