Our soul before conception

[abchavez]

So I’ve heard from two different people in the past couple of months about a book maybe books that talk about a person who had a near death experience and in the book the person finds out that our souls are in heaven before we are conceived and we are able to pick out the trials we will face, our parents, the people we will meet while on earth…This just doesnt sound like Catholic teaching to me. I was under the impression that our souls were created at the time of our conception…But I really need a resource, if one is available to find what the Church teaches…Does anyone know of one??

 

[JimG]

“A child’s soul comes from neither the father nor the mother. Each soul is created directly by God from nothing at the moment of conception. There is no pre-existence of the soul as Mormons and others believe.” From Catholic Answers

The soul does not pre-exist the body.

 

[MarcusAndreas]

Complete garbage. Souls are not pre-existant.

 

[1ke]

This just doesnt sound like Catholic teaching to me.

It is not Church teaching. It is a heretical idea.

I was under the impression that our souls were created at the time of our conception…

This is correct.

But I really need a resource, if one is available to find what the Church teaches…Does anyone know of one??

CCC 366 The Church teaches that every spiritual soul is created immediately by God - it is not “produced” by the parents

 

[svid]

New Age heresy. Or Buddhist. Or Hindu. Take your pick. I pick the Holy Catholic Church. Would that everyone did.

 

[I_Seek_2]

i remember seeing that Origin was condemned for this view. What was/is the reason?

 

[abchavez]

Thank you for all the responses but is there any teaching that the church has released or a writing by a saint that explicitly says this?

 

[davidv]

Thank you for all the responses but is there any teaching that the church has released or a writing by a saint that explicitly says this?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, article 366 states this explicitly.

 

[ConstantineTG]

The idea of pre-existence of souls is part of a Christian Kabbalist idea which evolved from the Jewish Kabbalist concept. It was never taught by Christ nor by anyone in Scripture including the Old Testament. Only Christ has preceded His human body, no one else.

 

[Robertanthony]

That idea, beside being heretical, is just plain dumb. That actually is on equal footing for stupidity as astrological signs and horoscope. A person will instantly lose a great deal of my esteem and respect who will ask what’s my birth date (to determine my sign) and what’s my son’s birth date (for similar reasons). Some people won’t settle for the simplicity of the Gospel.

 

[abchavez]

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, article 366 states this explicitly.

I am looking for something that states, explicitly that the soul is not created prior to conception. I can see the catechism says the soul is created immediately and not by the parents, but one might ask what does immediately mean??. I’m, just looking for something to show the ppl I care about, who are not dumb, the truth.

These are ppl who truly Love our Lord. They are not perfect just like everyone else and may find information that is not correct, so I am trying help them with the truth lovingly. And so if you are going to put that people are stupid for believing something that may not be true then please do not reply. Thank you for all who are trying to help.

 

[abchavez]

The idea of pre-existence of souls is part of a Christian Kabbalist idea which evolved from the Jewish Kabbalist concept. It was never taught by Christ nor by anyone in Scripture including the Old Testament. Only Christ has preceded His human body, no one else.

Thank you! Do you know of any books or writings where I could find that info??

 

[davidv]

I am looking for something that states, explicitly that the soul is not created prior to conception. I can see the catechism says the soul is created immediately and not by the parents, but one might ask what does immediately mean??. I’m, just looking for something to show the ppl I care about, who are not dumb, the truth.

These are ppl who truly Love our Lord. They are not perfect just like everyone else and may find information that is not correct, so I am trying help them with the truth lovingly. And so if you are going to put that people are stupid for believing something that may not be true then please do not reply. Thank you for all who are trying to help.

Immediately (adverb) = “without lapse of time; without delay; instantly; at once:” (dictionary.com)

Given this definition, how can there be any ambiguity in the Church’s definitive statement?

 

[abchavez]

Because they may say does immediately mean, immediately at the beginning of time?? I know that may not seem logical but these are the questions people ask. And there are people who may need to see additional writings about this subject… so again if there are other writing regarding this subject please share.

Perhaps one of the Church father’s wrote about this subject?

 

[abchavez]

So I think I can clarify the question…how did the Church come up with that teaching? Is there information from the bible, church fathers…???

 

[FCEGM]

Because they may say does immediately mean, immediately at the beginning of time?? I know that may not seem logical but these are the questions people ask. And there are people who may need to see additional writings about this subject… so again if there are other writing regarding this subject please share.

Perhaps one of the Church father’s wrote about this subject?

The “immediately” is to be understood as at the moment of conception, thus the inclusion of "not ‘produced’ by the parents’. IOW, it is God, not the parents, Who creates the soul at the time of the union of the parents at which time the person (soul and body) is conceived.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Thank you! Do you know of any books or writings where I could find that info??

I got this mostly from Demi Moore’s movie The Seventh Sign and the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion. Its called Guf or Room of Guf. The belief here is that God basically created everything, even all the souls that will ever live, during the first 6 days of creation. In the Judaism version of the Kabbalah, it is believed that the Messiah would come after the room is emptied. In the Christian version, its believed the Second Coming will commence after the room is emptied. Many point to the Revelations verse that says therer will be great silence in heaven at the end of times. They say the infant souls are crying all the time and the silence means there are no more souls in Guf.

I don’t have a particular source for this, just bits and pieces over time. You can look up Kabbalist sites. Just remember this is a heresy.

 

[steve_b]

I am looking for something that states, explicitly that the soul is not created prior to conception. I can see the catechism says the soul is created immediately and not by the parents, but one might ask what does immediately mean??. I’m, just looking for something to show the ppl I care about, who are not dumb, the truth.

Perhaps you are thinking of

Jer 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” *

To God everything is eternally present. There is no past present or future for God. It’s eternally now for God. We however, live in time and space, NOT God. The quote refering to Jerimiah the prophet and in extension all who will ever be born, means we come into existence body and soul at conception. God is the one who gives us our soul and He knows everything seen and unseen eternally. Even though God knows us from all eternity, our existence, body and soul happens at our conception.

 

[InternetWoman]

The footnote associated with CCC para 366 references:

Pope Pius XII encyclical “Humani Generis”, para 3896 (1950)
Pope Paul VI encyclical “Credo of the People of God” para 8 (1968)
Lateran Council V (1513), para 1440 - which in turn references Pope Clement V’s Council of Vienne.(1311-1312)

Does that help at all?

 

[abchavez]

thanks for the footnotes…i guess i could have seen that myself but sometimes it takes someone else to show you what’s in front of you face. thanks!!