Will human-made life have a soul?

[Benadam]

I don’t know if man can make new life but I know man can not create new life.

Animal souls are not created by God directly but are made through the powers of nature. But the human soul is created directly evidenced by the higher faculties which are spiritual substance.

So the question is , can life be made yet be spiritual substance? Or, as Buffalo said, will it be immortal?

If life man makes possesses intellect and reason it is not entirely made by man. A soul it will have if it is alive.

How will man make life?

 

[Bill_Cherry]

I had to say yes and it would be granted by G_d (is there a reason for the blank vowel?) anyway…I do not think that the life would be created if it were not the Lords will. Even if we were able to combine all of the correct chemicals, enzymes and whatevers, I don’t think it would “live” unless God granted it life.
The next question is, could it develop a “spirit”?such as humans have…

 

[Bill_Cherry]

Very interesting question. Unfortunately, I do not know enough to answer, but I do want to comment on the above statement. The teaching of the Church is actually that animals do not have souls, so I don’t know where you are getting your information.

Pax.

Some how it seems relevant to add from
vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_academies/acdlife/documents/rc_pa_acdlife_doc_30091997_clon_en.html

“It should be noted however that, should the extension of cloning to the human species be desired, this duplication of body structure does not necessarily imply a perfectly identical person, understood in his ontological and psychological reality. The spiritual soul, which is the essential constituent of every subject belonging to the human species and is created directly by God, cannot be generated by the parents, produced by artificial fertilization or cloned”

Not that the question is about cloning…but, it somehow seemed relevant. Fascinating article on the artificial RNA thing…

 

[Matthias123]

As our understanding of the natural world progresses, it appears that we are getting closer and closer to creating honest-to-goodness life. Not computer simulations, not clones or modifications of existing life, but all together new life forms that haven’t existed before.

My question for you is: When/if we create biological life (is born, consumes energy, able to replicate, dies…) will it have a soul, and if so, does G-d create the soul in the same way He created ours?

(My understanding is that the Catholic Church, or at least many Catholics, believe that animals have souls.)

Here’s just one recent story about the path to creating life - note it doesn’t say this is how life on Earth was created! wired.com/wiredscience/2009/06/tpna/

I don’t think it is possible because I don’t believe we are capable of creating consciousness out of unconscious matter.

 

[Bill_Cherry]

Plants and animals have mortal souls. The soul is the animating principle or life force if you will.

I can find no evidence in the Vatican archives to support this. and believe me, I want to because I am an animal rights advocate…
The words immortal soul are used frequently, as are mortal flesh, body and sin. But, no where can I find the term or phrase mortal soul. Please show me where I can find proof that this is really a valid doctrine of my Catholic faith…
seriously:blush:

 

[Matthias123]

I can find no evidence in the Vatican archives to support this. and believe me, I want to because I am an animal rights advocate…
The words immortal soul are used frequently, as are mortal flesh, body and sin. But, no where can I find the term or phrase mortal soul. Please show me where I can find proof that this is really a valid doctrine of my Catholic faith…
seriously:blush:

newadvent.org/summa/1075.htm#article2

It comes from platonic idealism. The idea of the soul was further developed by Aristotle, and then further developed by Thomas Aquinas and others.

 

[Bill_Cherry]

newadvent.org/summa/1075.htm#article2

It comes from platonic idealism. The idea of the soul was further developed by Aristotle, and then further developed by Thomas Aquinas and others.

:thumbsup:Thanks! I will research this further. I need to see it in the Vatican archives, of course, though…you understand…:blush:But, that does not negate the validity or credibility od your source!