Abstract

Table of Contents

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Part V

Part VI

Part VII

Part VIII

Part IX

     

Vol.5: The Virgin Birth and the Incarnation

A FRESH LOOK AT THE MEANING
OF THE WORD "SOUL"

Preface
Chapter 1.  The Spirit and the Body
Chapter 2.  The Emergence of the Soul
Chapter 3.  Some Problems
Chapter 4.  A Crucial Test
Appendixes

Publication History:
1959: Doorway paper No.38, privately published by Arthur C. Custance
1977: Part VI in The Virgin Birth and the Incarnation, vol.5 of The Doorway Papers Series.
1997: Arthur Custance Online Library (HTML)
2001  2nd Online Edition (corrections, design revisions)

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PREFACE

     Caveat lector!

     This Paper was difficult to put together smoothly, and it will undoubtedly be difficult to read with patience. The subject bristles with assumptions of uncertain validity, and the whole issue is highly controversial. This is hardly an encouragement to proceed.
     Yet, perhaps the effort of reading it will bring some reward, for it is only an exploration really, an effort to rethink some much-pondered problems: and the readers' comments will be more than welcome.
     It will be apparent that the question discussed here relative to the time at which the status of "personhood" is achieved by the developing fetus bears upon the thorny problem of abortion. Whatever may be the final truth as to the precise sequence of events, it is clear that the fetus is a potential human being from the moment of conception, and as a potential human being in the sight of God the fetus must surely be accorded that particular respect which is demanded by such potential.

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