SURVIVAL OF THE SPIRIT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19957, 28 May 1928, Page 12

SURVIVAL OF THE SPIRIT.

Sir,—A short letter signed H. E. Jelt, in the Herald of May 23, quotes Paul in I. Cor. ii., as sufficient answer to evolutionism, thus: "The natural man rftceiveth not the things of the spirit, neither can lis know them, became th oy are spiritually discerned." Which he likens to the position of a person who, ignorant of the phenomena of radio, denies its existence because he has not seen or read of the listening gear, but would, no doubt, at once acknowledge on being given a demonstration through the apparatus. Though no new element was added to nature s store, man s ingenuity has added a little to his receptivity of her bounty. The same may be said of moving pictures. Human spirit can be good or evil, and is always a mixture of both. But it is always the living expression of our natural and cultivated impulses and reasonings, and just as those tending to foster goodness and happiness grow in activity and scope, will the kingdom of Heaven on earth advance. No second supernatural everlasting personality need be assumed that such a consummation may be accelerated or achieved. Mr. Fussell's contribution to the discussion is rather wide of the mark. Evolutionists regard the living condition as essention to the manifestation of mind,, consciousness, or spirit, and are waiting for so-called psychologists to demonstrate the existence of such attributes or qualities apart' from living organisms. Till this is done, they will continue to regard nature as equal to the production of all its phenomena. E. Morris. Sir,—One of the best works of reference extant on the religious side is "A Biblical Concordance on the Soul, the Intermediate State, the Resurrection," by the Rev. G. Waller, M.A., an Anglican clergyman. Mr. Waller says the Hebrew word "nephesh" (soul) occurs in 754 places in the Old Testament, and there is not one single passage in which the soul is said to exist in state of consciousness between death and the resurrection. In the New Testament. the Greek word corresponding to the Hebrew word nephesh, occurs in | 106 places. Concluding a statement covering 36 pages, he writes:—"The Old and New Testaments know of no existence of man in body, soul or spirit after death, until the resurrection, and there can be no separation of man for reward or punishment till the day of judgment ; the doctrine of the resurrection heing the great central hope of the Old and New Testament saints." Defining death as "a state of unconsciousness in the grave," 14 Scripture references are given to prove this, the writer stating:— "Man is said to sleep in death .... and necessarily excluding any capability of reward or punishment, of happiness or misery, until the resurrection, when all these faculties and powers of mind and body will re-exist in a resurrection body." The author demonstrates that the resurrection takes places at the return of Christ to the eai;th. K. R. Macdonald.