It is off-topic to even ask what is the spirit of man and expect any answer but, "Man does not have a spirit."

John's post is very good at explaining the natural reasons for belief in a spirit. He's suggesting or implying that awareness in general, self-awareness in particular, consciousness, will, thought, faith and conscience are both the essential properties of a spirit and are at the same time the evidences of a spirit. The essential difference between a robot that might be infinitely smarter and faster than a man are these properties. Combine these properties with traits of character and a body you have the person, the soul.

How could we have a single original thought if we have no spirit? There has to be a force behind the chemical reactions in our brains. The reactions allow us to think, but what guides the reactions? Not the body or we would be completely carnel. And not the spirit of God or of Satan or we would all be saints or hell's angels. But for the Christian, it says 'In Him', that is to say, in His Spirit, 'we [our spirits] live and move and have our being'.

Here is a text that Darius is aluding to I think:

2:7 And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

This was also one of the texts I had in mind when I suggested that the Biblical teaching on what is a soul is that it is composed of a of body and a spirit.

What do you think John, and all the rest?

Well folks, you have been here for quite the clip and all in a day.

I think Darius; you could contribute a lot more meaningfully if you were to just share the information you have. The way your posts have largely been has tended to be mostly disinformation. Disinformation is not helpful.

So Darius if you think our pearls are plastic or common, why don’t you show some real pearls (information) and see if we merchants of pearls may be willing to sell the ones we have for one of greater worth.

Mark, based on your post above would what you call spirit be what I call consciousness?

What's the difference between "spirit" and "mind" in the sense you used "spirit" in your post, Mark?

I think I can answer both questions, Darius' and Tom's, by saying that in my view, the spirit of the man is what pilot's his mind. Although it has that attribute of consciouness, it is not consciousness. It is, simply, him. It is that being that worships God 'in spirit (the being, the complete moral intellegence) and in truth'.

It's not something that I claim to understand fully by any means.

Mark,

When you read the following Bible verses about "the spirit" doesn't it seem like your spirit is kind of like your inner feelings? and sometimes just your attitude? your conscience?


Mt:5:3: Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Mt:26:41: Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Mk:2:8: And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

Lk:1:47: And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Lk:1:80: And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

Lk:9:55: But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

Jn:4:24: God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Also I dont know if this is off topic but what in the world does Jesus mean by this?

Lk:24:39: Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

What does the word "spirit" mean there?