This is in response to letters from Lynn Miller and Alexander Clark in the Friday, Aug. 13, 2010, paper. I have no desire to belabor this subject, but I will say this in response to your letters:
First, Ms. Miller, I'm not familiar with the emphasized bible, therefore I cannot check the reference therein. As for your question about where in the Bible (NIV) does it say souls live forever ... Matthew 25:41,46; in reference to Judgment Day: "Depart from me you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
Another reference is Daniel 12:2: "Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake; some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt." "Everlasting" and "Eternal" both mean "lasting forever" in the English language.
Mr. Clark, if you so desire to be classed in with animals, that is your choice. I, personally, would prefer to believe, as the Bible says, that we were created separate from the animals. And I would rather put my faith in the Bible than in the definition of animal in dictionaries or in theories of scientists.
Some scientists believe we all evolved from single-celled organisms. I would rather believe we were fearfully and wonderfully made by a sovereign God who loves us. But, whatever trips your trigger.
