Oh, I had a purpose. Yes, I'm sure the people present, especially the Pharisees knew what Jesus was talking about. He was talking about them. My purpose was this: everyone uses this parable to support the belief in an eternal torture/torment of sinners. It was not told for that purpose. This thread is about the concept of an immortal soul, which rides in the same boat as the eternal torment concept. Both are grossly misunderstood concepts in the Bible. I have been a Christian since I was 9. My relationship is with Christ, and my beliefs come through prayer and study. My purpose is to expose misconceptions about Biblical truths. Right from the start, God said to Adam that if Adam ate that fruit, he would die. God said nothing about Adam having an immortal soul that would then float away and exist forever and ever. He said Adam would die. In another scripture it says that when the body dies, the mind dies and the thoughts die. It says elsewhere that our enemies will be ashes beneath our feet. Nowhere but nowhere does it say anyone, when they die a physical death, descend in a spiritual form into the bowels of hell where they are tormented never ending. Yes, there are those verses in Revelation which are misunderstood because the word eternal in English doesn't mean the same thing as did the original Greek. If it did mean the same thing, then the entire Bible contradicts itself. But people are so bound and determined to believe in an immortal soul as well as eternal torment, they'll cling to this belief regardless of all the proof to the contrary. I think it's sick, and does God's word an injustice.
Look at all the different interpretations for that verse in Genesis.
New International Version (©2011)
Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
New Living Translation (©2007)
Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man's nostrils, and the man became a living person.
English Standard Version (©2001)
then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
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.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Then the LORD God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.
International Standard Version (©2012)
So the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground, breathed life into his lungs, and the man became a living being.
NET Bible (©2006)
The LORD God formed the man from the soil of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the earth and blew the breath of life into his nostrils. The man became a living being.
King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
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.
American King James Version
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.
Whether you call it a living soul, a living being, or a living creature, it is still what man BECAME when God breathed the breath of life into it. God DID NOT breath into man a living soul.
By the way, what's your agenda? Let me guess: it's this belief that you're this great spiritual person that knows (because you're so special to God) all these secret truths that only special people know. How about you care about the truth for a change?