Is Man a Machine or Soul? Let's Use Logic

Oded (a pseudonym) asks:

"Hello, I would appreciate if you could answer me: What proof exists that humans truly have a soul that ascends after 120 years? And if Hashem wants good for humanity, why does He create defects in babies?

I have heard so far that humans differ from animals only because their brains are more developed and that consciousness and choice are located in the brain. Is there clear evidence for life after death? I've heard that during clinical death, the brain produces visions from its subconscious. And regarding concepts like morality and justice, we see these exist among non-Jews too. I would appreciate a response! Thank you"

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Hello and blessings Oded,

There are many proofs of the soul's existence. To explore this, we need to use logic. I will present the proofs first, then we'll discuss whether they could originate from the brain.

1. Consciousness and free will:

The logical proofs are based on the fact that humans are different from all other animals, possessing mental powers that cannot be natural, such as free will and consciousness, which have no place in the material world. The laws of nature do not permit the concept of choice between good and evil (animals act according to predetermined instincts). The existence of an autonomous entity in humans indicates a spiritual inner entity that will continue to exist after the death of the body. This topic is called "the mind-body problem" in science.

2. Love, justice, and compassion:

Humans also possess spiritual concepts with no source in the material world. Concepts like love, compassion, morality, conscience, justice, and values - these lofty ideas have no basis in a world driven solely by survival and utility. There is no atom of love or molecule of justice in our universe, yet these concepts are more important to humans than anything else in life. This is further proof of the spiritual source within humans.

(Regarding your question about non-Jews: morality is a concept that the Creator embedded in all humans, as evidenced by Abraham our father, a righteous and upright person who sought Hashem even before the Torah was given. Through the Torah, we know exactly how to perform the true will of Hashem, choose good, avoid evil, and connect with Him. The Torah is the manufacturer's instruction manual).

3. The challenge of the evil inclination:

Additionally, we were given in this world the good inclination and the evil inclination, indicating that the Creator tests us on our good and bad deeds, clear evidence for life after death.

4. Innate knowledge of eternity:

Moreover, there is no culture on earth that has not concluded the existence of a soul in man and life after death, proving that this knowledge is deeply embedded in all humans.

5. Dissatisfaction with the material:

Unlike animals who find all satisfaction in the material world, humans are the only beings unsatisfied by material alone and cannot achieve happiness through material means, no matter how much wealth, food, or material abilities they acquire in life. This indicates the spiritual soul within them, crying out for its Creator.

6. Religious sentiment:

Additionally, there exists in humans a very strong religious feeling that draws them to seek knowledge of their Creator, pray to Him, and worship Him. This is evident in all cultures worldwide, crossing oceans and cultures. The religious concept has no relation to the material world, indicating the spiritual meaning of human life on earth - to connect to their spiritual Creator who made them.

Clearly, if humans were just material, they would have no reason to seek an experience beyond the material, and all satisfaction would be expressed in material pleasures in food, entertainment, and reproduction. The fact that humans aspire for more and seek more attests to the spiritual source within them.

7. Testimonies of life after death are found in millions of accounts of near-death experiences from around the world, where people from different cultures and beliefs who came to the brink of death consistently described leaving their bodies and experiencing a very clear awareness when their hearts and brains had ceased, all witnessing a doorway to the next world. The claim that people imagine the experience (such as Christians seeing Jesus) is a lie perpetuated by opponents, but the vast majority of accounts describe the exact same experience of leaving the body. See research here:

https://www.hidabroot.org/he/comment/reply/109418

On the Hidabroot website, a section dedicated entirely to life after death has been opened, providing many lectures and articles on near-death experiences:

https://www.hidabroot.org/he/category/3136

Regarding your question about defects in babies: congenital defects concern previous heavenly accounts for which the soul descended into this world in a defective body. Sometimes this is intended for a specific role and often as punishment or atonement for a severe action the soul committed in a previous life. See here regarding reincarnations, in Rabbi Aharon Levi's lecture on the secret of ultimate justice:

https://www.hidabroot.org/he/video/59204

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Could these concepts originate from the brain?

Well, the brain is nothing more than a machine - a sophisticated computer performing predetermined actions called "instincts." But from where does consciousness arise?

Even if we create the most sophisticated computer in the world, surpassing all human capabilities in computing and performing tasks, this computer will still not browse the web on its own or discover interests and thoughts in our world because a computer lacks will and consciousness. No matter how many codes we continue to add to its software, it will only perform actions pre-programmed within it and never develop its independent thought.

Free will cannot exist in the material reality, as the concept of choice contradicts the laws of material and transcends it.

Even the machine called the brain cannot contradict the laws of nature or perform free choice that contradicts the laws of nature. The brain also cannot comprehend the importance of conscience, values, and justice that do not exist in the material world and have no material significance.

The brain is material, adapted for natural survival in the material world, and should not seek spiritual and religious meaning or sacrifice material life for them. Undoubtedly, religious sentiment is the strongest feeling in humans.

The very fact that humans encompass all the spiritual attributes described indicates the spiritual source that operates the wondrous brain machine within them, a driver within the vehicle. Upon the death of the body, the soul that operated it returns to its Creator.

Please search Google for the booklet "A Critical Conversation." This brief booklet describes not only the near-death experience but also answers these questions in detail and other questions like why Hashem created us. Highly recommended.