I don't think this analogy works very well. In fact, I think your analogy helps prove my point of the process of deification. Even in the womb the baby is a whole creature, body and soul. Certain parts are growing and developing, preparing it for things to come. But once it is born it continues to be a whole person, body and soul, the body is stronger and helps it through this life and the soul continues to develop. Who's to say that when we die and pass into what is to come that don't continue to be a whole person, body and soul, only our soul is the strongest part helping us through?
Just as a fetus has no idea what is coming, neither can we prepare completely for what is to come. This is why I don't like to speculate too much on the afterlife. Basically, the best preparation a fetus can do is get strong and be a fetus. In this life, the best preparation we can do is live in the here and now (I could go into how Jesus talks about the kingdom being at hand and being now). If we live fully embodied in the now, with integrity and a full spirit, then that's the best way to prepare ourselves for what is to come. We begin to touch God in this life, but I can barely imagine union with God, so my plan is to let that mystery unfold when and if it does.
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I don't think this analogy works very well. In fact, I think your analogy helps prove my point of the process of deification. Even in the womb the baby is a whole creature, body and soul. Certain parts are growing and developing, preparing it for things to come. But once it is born it continues to be a whole person, body and soul, the body is stronger and helps it through this life and the soul continues to develop. Who's to say that when we die and pass into what is to come that don't continue to be a whole person, body and soul, only our soul is the strongest part helping us through?
Just as a fetus has no idea what is coming, neither can we prepare completely for what is to come. This is why I don't like to speculate too much on the afterlife. Basically, the best preparation a fetus can do is get strong and be a fetus. In this life, the best preparation we can do is live in the here and now (I could go into how Jesus talks about the kingdom being at hand and being now). If we live fully embodied in the now, with integrity and a full spirit, then that's the best way to prepare ourselves for what is to come. We begin to touch God in this life, but I can barely imagine union with God, so my plan is to let that mystery unfold when and if it does.