I want to post my personal belief on personhood here, separate from the above post in order that opinion not be mixed with facts.

My point of view is very similar to that held by the Jewish community. I believe that the soul is the spark of life. It is the breath of God that gives our body life. It is a tiny bit of God inside of us and our body is its temple.

I believe in the story of creation found in Genesis. Thus I believe I am not a spiritual being and God never meant me to be one. I believe he meant for humanity to be physical beings who would be entrusted with dominion over all of creation (the plants, the animals, and all the other things he made first). I believe God made my ancestors from the dirt because he wanted them to be physical beings, not spiritual ones. I believe he breathed life into their nostrils and that is the very life force that we now call a soul.

I believe that I am not a soul trapped inside a body. I believe I am my body, my mind, and my soul. I believe that when I die, my soul will return to the father to await the final judgement, at which time my mind, body, and soul will be reunited once again to spend eternity in heaven.