Expert: Marco - 4/10/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hey Marco,
What do you mean you can give a scientific explanation of the existence of the soul? The soul is who you are. The first mention of the soul is in Genesis 2:7 where it says that God made man out of clay, breathed into his nostrils and man became a living soul. MAN BECAME A LIVING SOUL. The combination of God's breath/spirit and body/clay comprise a soul. If you told me that you could provide scientific proof of your own existence, I would say you were a couple sandwiches short of a picnic. Similarly the soul requires no scientific evidence.
"What sayest thou?"
ANSWER: Dear Owen,

the soul is a trascendent immaterial element, existing in man.
Materialists deny the existence of such element and think that our psichical life is a mere product of cerebral processes.
I think that logics and science prove the inconsintency of the materialistic view. This is what I meant with "scientific proof of the existence of the soul".
The explanation of these aguments is rather long. You can find such arguments  in the following site

http://xoomer.alice.it/fedeescienza/englishnf.html

where  I analyse the incongruencies of the materialistic conception of the mind, on the basis of our present scientific knowledges about brain and matter.
This analysis points out how the laws of physics  prove that the   brain cannot generate consciousness, which existence implies  the presence in man of a unbiological/unmaterial element. The problem of consciousness is then strictly connected to the one of the existence of the soul and, consequently, the existence of God.
In the first article entitled “Mind and brain...” you can find a general discussion of the mind and brain problem from a scientific point of view.
In the second article entitled “Scientific contraddictions in materialism”
you  can find an explanation of the fundamental inconsistencies of  the  typical arguments used by materialists, such as the concept of emergent, macroscopic or holist property, complexity, information, etc.
In the section called “FAQ: answers to  visitors' questions” you can find the answer to many typical questions, such as "Are there any scientifically proved miracles?", "Does the existence of the universe imply the existence of God?", "Can science explain God?", "Can science establish which is the true religion?", "Can science explain consciousness in the future?", and many others.

Your brother in Christ,

Marco


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Marco, that was some deep stuff. I do applaud you in trying to prove that God created man, and that we are not just a product of chance. I am troubled that your answer contain not even a single text from God’s Word.

The Bible is quite rich in texts that describe the soul. It gives a very basic introduction of the soul in Gen. 2:7 where it says, “man became a living soul” The equation would go something like this:

Breath of God (Spirit) + body (Clay/earth) = Soul

This is how man came into being. When man dies the process is simply reversed. Ecclesiastes 12:7 says, ”Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” The equation would look something like this:

Body (Clay/earth) – Breath of God (Spirit) = No Soul

“man became a living soul” not “man acquired a living soul”.

Ezekiel 18:4 says, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die”. There is nowhere in the Bible where the soul is described as being a “transcendent, immaterial element” or even alludes to this. Instead it describes the soul as something that can perish, die, and be destroyed.

Check out these texts:
1. Leviticus 17:15 And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean.
o   Here a soul is described as a person.  The soul eats, it washes clothes, it bathes in water, it is pronounced unclean/clean.
2. Ezekiel 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. And Revelation 16:3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.
o   The soul dies. Sounds pretty material and tangible to me.
3. 1 Peter 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
o   Noah and his family are described here as souls. How can that be?
4. Joshua 10:28 And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho.
o   The soul is described as a person.
5. Acts 3:23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
o   Souls can hear God’s word and can also be destroyed.

I could supply a lot more texts, but I think this selection makes the concept of a soul very clear.
What sayest thou?
Owen

ANSWER: Dear Owen,

I think that your equation "Breath of God (Spirit) + body (Clay/earth) = Soul" is only a wrong interpretation of the Bible; it does not follow by the verse you quote.

Also your second equation "Body (Clay/earth) – Breath of God (Spirit) = No Soul" does not follow from the verse you quote.

I believe that our soul is immortal. The death of a soul does not mean "non-existence", but existence without "true life"; the "true" life is the holy life of God, the life God
pours into the souls of those who have faith in Him.
The death of the soul is an empty existence without happiness and without love, a meaningless existence.

I would like to add some considerations.
Who has the authority to interpret correctly the Bible and to teach correctly Jesus' teachings?

Only a person who knows and understands what Jesus taught can teach what Jesus taught.
So, who are the persons who really know Jesus' teachings?
Many think they are teaching what Jesus taught, but they teach different doctrines, therefore it is evident that they are teaching only their opinions, because Jesus cannot contradicts Himself.

Jesus gave the commandment to teach the Gospel ONLY to His disciples and He NEVER gave this commandment to the crowds; this clearly proves that not all can teach the Gospel, but only those who have been taught and sent (directly or indirectly) by Jesus.

How did the Church's mission  pass to each generation?
The Bible explains this to us.

Acts 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples to them, and said, It is not right that we should neglect the word of God to serve tables.
6:3 Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
6:5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.
6:6 These they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

The apostolic mission is passed to other people directly from the apostoles.

Acts 14:19 And certain Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, who, having persuaded the people, stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing he was dead.
14:20 Yet, as the disciples stood around him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
14:21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had made disciples of many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
14:22 Strengthening the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying that through much tribulation we must enter the kingdom of God.
14:23 And when they had appointed elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord, in whom they believed.

Again it is Paul (who in his turn received the apostolic mission with the laying of hands, see Acts 9:15-19) who appoints the elders.

1 Timothy 4:14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was conferred on you through the prophetic word with the imposition of hands of the presbyterate.
2 Timothy 1:6 For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.

Paul writes clearly that the presbyterate is received with the imposition of hands.

The prespityters in their turn, appointed other people:

2 Timothy 2:2 And what you heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will have the ability to teach others as well.

Christ founded His Church 2000 years ago; He ordered the apostoles to teach His Word, and they appointed other people, who in their turn appointed other people, etc.  so that the apostolic mission has lasted until our days.
This is the catholic Church, which receives its apostolic mission form Christ and teach the true teachings of Christ, as they were given to the apostoles.
There is an historical connection between the present catholic church and the church founded by Christ 2000 years ago, while there is no historical connection between the many protestant denominations and the church of Christ.
In fact Christ never appeared to Luther or Calvin, etc.; Christ never authorized Luther to found a new church and to teach his opinions as if they were inspired by the Holy Spirit.
All the apostoles did many powerful miracles which proved that they were really sent by Christ, but Luther did no miracle in order to prove that his interpretations were really inspired by the Holy Spirit.

The protestant churches teaches many sinful doctrines, for example that divorce and remarriage are permissible, that abortion is permissible (some denominations), etc.

Mt 16:18 And I say also to you, That you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
16:19 And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

The Church is "the pillar and ground of the truth" (1Tm 3:15)

These two verses are sufficient to prove that the Church of Christ teaches infallibly the truth.
Christ founded His church 2000 years ago and He assured us that the gates of Hell  shall not prevail against His Church. The Bible assures us that the Church is the pillar and ground of the truth.
If the protestant churches were the church of Christ (which one among thousends of different denominations?), it would mean that Jesus lied when He said that the gates of Hell would have not prevail against His church and that the Bible is wrong when it says that the Church is the pillar of the truth.
In fact, before 1500 dC there were only the catholic church and the eastern orthodox church.
Since both the catholic church and the orthodox church teach  doctrines such as prayer for the dead, prayers to saints, etc. if protestants were right, this would imply that the church founded by Jesus 2000 years ago had been defeated by Satan for about 1500 years.
Christ spent more than three years with His disciples and taught them; How is it possible that Jesus' teachings were forgotten and replaced with sinful teachings for about 1500 years?
All the people who lived during those centuries would have been induced to sin by the church founded by Christ; it is absurd that a loving Father would have allowed this to happen, and this would have certainly meant that the gates of Hell had prevaled against the church of Christ, in contradiction with His own words.
Christ cannot contradict Himself; if Christ has taught through His Church certain doctrines for 1500 years, these doctrines cannot be considered sinful.

Besides, only to Peter Jesus gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven; this proves that Jesus gave Peter a special role in the Church ; this is sufficent to prove Peter’s supremacy. Consider that the very first act done by Jesus after founding His Church, is to give Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven ; there is then a fundamental relation between these keys and the Church. After Peter's death in Rome, who has received the keys of the kingdom of heaven? I think that the most logical answer is: Peter's successor in Rome, the Pope.
The special role of Peter still exist in the Church of Christ, and it is the role of Peter's successor, the Pope. This special role allow christians to identify with certainty the only true Church of Christ. There is in fact an historical continuity between Peter and the present Pope, the apostolic succession.

Protestants usually think that their interpretations are inspired by the Holy Spirit ; but they are divided in  thousends of different denominations and they have different interpretations.
Since the Holy Spirit cannot contradicts Himself, it is evident that their interpretations are only fallible human opinions.
In fact, when Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, He was speaking directly to the apostoles only, and NOT to the crowds. John 16 :12-13"I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”
Jesus NEVER made this promise to the crowds, but ONLY to the Apostoles when they were TOGETHER WITH PETER. Therefore you cannot  generalize this promise to every christian; this verse can be applied ONLY to the bishops (the apostoles' successors) when they are together with the Pope (Peter's successor).
I believe that God loves us; it follows that God has not abandoned us to our fallible human interpretations and opinions.
Through the prophets, God prepared the Jews (even if only some of them) to receive Christ; Christ remained with His disciples for about three years and half and taught them all the necessary moral and spirital knowledges for our salvation, so that in their turn they could teach others, who in their turn could teach others, etc.
In this way the teachings of Christ has spread throughout the world and the centuries through His Church, the catholic Church.
A loving Father would never abandon His children to their human and fallible opinions.
A loving Father would certainly give His children a “guide” so that they could receive His holy and good teachings.
This “guide” is the Catholic Church, the Church founded by Christ 2000 years ago.


Usually protestants say that the catholic church has been corrupted :
If this were true, it would mean that Jesus was a lier, because He said that the gates of Hell would have not prevailed agaisnt His church.
The truth is that corrupted men have been present within the church since the very beginning (Judas was one of the apostoles), but the church was never corrupted because its teachings were always good.
Judas was sent by Jesus to teach the Gospel, to heal the sick, to cast demons (see Mt 10 :1-8)
The fact that there were men within the church who commited grave sins, does not mean that the church is corrupted.
Every man is responsible of his own sins, but the church is a divine institution and is above its human members and its doctrine is divine.
The fact that Judas was corrupted does not mean that church of Christ was corrupted.

Usually protestants believe in the Sola Scriptura principle, but there is  in this case no verse in the Bible which establishes this principle. This is then a striking contradiction of protestantism.
The Bible did not come down from the sky one day.
The biblical canon was established by a Concilium of catholic bishops three centuries after Christ, and so the christian communities lived for three centuries without the New Testament.
Jesus never wrote anything, which clearly proves that the christian faith cannot be founded on a book.
Jesus founded a Church , and NOT a book.
Jesus chose to found a living Church, a living and visible guide for all christians, to help them to understand the Truth.
Jesus is still the head of the Church and He still leads His Church.
Jesus still teaches and guides us through His living Church, the Catholic Church.
The Bible says that “The Church is the pillar and  bulwark of the truth” (1Timothy 3 :15).
Jesus gave the Church the authority of binding and loosing (Mt. 18 :17-18).
Jesus never wrote anything ; the New Testament has been produced by the Church, and the Church still produces writings to teach us the spirital and moral Truth.
The same Holy Spirit Who inspired the authors of the Bible, still leads the Magisterium of the Church in its apostolic mission.
The Cathechism contains the official teachings of the Church, and it is to be considered inspired by the Holy Spirit.
You can find the Cathechism on line at

www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/ccc.html

Your brother in Christ,

Marco







---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Marco,
Thanks for your “response”. I sent you a thoughtful and thorough write-up on why I believe the soul is not a “transcendent immaterial element” that merely exists in man, but really a term for the complete man, breath of God combined with body. I provided strong and conclusive Biblical passages to confirm this. In response, you send me back a five page argument as to why you believe the Roman Catholic Church is the only church capable of understanding and explaining scripture. Do you see anything wrong with this? Certainly if you represent the true church, I should be able to receive a true and humble response based on the Word of God. Instead your response is based on your own opinions. I Humbly send this message in hopes that you will respectfully read it through, as I have yours. May God continue to bless you.

Here is a point to consider in response to your message:

o   You said the soul is immortal, yet the Bible says that Only God possesses immortality. 1 Timothy 6:15-16. The Bible, nowhere, supports the erroneous concept of an immortal soul. In fact it says, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Ez. 18:4

o   You said that “Jesus gave the commandment to teach the gospel ONLY to his disciples and He NEVER gave this commandment to the crowds”. Matt. 28:19 & 20 Jesus gives the great commission to His disciples to Go and preach the gospel to ALL nations….teaching them to observe all things that He had taught them. Remember the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000? This is a perfect example of the model that God’s people are to emulate. Jesus multiplied the bread and the fish and gave to His disciples. The disciples did not eat it all or hoard it to themselves. Instead, they gave the food to the people. God’s Word is for all mankind not just for a specific few. All who wish can learn and understand His Word.

o   You said that the Catholic Church was infallible because it was founded by Jesus Christ. You alluded to Matthew 16:17-19. Let’s look at it starting from verse 13 where Jesus asks the question, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” When the disciples give various answers as to what other people were saying about Jesus, Jesus asked them a more direct question, “But whom say ye that I am?” Simon Peter replies, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”. Jesus then exclaims “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter (Petros), and upon this rock (Petra) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

My Dissertation:
The Roman Catholic Church’s Claim to papal infallibility, pre-imminence, ecclesiastical jurisdiction, ecclesiastical exclusivity etc. is based upon this very passage. The only way this could be true was if the words petros & Petra had a synonymous meaning, which they do not.
"In secular Greek pétra denotes a large 'rock,' but also a 'cliff'; or 'rocky mountain chain.' Figuratively it suggests firmness, immovability, and hardness. pétros is more often used for smaller rocks, stones, or pebbles."
Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, by Geoffrey W. Bromily. © 1985 by William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
The Roman Catholic Church claims that, according to this passage, Peter is the 'rock' on which Christ is building his Church, and that Peter has received all authority as the head of the Roman Catholic Church. All other popes to follow are the successors of Peter. The bishops of Rome are endowed with power and authority over all other bishops, infallibility in doctrines of faith and morals, and supremacy and jurisdiction over all the members of Christ's Body, the Roman Catholic Church.
Jesus said to Peter, “That thou art Peter (Petros), and upon this rock (Petra) I will build my church”. Jesus is saying to Peter, “You are a pebble, a small stone, but I, Jesus, am a large immovable rock. On this Rock (myself) I will build my church”.
There was no misunderstanding of this text amongst the disciples at all. They clearly knew that Jesus was referring to himself as the Rock (Petra) upon which His church would be established.
Peter himself spoke of the Rock Jesus Christ as being the head of the corner or Cornerstone:
3 If indeed ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4  To whom coming, as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, and precious,
5 Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Therefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 To you therefore who believe he is precious: but to them who are disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock [petra] of offence, even to them who stumble at the word, being disobedient: to this also they were appointed.
10 Be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you sound.
11 This is the stone which was set at naught by you builders, which is become the head of the corner. (Psalm 118.22)
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved. (I Peter 2.3-8;10-12).
If Peter is the Rock on which the church is built, then who is Isaiah referring to in Isaiah 28.16 where it says, “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste?” This text is referring to none other than Jesus Christ Himself.

The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:4 that Christ is the Rock:
4 And all drank the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock (petra) that followed them: and that Rock (petra) was Christ.

Jesus is the Cornerstone:
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; Ephesians 2.20

And the clincher:
10 According to the grace of God which is given to me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth upon it. But let every man take heed how he buildeth upon it.
11  For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3.10-11 Amen

These texts prove unequivocally that Jesus is the cornerstone, and the foundation of the Christian Church.


Marco, no disrespect intended, but the Roman Catholic Church could not possibly be infallible. The Definition of infallible is:

1.   Incapable of erring: an infallible guide; an infallible source of information.
2.   Incapable of failing; certain: an infallible antidote; an infallible rule.

On July 3, 2004 A.D. Pope John Paul II, on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church, apologized for the annihilation of Constantinople (currently called Istanbul , Turkey ) by Christian Crusaders during 4 days of madness, mayhem and murder in April of the year 1204 A.D.
If the Roman Catholic Church was indeed infallible, how is it that the Pope, himself, admitted to wrong doing by the Church. Admitted to the annihilation of an entire civilization; not to mention the many centuries of bloodshed and persecution that it meted out on all who dared oppose it. No other organization known to man can equal its bloody history. No my friend, the Roman Catholic Church is far from being infallible. By saying that it is infallible you are in essence saying that all the atrocities that it spawned, through lies, murder, torture and heresy in the past was justified. Please think about it.

Do not get me wrong, the Roman Catholic Church is filled with loving, decent, law-abiding people who love the Lord and sincerely want to do His will. But the system is corrupt from the ground up.

The only standard by which we should live is not the Church but the Word of God. Matthew 4:4 “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

Where do I receive  my instructions and teachings? Through the Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

I hope these words were a blessing to you,

Owen, Your brother in Christ

PS I do hope this is not the end of our dialogue.


Answer
Dear Owen,

you have provided no strong and conclusive biblical passages proving tht the soul is not immortal, because I think your interpretations of such passages are wrong.
For example, the meaning of 1 Timothy 6:15-16 is to me that only God has immortality because only God has always existed and he has never received existence from someone else, while man needs to be created to come into existence. This does not mean that after been created by God the soul cannot be immortal. God has the power to create immortal souls.
My interpretation of the verse "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Ez. 18:4 is different from yours, as I have explained in my previous answer; in fact such verse talks about the spiritual death; the spiritual death does not mean "end of existence", but an empty and meaningless existence, without "true life".

I think there are many verses supporting my belief that  our soul goes on living also after our physical death:

MT 22:31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read that which was spoken to you by God,
22:32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

MR 12:26 And as for the dead rising: have you not read in the book of Moses, how God spoke to him in the bush, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
12:27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: therefore you are greatly mistaken.


Abrahm, Isaac and Jacab certainly died (physically), but Jesus conseder them "living"



Lu 16:19 There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and feasted sumptuously every day:
16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, who was laid at his gate, covered with sores,
16:21 And he longed to eat the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
16:23 And in Hades he lift up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
16:24 And he cried out, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus received evil things: but now he is comforted, and you are tormented.
16:26 And beside all this, between us and you a great gulf has been fixed: so that those who would pass from here to you cannot; nor can any pass over from there to us.
16:27 He said, Then I beg you, father, that you would send him to my father's house:
16:28 For I have five brothers. Have him warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
16:29 Abraham said to him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
16:30 And he said, No, father Abraham: but if someone went to them from the dead, they will repent.
16:31 And he said to him, If they will not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.

Here both Lazarus and the rich man died (physically) but they are descrived as living souls in the afterlife.


John 8:51 Truly, truly, I say to you, If anyone keeps my word, he shall never see death.

10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
10:28 And I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish, nor shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

11:26 And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.

Certainly everybody dies physically; here Jesus talks about our souls.

I will not answer on the rest of your message, because I have already explained my view about the role of the Catholic Church on my previous answer; as I have said, the Bible can be interpreted in many different ways, as it is proved by the existence of several different christian confessions. I think the verses you quote do not support your conclusions.


I have not the time to read long questions; please in the future, ask me only short questions.

Your brother in Christ,

Marco