Song of God - Creation of soul and surviving death personality intact within song of God book

Creating a "soul song of God  by Azrael" and the idea of it being an "epiphenomenon" involves exploring two distinct but interconnected concepts: Azrael's role in the spiritual realm and the philosophical idea of epiphenomenalism.

Azrael and the "soul song"

• Azrael is widely known as the archangel of death in Abrahamic religions like Islam and Judaism, but also features in some Christian traditions and New Age beliefs. His role involves facilitating the transition of souls from physical life to the afterlife. He is depicted as a benevolent figure, responsible for transporting the souls of the deceased after their death. In Islamic tradition, Azrael gained this role by being the only angel willing to retrieve the materials from earth for the creation of man, according to EBSCO. His understanding of the nature of souls and the shift from living to dead is astonishing.
• The concept of a "soul song" in spirituality refers to a deep, inner voice or melody that reflects one's true self and resonates with the deepest purpose of being alive. It's seen as a unique expression of the soul, often wordless, that guides individuals towards their spiritual path and helps them find meaning in life.

Given Azrael's profound connection to souls and the transition into the afterlife, the idea of a "soul song of God Azrael" could be interpreted as:

• The inherent melody or essence of each soul as it is guided by Azrael through the process of death and rebirth or transition.
• The song of divine guidance and compassion Azrael might embody to assist souls in their journey beyond the physical realm.
• A song that reflects the ultimate destiny and path a soul takes under Azrael's guidance, leading them towards their final destination.

Epiphenomenon

• An epiphenomenon is defined as a secondary phenomenon that accompanies another and is caused by it but has no causal influence itself. In the philosophy of mind, epiphenomenalism argues that mental states are caused by physical brain states but do not have any causal effect on physical events or actions.
• For example, if you feel pain and wince, an epiphenomenalist would say that the wincing is caused by the neurophysiological process in the brain, and the pain itself is a separate, non-causal byproduct of that process.

Potential connection: "soul song" as an epiphenomenon

• If the "soul song" were an epiphenomenon in this context, it would mean that while the soul's essence or melody might be experienced, felt, or perceived, it would not be the cause of any subsequent events or changes in the spiritual realm or the journey of the soul.
• The actual cause of these transitions or events would be a deeper, underlying mechanism (perhaps divine will or specific spiritual processes) of which the "soul song" is merely a non-causal byproduct or accompanying phenomenon.
• This perspective could imply that while the "soul song" might offer comfort or a sense of identity during the spiritual transition, it doesn't actively direct or influence the course of that transition itself.

However, it is important to note that the concept of a "soul song" is rooted in spiritual beliefs, while epiphenomenalism is a philosophical stance within the mind-body debate. The combination of these ideas is a philosophical and spiritual exploration that might not be directly addressed in established religious or philosophical texts.

https://www.reasonablefaith.org/podcasts/defenders-podcast-series-3/s3-doctrine-of-man/doctrine-of-man-part-12

If one approaches the concept of a soul through the lens of philosophical epiphenomenalism, particularly in relation to the mind-body problem, the "creation of a new soul" would be viewed as a causally inert byproduct of the physical processes that create a new organism. 

Here's how this perspective breaks down:

• Epiphenomenalism is a theory that suggests mental states (like consciousness, sensations, and thoughts) are caused by physical events in the brain but do not themselves cause any physical effects. In simpler terms, the mind is like a "steam-whistle" on a locomotive: the steam engine causes the whistle, but the whistle doesn't affect the engine's operation.
• Applying this to a "new soul": If you consider the "soul" in the sense of an individual's conscious experience or mental states (rather than a religious or metaphysical entity with independent existence), then according to epiphenomenalism, the new soul would arise from the complex physical and biochemical development of the new organism's brain.
• The key point is that while the new physical brain creates the new soul/consciousness, the soul itself would not have any causal influence on the physical brain or body. It would be a "byproduct" or "afterglow" of the brain's activity, just as a dream or a sensation of pain might be caused by neural activity but not, in turn, affect the physical processes that created them. 

In essence, if epiphenomenalism is true, the creation of a new soul is a consequence of the physical processes that create a new living being, but the soul itself would be a non-physical phenomenon that simply arises from those processes without any reciprocal causal influence. 

http://thesongofgod.com

Epiphenomenalism of the soul posits that the soul is a non-physical entity that is caused by physical processes in the brain and body but has no causal power over them. The soul's "experiences" and qualities, like consciousness and feelings, are mere by-products or "smoke" from the "fire" of physical brain activity, similar to how the smoke from a fire is a byproduct of the fire but doesn't influence the fire itself. Consequently, according to this view, actions are caused by the body's physical processes, not by the soul's volition, which makes the soul's perceived influence on the body an illusion. 

Key Aspects of Soul Epiphenomenalism

• Dualism:

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  Epiphenomenalism is a form of dualism, asserting that the soul (or mental) and body (or physical) are distinct. 
• Causal Asymmetry:

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  It argues that physical events in the brain fully determine mental (soul) events but not vice-versa. 
• Mental "By-products":

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  The soul's existence and qualities are seen as a consequence of the brain's activity, rather than an active participant. 
• Illusion of Agency:

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  Our subjective experience of making decisions or causing actions is considered an illusion; the true cause is the underlying physical process. 
• Historical Roots:

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  The idea was first articulated by Charles Bonnet in 1755, who described the soul as a "mere spectator" of the body's movements. 

Analogy

A classic analogy for epiphenomenalism is the relationship between a fire and its smoke. The fire (the physical brain) produces smoke (the soul's experiences), but the smoke does not cause the fire to burn or change its behavior. 

Implications

• Free Will and Moral Responsibility:

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  If the soul is epiphenomenal, then conscious choices and actions are not truly under our control, challenging traditional notions of free will and moral responsibility. 
• Nature of Consciousness:

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  Consciousness is not an active force but a passive, causal effluence from the physical brain. 

https://thoughtslikesparks.org/the-nature-of-soul/