stick to his wife, and the two will be one flesh”?’” (Since Jesus believed the Genesis account to be factual, should we not believe it too?)

If Someone Says—

‘Adam’s sin was God’s will, God’s plan.’

You might reply: ‘Many people have said that. But if I were to do something that you wanted me to do, would you condemn me for it? . . . Then, if Adam’s sin was God’s will, why was Adam driven out of Eden as a sinner? (Gen. 3:17-19, 23, 24)’

Or you could say: ‘That’s an interesting point, and the answer really involves the kind of person God is. Would it be just or loving to condemn a person for doing something that you yourself planned for him to do?’ Then perhaps add: (1) ‘Jehovah is a God of love. (1 John 4:8) All his ways are just. (Ps. 37:28; Deut. 32:4) It was not God’s will for Adam to sin; he warned Adam against it. (Gen. 2:17)’ (2) ‘God did allow Adam, as he does us, the freedom to choose what he would do. Perfection did not rule out the exercise of free will to disobey. Adam chose to rebel against God, despite the warning that death would result.’ (See also page 142.)

Are dead ancestors aware of what the living do and are these ancestors able to help living persons?

Eccl. 9:5: “The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all.”

Job 14:10, 21: “An earthling man expires, and where is he? His sons get honored, but he does not know it.”

Ps. 49:10, 17-19: “Even the wise ones die, together the stupid one and the unreasoning one perish, and they must leave to others their means of maintenance. . . . At his death he cannot take along anything at all; his glory will not go down along with him himself. . . . His soul finally comes only as far as the generation of his forefathers. Nevermore will they see the light.”

Is it not true that food placed on an altar or a grave remains untouched? Does not this indicate that the dead are unable to benefit from it?

See also the main heading “Spiritism.”

Is there reason to fear that our dead ancestors will harm us?

Eccl. 9:5, 6: “As for the dead, . . . their love and their hate and their jealousy have already perished, and they have no portion anymore to time indefinite in anything that has to be done under the sun.”

Is there a spiritual part of a person that survives the death of the body?

Ezek. 18:4: “Look! All the souls—to me they belong. As the soul of the father so likewise the soul of the son—to me they belong. The soul that is sinning—it itself will die.” (Also verse 20)

Ps. 146:3, 4: “Do not put your trust in nobles, nor in the son of earthling man . . . His spirit goes out, he goes back to his ground; in that day his thoughts do perish.”

Scientists and surgeons have found no evidence of any conscious, living part of humans that survives when the body dies.

See also pages 100-102, under the heading “Death.”

Would you prefer that your children and grandchildren show respect and love for you