Point well taken. However, if I burn a dandelion into ash, it's dead ash. And if I scatter the ash it's even less what it was than before. If our 'soul' cannot be destroyed in the same sense that matter and energy cannot be destroyed, only converted, what would our soul be converted to, would it be conscious matter or the same as the ash from a burned dandelion? I've considered that our 'souls' in this sense are effectively batteries and the energy gets released into the world when someone passes away. But that's a lot different than conscious thoughts and sentience. I don't think what remains of us is sentient.

Jeanie: I would disagree with that. Our spirits (souls are what make up the body and spirit together) have intelligence and are in actuality more who we are than our brains....(At least when in tune with that self). The same sociality which exists in this life will continue. We believe you can have eternal marriage and family relationships. I've actually had times when I felt more my spirit self than my bodily self....the love I felt for myself was hard to explain...but it emanated out as well. It wasn't the conceited or self centered kind.... Sounds weird, happened inside a temple where its very very reverent and spiritual. I'll never forget the experience,though. I was seeing a different person in the mirror...only it was me - the real me.