1Observations

Covenant

 

1

Consciousness

 

Using Your Conscience…

It is time to consider our nepesh | soul and neshamah | conscience in light of what God told us occurred in the Garden nearly six thousand years ago. While addressing such things at the cusp of Yahowah’s return may seem like a bit of a diversion, since the Covenant Family is on the cusp of returning to where God’s story first began – this lesson is especially relevant.

Moreover, Yahowah’s Home is filled with souls, not bodies. And it is our conscience which makes our participation in His Family possible.

To begin, during His creative testimony, Yahowah revealed that nepesh – souls are common to all animals and are not unique to humankind. Consciousness is conveyed genetically and serves as the operating system for animal life. Coded with DNA and serving as read-only memory, the nepesh enables animals to observe and then respond in a programmed way to external stimuli. Feeding as infants, hunting for food, mating, and fight-or-flight scenarios serve as examples. Some would dismiss all of this as instinct, but that is simply a subset of consciousness.

The nepesh makes it possible for animals to be observant and to be responsive. It enables us to survey our surroundings and then determine a course of action.

But there is much more to being fully human. In our case, our “nepesh – consciousness” is combined with a “neshamah – conscience.” This addition equips mankind with the ability to find and validate, to come to know and 2understand, to connect with and relate to, and then engage with God.

Yahowah revealed that He made ‘Adam in His image or likeness when He gave him a neshamah. Our conscience provides us with a way to think, to be rational, and to be moral, which makes us like God in these ways. It not only empowers us with the ability to reason, and thereby to distinguish between right and wrong, good and bad, true and false, it also provides the capacity to understand why these things are so and then to appreciate the consequence of advancing one or the other.

With a neshamah, humans can make connections that lead to understanding. We can predict future outcomes based on past occurrences. We can deduce cause and effect and even ascertain the consequences of our actions and those of others. We will explore this idea further in just a moment.

Turning to the trees in the garden, since these things are all related, Yahowah told ‘Adam that he could eat freely, without any restriction or reservation, whatever he chose. However, He let ‘Adam know that if he elected to consume the fruit of the Tree of Perceptive Thinking About Good and Bad, he would disengage and die. Yah knew that the consumption of errant notions would cause man to lie, cheat, steal, abuse, and kill – which is what has happened as a result of an improperly aligned neshamah.

This choice, to act upon Yahowah’s advice and guidance or reject it, made the relationship subject to freewill. It would either be mutually desirable and beneficial or nonexistent. The parties would either come to know one another, like one another, and have fun together, or they would go their separate ways. And history is filled with the latter.

For a loving and mutually beneficial relationship to be entertaining and enjoyable, both parties must have the 3choice not to participate. Otherwise, man would be nothing more than a robot, a toy, from whose programmed responses God would soon tire. Further, a relationship is of no value, and actually becomes a burden, if one side makes all the contributions while the other gives nothing in return.

Yahowah is good to the point of being perfect. However, we humans are far from it, even though there is a vast middle ground between completely good and totally bad. Recognizing these gradations from white to black was made possible by way of the Tree of the Perceptive Thinking about that which is Beneficial or Counterproductive.

Each individual is afforded the opportunity to engage with the One who is good by choosing to participate in the Covenant. A person can choose to ignore God by choosing to believe something else. Or a soul can opt to ally with the one who is evil.

And while these trees were planted for ‘Adam and Chawah, metaphorically, they exist for all of us. By using our neshamah correctly, we can progress from one to the other, ultimately nourished by the Tree of Lives.

In this regard, let’s consider some insights from Yahowah’s Word relative to these trees and their association with our continued existence. We’ll begin with Mashal / Proverb 11, where we will once again encounter the consequence of ‘aph.

“He who diligently seeks (shachar – earnestly desires, deliberately looks for, and carefully searches) that which is agreeable and good (towb – that which is beneficial, generous, desirable, admirable, pleasing, enjoyable, pleasant, delightful, joyful, and correct), procures information leading to (baqash – inquires and learns about, searches for and acquires) acceptance and approval (ratsown – the pleasure and satisfaction associated with receiving his or her wish, implying that a 4choice is being made with regard to a pleasing and fortuitous relationship).

But (wa) he who consults with and petitions (darash – inquires about, seeks to learn from, looks to, cares about, resorts to, or desires) that which is evil and harmful, perverted and corrupt (ra’ah – that which shepherds and guides to that which is wrong and immoral, even fraudulent, feeds the flock that which is troubling, malignant, and ruinous), such things will come to him (bow’ huw’ – she will pursue him, arrive, and associate with him, cohabitating with him). (Mashal / Proverb 11:27)

By trusting and relying (batach – by believing and placing confidence) in (ba – with) wealth (‘osher – riches and an abundance of possessions, even pretending to be enriched), he (huw’) will fall (naphal – fail, bowing down prostrate, and then be diminished, taken from a higher position to a lower one).

But (wa) like (ka) the growing and uplifted foliage that absorbs the light (‘aleh – the branch extended from the trunk of the tree and the green leaves it nourishes supports, growing and ascending as a result of the light; from ‘alah – to go up, to meet and to visit), the one who is right (tsadaq – he who is upright, righteous, and vindicated) will flourish and grow, taking flight (parach – will fly, blossom, and thrive). (Mashal / Proverb 11:28)

He who brings trouble to (‘akar – he who stirs up chaos and causes anguish as a result of ex-communication or disassociation from) his family (beyth huw’ – his home and household [beyth is the basis of beryth – Covenant]) will inherit and take possession of (nachal – he will receive, be allotted, and assigned, even be possessed by) a spirit (ruwach – a spiritual being [and in this case, a demon aligned with Satan]).

And (wa) as a slave (‘abed – a servant, worshiper, and coworker, a subordinate) to foolishness and perversity, 5he will mock (‘ewyl – to ignorance and obstinate stupidity, as part of the idiotic citizenry under a perverse governmental authority, he will quarrel with) the approach (la) of one with the capacity to reason (chakam – of one open to learning who is intelligent and prudent, a trustworthy guide and advisor), the one who exercises good judgment (leb – whose heart processes information properly to make informed and rational decisions). (Mashal / Proverb 11:29)

The fruit (pary – the product produced, results, and harvests) of being right (tsadaq – being upright, righteous, and vindicated) is a tree (‘ets) of lives (chayym – of nourishment and growth), and (wa) it receives and accepts (laqah – grasps hold of by the hand) souls (nepesh – consciences who are observant and responsive) of those with the capacity to reason and to understand by being discerning (chakam – of those open to learning and instruction who are intelligent and prudent, therefore receptive and open to a trustworthy guide and advisor). (Mashal / Proverb 11:30)

Surely (hen – look now and behold, emphasizing the point), those who are right (tsadaq – the upright, righteous, and vindicated) in the Land (ba ‘erets – within the realm) will be completely recompensed (shalem – totally repaid and compensated).

But indeed, also (ky – surely and truly, also emphasizing this point), those who promote hypothetical equivocations which inflame resentment and kindle animosity (‘aph – to some extent those conditionally harboring bitterness while inflaming resentment, revealing overall displeasure with their situation and subsequently evoking and encouraging misdirected anger, displaying an enraged arrogance, as wrathful, snorting blowhards, ferociously demonstrating a haughty, conceited, and contrarian countenance while promoting hypothetical equivocations), those who are vexing and wrong (rasha’ 6– who are unrighteous, guilty of condemning, and wicked), and those who bear the blame for missing the way (wa chata’ – and those who are guilty of promoting error, failing to reach the goal, bearing the loss of having retreated by being objectionable and forfeiting the opportunity), will also be repaid for what they have done.” (Mashal / Proverb 11:31)

This wonderful expression of cause and consequence, of choice in an environment of good and bad, right and wrong, serves to reveal that life and God are fair. We receive what we seek. We are equipped to be responsive and are thus responsible.

Now, turning to Mashal / Proverb 15, we find another juxtaposition of ‘ets and ‘aph. In the opening statement, we are again confronted by the dualistic nature of Yahowah’s terminology, whereby words can mean different things to different people depending upon their choices and circumstances.

“A responsive (rak – a gentle, positive, and kind) and reasoned reply (ma’anah – response which is thoughtful, planned out, and proper and answer which is appropriate, from a thoroughly furrowed, well plowed, and cultivated path; from ‘anah – to answer and respond, testifying as a witness) can turn away or be confronted by (shuwb – turns around and changes, but also returns and restores) venomous wrath (chemah – poisonous anger, hostile antagonism, and indignation, but also to paying close attention, being perceptive, and observant), but (wa) an offensive (‘etseb – painful, troubling, and difficult, but also idolatrous and religious) word (dabar – statement) increases (‘alah – raises, upholds, and intensifies) the promotion of hypothetical equivocations which inflame resentment and kindle animosity (‘aph – to some extent nevertheless will inflame resentment, revealing an overall displeasure with someone’s situation, while subsequently evoking and encouraging misdirected anger, a display of 7enraged arrogance, as wrathful, snorting blowhards ferociously demonstrate a haughty, conceited, and contrarian countenance while promoting hypothetical equivocations while conditionally harboring bitterness). (Mashal / Proverb 15:1)

The language (lashown – the tongue and speech) of those with the capacity to reason and to understand by being discerning (chakam – of those open to learning and instruction who are intelligent and prudent, therefore receptive to a trustworthy guide) enriches and enhances (yatab – improves, succeeds, and prospers) by way of understanding and intelligent insights (da’ath – the perceptive and discerning application of knowledge), but (wa) the mouths (peh – declarations, the orifices and openings, the communications, hungers, and desires) of ignorant and irrational fools (kasyl – of the confidently stupid and belligerently rebellious, insolent and arrogant dullards; from kasal – to be foolish) profusely belch out (naba’ – pour and gush out, bubble forth, fermenting and uttering a prolific effusion (hifil imperfect)) perverted foolishness (‘iweleth – confusing folly devoid of wisdom and understanding, full of perversity and corruption). (Mashal / Proverb 15:2)

In every place where people take a stand (ba kol maqowm – in every stand in homes, offices, and public places; from quwm – to rise and stand), the eyes (‘ayn – the perception) of Yahowah (Yahowah – an accurate transliteration of the name YaHoWaH, our ‘elowah – God as guided by His towrah – instructions regarding His hayah – existence and our shalowm – reconciliation) are observant, keeping watch (tsaphah – are on the lookout) over the fiercely troubling and wildly harmful (ra’ – evil, malicious and injurious, improper and afflicting, noxious and mischievous) in addition to (wa) the agreeable and enjoyable (towb – festive, friendly, 8pleasing, prosperous, generous, beneficial, favorable, good, and correct). (Mashal / Proverb 15:3)

Calm and composed (marpe’ – restoring and reconciling, unemotional and even-tempered, healthy and healing, sound and profitable) language (lashown – speech) is a Tree of Lives (‘ets chayym – a prosperous, reviving, nourishing, flourishing, and vital tree), but (wa) duplicity and deceit (seleph – that which is essentially false and unfocused, perversion and corruption) (ba hy’ – with her) create fractures and fissures (sheber – crushes and cripples, creating a breaking apart from breach) with the Spirit (ruwach).” (Mashal / Proverb 15:1-4)

What we say matters, not only defining who we are but also influencing others. We ought to be deliberate and careful, diligent in our research, thoughtful in our approach, and disciplined in our response.

Exploring the Tree of Perceptive Thinking About Good and Evil can lead informed and rational individuals to Yahowah. At the same time, it will equip many more to duplicitously and viciously impose their will on others. The information at our disposal, beneficial and counterproductive, helpful and harmful, truthful and deceptive, is the same for everyone.

Therefore, it is how we choose to use what the tree provides that matters. We can ascend it to heaven, climb it to lord over mankind, sit beneath it content to let others experience what it offers, or just ignore it altogether. The Garden’s Landscape Architect designed it so that the souls He created could choose to grow with Him, supported by His roots, trunk, and branches, or climb out on a limb on our own.

A couple more parting thoughts before we leave the Garden. First, immediately after providing ‘Adam with the choice to accept His advice and enjoy a relationship with Him based upon His guidance, we find…

9“So (wa) Yahowah (Yahowah – an accurate transliteration of the name YaHoWaH, our ‘elowah – God as guided by His towrah – instructions regarding His hayah – existence and our shalowm – reconciliation) Almighty (‘elohym) said (‘amar – mentioned and answered (qal imperfect)), ‘It is not (lo’ hayah – nor will it be) pleasing, beneficial, appropriate, or good (towb – moral, pleasant, enjoyable, or desirable) for ‘Adam (ha ‘adam – for the man) to be by himself (la bad huw’ – to approach by himself, alone). I will act and prepare for him (‘asah la huw’ – I will engage and make for him (qal imperfect)) one who provides support in accordance with his needs (‘ezer ka – one who is of suitable assistance, proper help, and appropriate support) who is near him (neged huw’ – beside him, in his presence, and in proximity to him, corresponding to him).’” (Bare’syth / Genesis 2:18)

These things are related in a way most people miss. Beyond providing ‘Adam with the choice to reject Him, God gave ‘Adam another companion. He realized that if the choice were only God or abject loneliness, we would always choose God by default. In this way, He foreshadowed our choice as well. We can associate with the things of man, with religion and politics, or with the things of God, His Towrah, Covenant, and Spirit. This is an amazing realization.

And lastly, let’s consider how ‘aph applies to Satan, Babel, the Whore, and religion. If you recall, Yahowah revealed…

“Now the serpent (wa ha nachash) was (hayah – is and will be) subtle, crafty, and clever (‘aruwm – cunning, tricky, and treacherous, shrewd and sly), more than (min – from) all (kol) living creatures (chayah – life, animals, and beasts) of the environs (ha sadeh – of the expanse, cultivated environment, and countryside) with which (‘asher – beneficially) Yahowah (Yahowah – an accurate transliteration of the name YaHoWaH, our ‘elowah – God 10as guided by His towrah – instructions regarding His hayah – existence and our shalowm – reconciliation) Almighty (‘elohym) had conceived (‘asah – had acted upon, assigned to a task, created, and made).

And he said (‘amar – he conveyed) to the woman (‘el ha ‘ishah), ‘Hypothetically speaking, while kindling some animosity (‘aph –nevertheless, to some extent, surely and conditionally harboring bitterness while inflaming resentment, revealing overall displeasure with his situation and subsequently evoking and encouraging misdirected anger, displaying an enraged arrogance, as a wrathful, snorting blowhard, ferociously demonstrating a haughty, conceited, and contrarian countenance while promoting hypothetical equivocations), making an exception because to the contrary (ky – verily and indeed, making an exception), God (‘elohym) said (‘amar – conveyed and promised, mentioned and expressed), “You should not eat (lo’ ‘akal) of any and every (min kol – from all) tree (‘esh) of the garden (ha gan).”’” (Bare’syth / In the Beginning / Genesis 3:1)

That was an inaccurate citation – and he knew it. This is what God said:

“So then (wa), Yahowah (Yahowah – an accurate transliteration of the name YaHoWaH, our ‘elowah – God as guided by His towrah – instructions regarding His hayah – existence and our shalowm – reconciliation), Almighty (‘elohym), provided instruction and direction (tsawah – verbally communicated the message, providing some terms and conditions (piel imperfect – the object, man, benefits or suffers based upon the choices made regarding the guidance on an ongoing basis with unfolding consequences)) for (‘al – before, in front of, and on account of, concerning) the man (ha ‘Adam), by saying (la ‘amar – approaching by communicating and promising),

11‘From (min – out of) every (kol – all of) tree (‘ets) of the Garden (ha gan – of the enclosed and protected environment that promotes growth), you can continually eat, consuming whatever and whenever you want (‘akal ‘akal – you may absolutely eat as often and as much as you’d like (qal infinitive absolute qal imperfect)), (Bare’syth 16) but (wa) from (min – out of) the Tree (‘ets) of the Perceptive Application of Information (da’ath – understanding and intelligent insight, knowledge and discernment; from yada’ – to know, to be acquainted with, to acknowledge, to learn about and experience, to consider by being discriminating) of Good (towb – agreeable and enjoyable, festive and friendly, pleasing and favorable, prosperous and generous, beneficial and correct) and (wa) Bad (ra’ – of the fiercely troubling and wildly harmful, malicious and injurious, improper and afflicting, noxious and mischievous), you should not continually eat (lo’ ‘akal – you should actually not consume on an ongoing basis (qal imperfect)) from it (min huw’ – out of it), because (ky – for the reason) in the day (ba yowm – within the period of time) you eat (‘akal ‘atah) from it (min huw’ – out of it), you will be dispatched and die (muwth muwth – you will be sent away and lose the attributes necessary to sustain life, may be killed, become absent of life, perishing and possibly destroyed (qal infinitive absolute qal imperfect)).’” (Bare’syth / In the Beginning / Genesis 2:16-17)

Satan’s out-of-context, truncated, and inaccurate rendering of Yahowah’s instructions defines what it means to “‘aruwm – cleverly and craftily, subtly and cunningly, trickily and treacherously, shrewdly and slyly” “‘aph – hypothetically, while kindling some animosity, conditionally harboring bitterness while inflaming resentment, reveal one’s overall displeasure with their situation and subsequently evoke and encourage misdirected anger, displaying an enraged arrogance, as a wrathful, snorting blowhard, ferociously demonstrating a 12haughty, conceited, and contrarian countenance while promoting hypothetical equivocations.” It isn’t a game to be played without concern because the consequence is death.

This is how Satan worked through Paul and then Muhammad. Before them, this approach was the basis of Babel. After them, it became the modus operandi of Roman Catholicism and Christianity, Judaism and Islam. It is the way Galatians was written. It is the way the Quran was scribed. Satan is a maestro at corruption and counterfeiting, but he is not creative. And thus, his duplicity is easy to spot.

Paul was all about ‘aph. Like Satan, he opened with it. After labeling God’s systematic approach to restitution through the Towrah, Beryth, and Miqra’ey an “Old Testament,” which he said was “disadvantageous” near the conclusion of his first sentence in his initial letter, Paul devoted his second sentence, running from Galatians 1:6 to 1:8, to ‘aph…

“Grace to you and peace from God, Father of us and Lord Iesou Christou, (Galatians 1:3) the one having produced and given Himself on account of the sins and errors of us, so that somehow, through indefinite means, He might possibly gouge or tear out, uprooting us from the past circumstances and old system which had been in place which is disadvantageous and worthless, even malicious and malignant, extended downward from and in opposition to the desire and will, the inclination and intent of God and Father of us, (Galatians 1:4) to whom the assessment of the brilliant splendor, the opinion regarding the glorious radiance and appearance of the shining light of God’s reputation, by means of the old and the new systems, Amen, let it be so. (Galatians 1:5)

13I marvel, am amazed and astonished, wondering and surprised that namely in this way quickly and in haste you change, having deserted and departed, becoming disloyal apostates and traitors away from your calling in the name of Grace to a different healing message and beneficial messenger, (Galatians 1:6) which does not exist, conditionally and hypothetically negated because perhaps some are the ones stirring you up, confusing you, and also proposing to change and pervert the beneficial messenger and healing message of the Christou, (Galatians 1:7) but to the contrary, if we or a messenger out of heaven conveys a healing messenger or beneficial message to you which is approximate or contrary to, beyond this, even positioned alongside what we delivered as a beneficial messenger and announced message to you then a curse with a dreadful consequence exists. (Galatians 1:8)

As we have said already, and even just now, repetitively, I say, if under the condition someone delivers a helpful messenger or communicates a useful message to you contrary to, or even better than that which you received, it shall be (in fact I command and want it to exist as) a curse with a dreadful consequence. (Galatians 1:9)

For because currently, men do I persuade, using words to win favor, seducing, coaxing, and convincing God? Or by comparison, do I seek and desire to please and accommodate humans? Yet nevertheless, if men, I was pleasing and accommodating, exciting the emotions of a slave of Christou, certainly not was me. (Galatians 1:10)

But nevertheless, I profess and reveal to you brothers of the beneficial message which having been communicated advantageously by and through myself, because it is not in accord with man. (1:11) But neither because I by man associating myself with it. Nor was I 14taught or instructed as a disciple. But to the contrary, by way of a revelation, an appearance serving to uncover and unveil Iesou Christou. (Galatians 1:12)

For because you heard of my wayward behavior in the practice of Judaism, namely that by showing superiority, surpassing any measure of restraint, to an extraordinary degree, and better than anyone else, I was aggressively and intensely pursuing, persecuting, and harassing the Called Out of God, and I was and am devastating her, continuing to undermine, overthrow, and annihilate her. (Galatians 1:13)

And so I was and continue to progress, accomplishing a great deal, and I persist moving forward in the practice of Judaism, over and beyond many contemporaries among my race, excessively enthusiastic, zealous and devoted, burning with passion to belong to the traditions and teachings handed down by my forefathers. (Galatians 1:14)

But at a point in time when it pleased and was chosen enjoyable and better for God, the one having appointed me, setting me aside out of the womb of my mother (Galatians 1:15) to reveal and disclose, uncovering and unveiling His Son in order that I could announce the healing message among the races, immediately. I did not ask the advice of or consult with flesh or blood.” (Galatians 1:16)

If you believe that this man was telling the truth, I pity you. If you recognize him as psychotic, a mentally deranged psychopath, you are perceptive. If you would rather ignore him rather than try to understand his obsession, you may find yourself victimized by the religion he conceived. Even if you have never considered Christianity, this man’s caustic influence on the world has 15been so pervasive that it must be exposed and condemned to avoid further degradation of the human experience.

There is more to contemplate that is relative to our nepesh – consciousness and neshamah – conscience. A nepesh is a God-given spark of life, one that all animals genetically pass on at conception. In this regard, researchers from Northwestern University in Chicago recently announced that they had photographed the explosion of light that erupts from the egg at the moment of conception. Proteins, known as a “zinc finger,” are abundant in eukaryotic cells associated with DNA and RNA.

The energy stored in the binding process is released when the first sperm penetrates the egg, thereby prohibiting further ingress of other spermatozoa. Once the encapsulated DNA in the sperm combines with the egg’s DNA, the flash of light signals the unfolding of these zinc fingers, releasing the genetic code of life.

Scientists had previously seen the phenomenon occur in other animals, but it is the first time it has been shown to happen in humans. The spectacle, highlighting the very moment that a new life begins, was called “breathtaking” by the professor directing the research. And while the flash of light has a natural explanation, the spark could be seen as Yahowah’s signature.

Even though the process is the same, every nepesh – soul is unique. Each operating system, through genetics, programming, and life experiences, expresses itself as a unique individual with a distinct personality and character traits, attitudes, attributes, and abilities. Everything we are, 16do, and become is facilitated by and stored in the nepesh operating system we call consciousness.

Based upon the evidence Yahowah has provided, we can conclude that our nepesh – consciousness is passed on genetically at conception. Our bodies operate like automated machines. Our basic physiology and chemistry work without any conscious thought on our part. We have an autonomic nervous system that controls most bodily functions without our input. Our hearts beat, and we breathe without being aware of these functions most of the time. We express very little control over any of them. And yet, this system plays a critical role in the operation of our bodies at both the macro and cellular levels.

Our physical, machine-like structure, our central nervous system, and the sophisticated computer we call our brain are inextricably bound together into a single viable, self-aware, conscious individual with a distinct persona. This beautifully designed machine, replete with its sophisticated operating system and high-speed processor, was bequeathed to the living by Yahowah. It has to operate in an environment that is highly unpredictable, which is the only way to keep life interesting, freewill viable, and consequences credible.

As humans, we are designed to navigate through the chaos and confusion to grow from childhood to adults who can fend for themselves, find a mate, and continue the species by reproduction, hopefully finding Yah and contributing something along the way. We were equipped to deal with a multitude of dangers and challenges.

Aware of our environment, we are able to react to the opportunities that surround all of us. We were given the capacity to remember so that we can learn from our experiences, passing what we have learned on to our offspring so they can thrive and grow. In this regard, Yahowah’s Towrah is our Operating Manual, teaching us 17how to use what we were given to mitigate harmful influences and get the greatest possible benefit out of life.

We have a complex physical structure that works in combination with a nepesh to allow us to observe our surroundings and respond to what we experience, as is the case with almost all animals. But God wants more from us, so He gave us something else. For humankind to know, communicate with, and relate to our Creator, we were afforded an attribute that transcends those bequeathed to the animal kingdom. We were given a “neshamah – conscience.”

Commencing with ‘Adam, this amazing gift equips us with the ability to seek and know God, to appreciate the difference between right and wrong, good and bad, truth and deception – things that animals cannot do.

With a neshamah, we can reason, solve problems creatively, and anticipate future outcomes based on past experiences. We are also able to ascertain the consequences of our actions. With a neshamah, we can think abstractly, transcending what we can see. This makes it possible to envision the nature of a God we cannot touch. We can use it to model the basic structure of a universe that exceeds our grasp, doing so using mathematics, physics, and chemistry.

Inclusive of the influence of what is called “dark energy” and “dark matter,” the universe in which we live is a six-dimensional construct. Its Creator, Yahowah, exists in the seventh dimension. For us to know Him, for us to understand what He is offering and expects in return, for us to engage in a relationship with Him, and for us to approach Him, we require the capabilities provided by the neshamah – conscience.

The neshamah augments, complements, and extends the functions of the basic machine and nepesh operating system, providing us with a third level of development. The 18neshamah, however, does not control our actions. It simply makes us responsible for them. It affects the way our brains develop and function, giving those who exercise it vastly improved cognitive capability, especially when it comes to making the kind of connections that enable us to transcend knowing to understanding.

Our neshamah provided humanity with the capacity to create things that are beautiful and beneficial in the arts, architecture, sciences, and business. But it is a gift that can also be used for evil, as a catalyst exacerbating our violent, deadly, and destructive tendencies – especially our propensity for deception and war.

If passed on from ‘Adam’s genetic material, the neshamah would be written into the portion of our genome which modulates gene expression. In each cell, there are twenty-two paired autosomes (the same number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet) and one set of sex chromosomes, XY in the male and XX in the female. The autosomes and the sex chromosomes carry all of the coding sequences within our genes. The non-coding DNA is referred to as “junk” DNA because scientists initially didn’t recognize its role in subtly modulating the expression of genes, such as those in the central nervous system and brain.

Therefore, transmission from ‘Adam and Chawah could have occurred via a sex-linked gene, by way of an autosome, or through modulation of non-coding sequences of this “junk” DNA. It could be dominant or recessive. The evidence suggests that it is passed along via a dominant allele so that either ‘Adam or Chawah mating with Homo sapiens outside of the Garden would convey the neshamah to their offspring.

With the neshamah being transmitted through the non-coding DNA sequences, it would be undetectable and essentially impossible for mankind to manipulate the capability – simply because we would not be able to locate 19it. And this is a good thing because, given the capacity to regulate the human neshamah – conscience, mankind would likely produce the Aldous Huxley dystopian fantasy presented in Brave New World, with Alphas, Betas, Gammas, Deltas, and Epsilons bred as beasts of burden to be prodded and manipulated by an evil ruling class. By design and from birth, humanity would be stratified into a master or slave society, a genetic variation of the caste system that existed in Imperial Rome and later during the feudal expression of the Roman Catholic Church and again throughout the Holy Roman Empire.

Knowing our propensity for evil, I think that God designed our conscience in such a way that it would be difficult to detect and manipulate the genetic processes behind its expression. This was done just to keep us from coding what conditioning has already been wrought – making it irreversible.

The questions then become: how many humanoids exist today without a neshamah, and how many have a dysfunctional conscience as a result of ineffective modulation due to indoctrination? And while I do not have a definitive answer, dysfunctionality appears quite high.

According to the Towrah, every carrier of the neshamah save the eight on the Ark was wiped out in the flood in 2968 BCE. Moreover, according to what we have just read, we are on the cusp of witnessing a second mass extinction of humans with an improperly calibrated conscience. If yours is functioning, you may want to put it to good use at this time. It is in the best interests of your nepesh.

If we consider the most common denominators found among mass murderers and terrorists, the first would be religion. Islam, for example, is responsible for 99% of the acts of terrorism perpetrated around the world today, with the vast preponderance of those atrocities being carried out 20by fundamentalists and aimed against defenseless civilians. Not only does the Quran compel Muslims to act horrifically, but they are also ordered to follow Muhammad’s example, and Islam’s lone messenger was a devoted rapist and pedophile, a prolific kidnapper and slave trader, a relentless mass murderer and terrorist.

The irrefutable common denominator between Islamic terrorism and the religion’s “scriptures” and “prophet” explains what the world is wont to ignore. The religion has rendered the neshamah of nearly two billion people – a quarter of the planet – dysfunctional, causing far too many of them to be terrorists.

In the West, where Islam is not nearly as prevalent, we also find commonality among those who commit the most horrific crimes. Most were abused or, at least, perceived that they were treated unfairly. Many were prescribed mind-altering drugs, medications that were designed to regulate mood, dull pain, facilitate focus, or mitigate depression. Most played murderous video games, where killing became a form of entertainment where life could be reset in a mythical world detached from reality.

Most were indoctrinated in academic institutions where Progressive gibberish corrupted the ability to exercise good judgment – to deduce sound conclusions from evidence and reason. These factors cause serial killers and psychopaths to develop a sense of detachment from the rest of the world from a very early age. This ultimately leads them to feel a lack of empathy for their victims.

While genetic mutation appears to play a role in curtailing the neshamah’s functionality, indoctrination through the application of Progressive politics in Western academia and in the media plays a larger role. It has effectively deactivated the neshamah in most humans. While reversible, it has rendered people incapable of determining fact from fiction and then processing what is 21valid in a logical manner. Such individuals are not only easily fooled, readily manipulated, and effortlessly controlled, but they lack the capacity to find and know God.

But before we consider the genetic mutations, let’s also consider apathy. We lose the ability to speak a language when we stop using it. Our muscles atrophy if they are not used. If we spend too long in the dark, we become blind. Removed from human interaction, we grow insane. Likewise, those who don’t care to know God, who prefer feelings over thinking, opinions to conclusions, distractions to evidence, and faith to understanding, eventually lose the ability to process information in a rational and reasonable manner. Their neshamah withers without use.

Recently, scientists, using MRI brain imaging techniques and analysis of the chemistry of neurotransmitters, have discovered that some people are born with a propensity for violence as well as a predisposition to murder. This suggests that the expression of our neshamah | conscience is also subject to mutation. Judgment can be impaired genetically. Anatomical changes in the pre-frontal cortex and the limbic systems of serial killers reveal common genetic traits. While these mutations by themselves do not guarantee that an individual will become a serial killer or terrorist, when combined with religion, abuse, medication, preoccupation with the surreal, or indoctrination, horrible behaviors result.

The neshamah | conscience may be dysfunctional in as many as 1.5 billion Orthodox and Catholic Christians, 1.5 billion Sunni and Shia Muslims, 1.0 billion Progressives, Socialists, and Communists, 1.0 billion Hindus, and another 1.0 billion conspiratorialists. It has been seared in perhaps a half-billion more as a result of abuse, drugs, or the games they play. Of the 1.5 billion who remain, it has 22atrophied from lack of use in the majority of them. This would leave precious few, perhaps one in a million, fully functioning neshamahs. Hopefully, the preponderance of them will come to know Yahowah and engage in His Covenant. In this regard, just as nutrients are required for life, I am convinced that the Towrah was designed to nurture our neshamah.

Therefore, our nepesh | consciousness reflects our unique persona. This is where our character resides and our proclivities preside. Then it’s our neshamah | conscience that gives those who possess it and use its potential a proper perspective on life. With both, we have the ability to know Yahowah. But fed the errant ways of man, it also enables those who wish to rule over others and to exhibit their cruel and homicidal tendencies the power to do so.