Mortality of the soul and unconsciousness of the dead

What it is: Jehovah's Witnesses reject the natural immortality of the human soul and teach that death is a state of unconsciousness.

How the religion understands it: Hope after death is not based on a conscious soul separated from the body, but on God's ability to resurrect persons at the proper time. Thus, resurrection plays a more important role than the idea of the immediate survival of consciousness.

Textual basis and context: Ecclesiastes 9:5-10 and Ezekiel 18:4 are used as support. This belief also connects to rejection of a hell of eternal torment and to the emphasis on the future restoration of life.

Supportive

Ecclesiastes 9:5-10

bible,old-testament,death,unconsciousness,soul

Classic text on the unconsciousness of the dead.

Reference: Ecclesiastes 9:5-10.
Content: The passage states that the dead know nothing and do not take part in activities under the sun.
Use in debate: It is one of the biblical passages most used by the religion against the idea of consciousness after death.

Ezekiel 18:4

bible,old-testament,soul,mortality

Verse used to deny the natural immortality of the soul.

Reference: Ezekiel 18:4.
Content: The prophet says that the soul that sins will die.
Use in debate: The religion uses it to argue that the soul is not intrinsically immortal and can cease to live.

João 11:11-14

biblia,novo-testamento,morte,sono,ressurreicao

Jesus fala da morte de Lázaro como sono.

Referência: João 11:11-14.

Conteúdo: Jesus descreve a morte de Lázaro como sono antes de explicá-la de modo direto.

Uso no debate: A passagem é frequentemente empregada para mostrar a morte como estado inconsciente até a ressurreição.

Salmo 146:4

biblia,antigo-testamento,morte,inconsciencia,testemunhas-de-jeova

A morte é descrita como cessação de pensamentos e retorno ao pó.

Referência: Salmo 146:4.

Conteúdo: O salmo afirma que, na morte, os pensamentos da pessoa perecem e ela retorna ao pó.

Uso no debate: O trecho é usado para reforçar a doutrina de inconsciência dos mortos.

What Happens When We Die?

jworg,death,soul,resurrection

Official article summarizing the doctrine of death as unconsciousness.

Reference: Bible question answered on jw.org about death.
Content: The article states that the dead are conscious of nothing, that they return to the dust, and that future hope rests in the resurrection brought about by God.
Use in debate: It is the most accessible official summary of the religion's position on soul, death, and resurrection.

Contrary

Luke 23:43

bible,new-testament,purgatory,paradise,doctrinal-debate

Jesus' promise to the good thief that he would be with him in paradise.

Jesus promises the repentant thief that on that very day he would be with him in paradise. The verse is used against the doctrine of purgatory as an argument for immediate access to blessedness. The Catholic response notes that the text concerns a specific case and does not aim to describe the whole eschatological economy.