# How do theists reconcile the supposed immortal consciousness of the soul, with deep sleep?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-theists-reconcile-the-supposed-immortal-consciousness-of-the-soul-with-deep-sleep/563731>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 11, 2010, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-theists-reconcile-the-supposed-immortal-consciousness-of-the-soul-with-deep-sleep/563731 "2010-12-11T00:59:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-theists-reconcile-the-supposed-immortal-consciousness-of-the-soul-with-deep-sleep/563731/21 "2010-12-13T19:25:08Z")

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> [@ratatoskK](#):
>
> The OP was about theists.

Maybe I’ll look extra dumb here, but what is a theist but somebody who believes in one or more gods?

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**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-theists-reconcile-the-supposed-immortal-consciousness-of-the-soul-with-deep-sleep/563731/22 "2010-12-13T19:52:35Z")

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My point exactly. But maybe I’m misinterpreting something.

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**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-theists-reconcile-the-supposed-immortal-consciousness-of-the-soul-with-deep-sleep/563731/23 "2010-12-13T20:46:03Z")

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The OP asks how theists reconcile the concept of an immortal soul. My point is that there’s not necessarily anything to reconcile. A theist doesn’t have to believe in an immortal soul.

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**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-theists-reconcile-the-supposed-immortal-consciousness-of-the-soul-with-deep-sleep/563731/24 "2010-12-13T20:51:09Z")

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Oh ok. I thought the OP meant “If someone is a theist and they also believe in an immortal soul, how do they reconcile… (etc.)”

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**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-theists-reconcile-the-supposed-immortal-consciousness-of-the-soul-with-deep-sleep/563731/25 "2010-12-13T20:56:13Z")

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> [@bup](#):
>
> A theist doesn’t have to believe in an immortal soul.

I’m pretty sure that he’s asking those that do, though. And no gods need be included in the question.

I think a large part of the question is whether souls have awareness on some level.

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