A question for discussion

Before I pose my question, I should give some background on where I’m coming from..

Many of my thoughts have been heavily influenced by C.S. Lewis’ idea (I’m not sure if it’s his, but it’s the first place that I read it) that man is an interesting hybrid of spirit and animal. And being half and half, what happens to our physical (animal) bodies affects our spirit and vice versa. I’ve also been heavily influenced by the idea that our will is not a function of our intellect. It is a function of our spirit/soul. I’m not sure where that idea comes from - might be C.S. Lewis; it might be someone else. I’m not really sure, but I’m pretty sure it’s not my original thought.

Based on these ideas, and going on the premise that our spirit/soul is eternal where as our physical bodies are temporary...

What do you think happens in the case of an individual that has been shown to have no mental function whatsoever, and is being kept alive by artificial means? Is the spirit/soul trapped in the physical body until the body ceases to function?

I really want to know what people think.