This page is a very quick explanation of something that could be an entire book. If you would like to spend the time reading a more indepth discussion of the subject, you can read a draft of a manuscript by clicking here.

A Model

A model is a way of explaining something, a theory given form so it can be applied. The Architecture of Man model applies a theory about the design of human beings as physical, nonphysical and spiritual beings. It also touches on other theories that are beyond the scope of this discussion. A theory or model is considered useful if it helps us understand and explain things, even if the model is incomplete or lacking in some way. Any model will have its limits, whether here or in any social or hard science.

The Architecture of Man model I use follows the theory that human beings are tricameral, that we have three essential parts. This theory and the resulting model does not differ much from that used in many Christian circles. Virtually every religious system and organized religious philosophy has recognized that there is a physical and a nonphysical aspect of human beings, and most of them also recognize that there is something eternal in us all. Some nonreligious and purely secular belief systems disagree, but they are in the distinct minority, historically as well as currently.

The three fundamental parts are Body, Soul, and Spirit. Each of the three parts also has three parts.

Body

The Body is Body, Senses, Action. Body is our physical existence, the matter that makes up our physical form. Dead or alive, we have a physical body. Senses is our ability to sense the world around us, to see, hear, smell, taste and touch. It is through our senses that we become aware of the world around us. Action is our ability to move, to respond to the world around us, to interact with it. If our Physical Body is functioning properly, within the tolerances of its design, we are physically alive. If our Physical Body is functioning optimally, we are healthy.

Soul

The Soul is Emotions, Mind, Will. The Emotions are how we feel, with our emotional states telling us about the presumed importance and meaning of a circumstance, event or action, whether our own or anothers. While the meaning of emotions are uniform, the rules we use to determine the emotion we feel and the intensity of that emotion vary from person to person, and they usually arise spontaneously rather than by intentional design. The Mind is our ability to reason, to learn, to remember and to create. If the Mind is governed by the Emotions, it will rationalize and justify. If the Mind is governed by the Will, it seeks truth and provides accurate information and figures out action plans as directed by the Will. The Will is our ability to make decisions, to choose to act in opposition to our feelings, to direct the Mind and Emotions and control our Actions no matter what we feel.

Spirit

The Spirit is Others, Principles, and Religion. Others is a realization of the rights and interests of others, of beings outside ourselves whose interests have importance along with our own. This may also apply to people who have gone before and others yet to come. Principles is the realization that there are principles that must be consistently applied, followed, or lived out - and that are more important than individuals. Religion is the realization that there is a higher power, and following that power.

Chain of Command

There is supposed to be a chain of command in our Self. God is supposed to be the author of our Religion. We are to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth, and given this model, it means our "religion" can't be built by us, but must be revealed by Him. There are elements under human control - the Bible does not tell us what time we should start a service, for example. Essentially, though, GOD defines our religion for us, from the worship of Jesus Christ and acceptance of His sacrifice, to coming together for fellowship.

Religion should guide Principles, which are also tested in light of Real Life. Often we can interpret the Bible in a way that clearly conflicts with the way things work in the real world. This does not mean that what God actually said was in error, but our interpretation is incomplete or, at times, simply wrong. God told us everything He had to say, but He did not include ALL Truth in the Bible. Some Truth - such as mathematics and hard science, geography and local customs, etc. - we are responsible to figure out for ourselves (as a race, not as individuals). What He needed to say, He said. We must consider everything God said as True, but we must consider our interpretation of what He said in light of known Truth. (Click for E=mc2 example.)

God guiding our Religion which guides our Principles then guides Others. We should see Others as God says to see them - loving them as we love ourselves (which implies we must have proper love for ourselves), regarding them as more important than we (the need of the many...), understanding that we are to do unto them..., etc.

Our Will, then, make decisions in light of God, Religion, Principles and Others. As a married man, for example, I automatically consider my wife in every decision I make. As a parent, children are automatically considered in every choice. Will Power is supercharged this way because the whole of the Spirit and the Holy Spirit are backing the Will.

Our Mind should be subject to our Will, learning what we choose to learn, figuring out what we choose to figure out, plannning what we choose to plan, etc. The Mind works for the Will, providing interpretation of the Emotions and gathering facts and putting together options under the direction of the Will.

Emotions are subject to the Mind, providing information (see Emotions) to the Mind so the Mind knows what seems to be important and what events seem to mean. As the Mind deciphers the Emotions and the Will makes a decision, then Emotions fall into line as Intent and Attitude to implement the plan as instructed and guided by the Mind. If Emotions have come under the authority of a Soul guided by the Spirit which is subject to the Holy Spirit, then the Fruit of the Spirit will be consistently experienced (Galatians 5:22-23). Note that "Self Control" as an "Emotion" means that part of the fruit is that our Emotions are under the control of our Will.

(Note that Control of Emotions is NOT suppressing Emotions. A dog that has to be locked up and chained up is not "under control," it is restrained. A dog that obeys the commands of its owner is under control. Similarly with Emotions.)

Our Emotions (as in Attitude and Intent) guide our Actions, which, in turn, determine what we can Sense (see, hear, smell, taste, touch) and experience, which comes through our physical Body - which is how we interact with the physical world.

At least that how it's supposed to work.

When We Do It Our Way

It is all too human to allow our Emotions to have dominion in our Soul. When that happens, our Mind simply works for the Emotions to justify and rationalize anything the Emotions desire. In fact, one of the greatest dangers of high intelligence or high education is that the Mind does such a good job at justifying and rationalizing that such a person can even convince himself! At least an average intelligence person recognizes how stupid a rationalized position sounds if he dares say it out loud. A genius can convince himself or herself - and others - of almost anything.

Will Power and Stubborness

Will Power and Stubborness are opposites in the Soul. Although we use "wilful" (full of Will) interchangeably with stubborn, all they have in common is an unyielding nature. However, Will makes a decision and sticks to it no matter how we feel while Stubborn goes with a feeling and sticks to it no matter what the Mind, Will and Spirit say is True. If we "want" and refuse to yield, it's Stubborness. If we "choose" and hold our ground because we know we've made the right choice, then that's Will Power.

Life

If our Body is functioning as it should, we will be Physically Alive and healthy. When we are born alive, it is because our Body has been crafted properly enough to allow us to live. If our Spirit is functioning as it should, if we have properly aligned ourselves with God's Truth so that we can be spirutally born - born again - and we will be Spiritually Alive. Our Body is initially built following our DNA, but we can do much that affects our health and whether we live or die. Our Spirit is largely under our own control - we can grow or we can ignore spiritual things and seek the things that make us feel good. However, as we seek Truth, we arrive at the feet of the Cross and become Christians and start growing in our faith. (This statement is a conclusion that has many, many steps before it for atheists and agnostics - but it is a belief I hold as True.)

Heart

The Heart would lie behind the Body, Soul and Spirit. If you took the diagram and turned it, you could see the Heart behind it. The things of the Heart can show up at any level, but because the Emotions are the most intuitive part of our being, it tends to show up most clearly in how we feel. If we learn to understand the emotions that arise in specific situations, we can discover things that are buried in our Heart. Often, what's there is a surprise, even to us, but not to God. In fact, ONLY God knows every single thing that is in the Heart.

Exercising One's Will

I have heard "conflicting" teaching from the pulpit of a single church that at times teaches that we must "lay down our Will" and "we can do nothing of ourselves" and alternately teaches that we must "exercise our Will" or about something will say "just decide" or "make it a discipline." These teachings do not actually conflict if one understands the model of Spirit, Soul and Body. The Will is responsible to govern our Mind, Emotions, Actions, Senses and Body. The Will should be laid down to our Spirit, which, in turn, should be laid down to the Holy Spirit. We should make our choices (Will) considering the needs and best interests of Others, following True Principles, following the fundamental beliefs of our Religion, which, hopefully, is fully and completely subject to Almighty God.

We have Free Will, which means God gives us the right and ability to make decisions - which is both a blessing and a curse. We can choose to exercise our Will on our own, or we can exercise our Will in obedience to Truths higher than ourselves - to God Himself. When we "lay down our Will" it isn't just to stop making decisions and choices, but giving God veto power over our decisions, and giving God the first and last say in any matter about which He wishes to speak or about which He has spoken.

Why Does It Matter?

It may not seem like it would matter to some people, but having a starting point for thinking about things helps solve problems. If we have an understanding of God's design, we can figure out what's going on when things happen inside us. We can also define our personal goals more clearly.

In my case, it is a powerful guide for my prayers as I pray for the Holy Spirit to lead me to His Truth at each level, and to deliver others from the consequences of any mistakes I may have made. It has also helped me solve a lot of problems in how to understand how and why we experience the emotions we experience, and it is part of what has guided me in my work. So far, I've found the model universally useful and, so far, I have not found information that contradicts it. If you have questions or comments, please email me.