Origen of Alexandria, a third century Christian scholar, believed in a “divine spark” present within each person. This belief was influenced by his reading of Platonic philosophy, which emphasized the idea of a divine, eternal essence present within each individual.
In his writings, Origen described this divine spark as follows:
“In every soul there is something divine, which is not the product of the body. It is impossible that it should perish, since it is incapable of suffering, and is not liable to be hurt by anything external.”
“The soul is a spark of the divine, an effulgence of the eternal light, which is the Word of God.”
These quotes highlight Origen’s belief in the divine nature of the human soul and its connection to the eternal and divine realm. He saw the divine spark within each person as a reflection of the divine light, and believed that it could never be destroyed or lost, but would always endure.