Spirit vs. Soul

[Straw Dog]

Greetings,

The notions of 'soul' and 'spirit' are sometimes used interchangeably, but many religions also discern between them. I don't grasp at any particular theological beliefs, but sometimes feel that the Spirit may be something different from theology.

So what are the differences between the spirit and the soul? Is there any consensus on these matters whatsoever? Can they be tested somehow to determine their nature and purposes?

Thanks,

~SD

 

[The Sum of Awe]

The soul is a result from illusion of an identity. The spirit is the result from understanding one's nature as God.

 

[Straw Dog]

Hey Sum,

The soul is a result from illusion of an identity. The spirit is the result from understanding one's nature as God.

Interesting perspective.

Would you equate the soul with ego then? What makes identifying one's nature as God not illusory like in the first sense?

 

[Gjallarhorn]

Back when I believed in the concepts, I'd say spirit is an analogue to substance and soul an analogue to form.

 

[crossfire]

The spirit is the breath and the soul is the breather.

 

[Jainarayan]

The soul is a result from illusion of an identity. The spirit is the result from understanding one's nature as God.

Yeah, I'll go with that too.

 

[StarryNightshade]

The soul is a result from illusion of an identity. The spirit is the result from understanding one's nature as God.

The spirit is the breath and the soul is the breather.

Both sound good to me. :yes:

 

[Aupmanyav]

Would you define 'spirit' as an aspect of human emotion (he was in high spirits, etc.)?

adjective 26. pertaining to something that works by burning alcoholic spirits: a spirit stove.
27. of or pertaining to spiritualist bodies or activities.
verb 28. to animate with fresh ardor or courage; inspirit.
29. to encourage; urge on or stir up, as to action.
30. to carry off mysteriously or secretly (often followed by away or off ): His captors spirited him away.
Synonyms 14. enthusiasm, energy, zeal, ardor, fire, enterprise. 15. attitude, mood, humor. 17. nature, drift, tenor, gist, essence, sense, complexion. 19. intention, significance, purport.
(Dictionary.com)

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Hey Sum,



Interesting perspective.

Would you equate the soul with ego then? What makes identifying one's nature as God not illusory like in the first sense?

Pretty much; while mostly the same thing, I'd say there is still a difference between ego and soul: Ego is artificially made while the soul is god-given, socially modified.

Know that not only you are God, but know that all is God and never separate. You are God, and your neighbors are God, and so there is no difference between you and your neighbors.

 

[Levite]

I'm sure the answers will vary depending on the theologies and philosophies of the various respondants.

For me, at least, "spirit" and "soul" are two elements of the same phenomenon. Or at least, ruach and neshamah, which are essentially the Hebrew equivalents of the terms. I hold by a variation in the Kabbalistic idea that what we usually term "soul" is a phenomenon comprised of the agglomeration of several "levels" of spiritual and divine energy, among which is one we call ruach ("spirit") and one of we call neshamah ("soul").

 

[Kilgore Trout]

It's similar to the difference between Sasquatch and the Yeti.

 

[Aupmanyav]

You mean to say that both are imaginary?

 

[The Sum of Awe]

You mean to say that both are imaginary?

It sounds like he means to say that it's pretty much the same thing, very little different about them if anything.

 

[Runewolf1973]

As an animist, I don't really make a distinction between spirit or soul. There is an animating force inside of us that continues on after the physical functions cease. There is that same animating force within all things. Call it spirit or soul, I doesn't matter. It is not of supernatural origin. It is a naturally existing phenomena and an unknown to science.

 

[Straw Dog]

Pretty much; while mostly the same thing, I'd say there is still a difference between ego and soul: Ego is artificially made while the soul is god-given, socially modified.

How is the ego artificially made? From what?

What makes the soul god-given, but not the ego?

Know that not only you are God, but know that all is God and never separate. You are God, and your neighbors are God, and so there is no difference between you and your neighbors.

If I take a walk and my neighbor stays at their home, did we both take a walk or did we both stay home since we are both God? If you asked us about it, who should admit to taking the walk? Who should admit to staying home?

It gets trickier whenever we bring ethical considerations into it. Can I take something from my neighbor's home because I believe it's mine? It's not my fault that he doesn't realize we're god because I don't discern differences between people. It seems that having a valid sense of self is neccessary in order to assume personal responsibility for particular actions.

Would this be what you mean by soul or ego?

 

[John Doe]

The soul is a result from illusion of an identity. The spirit is the result from understanding one's nature as God.

Pretty much; while mostly the same thing, I'd say there is still a difference between ego and soul: Ego is artificially made while the soul is god-given, socially modified.

Know that not only you are God, but know that all is God and never separate. You are God, and your neighbors are God, and so there is no difference between you and your neighbors.

You say that your (one's) nature is God. You say that "all is God and never separate. You are God, and your neighbors are God".

So how can anything be "artificial" ? How can there be a difference between "god-given" and "socially modified" if everyone is God and never separate ? If everyone is God, then society (people who are God) is God, surely. Who or what else could it be ?

How could a world which is all God have some parts which are real and some which are illusion ?

Whose "illusion" is it, if there is only God ?

 

[crossfire]

You say that your (one's) nature is God. You say that "all is God and never separate. You are God, and your neighbors are God".

So how can anything be "artificial" ? How can there be a difference between "god-given" and "socially modified" if everyone is God and never separate ? If everyone is God, then society (people who are God) is God, surely. Who or what else could it be ?

How could a world which is all God have some parts which are real and some which are illusion ?

Whose "illusion" is it, if there is only God ?

This is the sort of thing that arises when you cling to a bias towards "oneness," imo. Bias distorts ones perception of reality.

 

[Sees]

This is a pretty good article that explains a bit on some interpretations of the "soul-complex" in old Euro traditions, that would have similarities with other ancient Indo-European views.

Hyge-cræft: Working with the Soul in the Northern Tradition

Edit: another one pretty good and a bit different http://www.englatheod.org/soul.htm

I have my own way of understanding close to these but even more esoteric....tis a secret though

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I prefer the term consciousness over soul. It is the eternally aware aspect of us that is made up of all of our experiences. It is the "I". Spirit can be just another word for the soul or refer to things like "human spirit".

 

[Aupmanyav]

If I take a walk and my neighbor stays at their home, did we both take a walk or did we both stay home since we are both God? If you asked us about it, who should admit to taking the walk? Who should admit to staying home?

Add 'what' to all the things, and the matter will be resolved. What I, what walk, what neighbor, what stay, what home, what we, what God, what ask, what us, what it, what who, what admit, what taking, etc. That is the scale of illusion.

Whose "illusion" is it, if there is only God?

It is like Persian Gulf being more polluted than Arabian Sea, not separate, but still. A local phenomenon.