Spirit and soul, what is it and what differentiates them?

[Surya]

 

[BigSkyDiamond]

Spirit and soul, what is it and what differentiates them?

it depends on the tradition.

[Surya]

2 minutes ago, BigSkyDiamond said:

Spirit and soul, what is it and what differentiates them?

it depends on the tradition.

For sure, but maybe we could explore some of these views, as well as our personal opinions. One place to begin, for instance, is that close to all european languages has a separate word (and therefor concept, I would assume) for soul and spirit, while french does not. 

[BigSkyDiamond]

i avoid using "spirit" altogether because it has too many secular meanings, and it is redolent of "ghosts" and the astral plane.  i avoid using "soul" because it is for me too imprecise.

 

so i tend to be wordier and more specific along the lines of "the part of the human that is infinte and non-physical" (in contrast to the human body which is physical and finite.  "the part of you that existed before the body was born, and exists after the body dies"

"spark of the Divine"  "not bound by space or time or form"   

 

"immortal" and "eternal" are sometimes used, but at the level of the Divine spark, and at the level of the Divine, there is no time, so "living forever" does not really apply.

 

good thread topic, you are asking good questions.  looking forward to reading more.

Edited Wednesday at 07:07 PM by BigSkyDiamond

[Cobie]

 

17 minutes ago, Surya said:

… close to all european languages has a separate word (and therefor concept, I would assume) for soul and spirit, while french does not. 

 
imo soul and spirit are synonyms. The word ‘soul’ has Germanic roots; the word ‘spirit has Latin roots. Hence imo French having only the spirit form.

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 07:13 PM by Cobie

[Surya]

4 minutes ago, Cobie said:

 

 
imo soul and spirit are synonyms. The word ‘soul’ has Germanic roots; the word ‘spirit has Latin roots. Hence imo French having only the spirit form. The Germanic languages incorporated much of the Latin words.

 

 

Yes, but germanic languages such as german and the scandinavian ones (dutch and icelandic I am not sure about), also has gesit/ånd meaning spirit, and latin has the terms animus as well as spiritus as well. So, I dont know. But as I see it, they are not the same: soul is present in every living being, while (IMO) spirit is not. Think about the holy ghost (spirit) in christianity for instance: that is not present in everyone, yet soul is.

[Cobie]

1 hour ago, Surya said:

 

 

imo the mind is part of the body and dies with the body. I am the soul that lives on after death. 

 

 

[Cobie]

 

3 minutes ago, Surya said:

… the holy ghost (spirit) in christianity for instance: that is not present in everyone …

 

 

incorrect, the Holy Spirit is omnipresent.

[Surya]

3 minutes ago, Cobie said:

 

 

 

incorrect, the Holy Spirit is omnipresent.

I was (and am) under the impression that the holy spirit is what enters you as you experience "second birth." Could you back up your claim, please?

[Nungali]

4 hours ago, BigSkyDiamond said:

Spirit and soul, what is it and what differentiates them?

it depends on the tradition.

 

 

and the definitions of the terms 

 

[Surya]

On 10.7.2025 at 12:56 AM, Nungali said:

 

 

and the definitions of the terms 

 

How would you define spirit?

[liminal_luke]

I remembered that Thomas Moore distinguished between soul and spirit in his book Care of the Soul.  Feeling lazy, and not remembering well, I asked Gemini (AI) about Thomas Moore´s distinction.  Although I´m loathe to quote AI (what kind of a creature am I turning into?) I´ll make an exception this once.

....................................................................................................................................................................................................

 

Thomas Moore, particularly in his seminal work "Care of the Soul," makes a significant distinction between soul and spirit, drawing heavily on archetypal psychology (especially that of James Hillman, who was influenced by Carl Jung). This distinction is central to his philosophy and offers a different perspective than traditional religious or psychological views.

Here's a breakdown of his distinction:

Soul:

• Emphasizes Depth and Complexity: For Moore, the soul is not an ethereal or purely spiritual "thing" that ascends beyond the body. Instead, it's about the depth, richness, and complexity of human experience. It's about how things feel to us, the nuanced textures of life, and the imaginative dimension of existence.

• Rooted in the Ordinary and Mundane: The soul isn't found in extraordinary, transcendent moments, but rather in the everyday, the mundane, the imperfect. It's in cooking, gardening, tending to relationships, appreciating art, and even in our struggles, flaws, and suffering.

• Imagination as its Organ: Moore argues that the imagination is the primary organ of the soul. It's through imagination, dreams, myths, and symbols that the soul expresses itself and reveals its meanings.

• Embraces Pathology and Shadow: The soul is not about perfection or constant happiness. It embraces the "dark" aspects of life – sadness, melancholy, suffering, even neuroses. These are seen not as problems to be fixed, but as expressions of the soul that need to be listened to and understood, rather than eradicated.

• Connected to the Body and World: The soul is deeply embodied and connected to the material world. It finds expression and meaning through our physical experiences and interactions with the environment.

• "Care of the Soul": The concept of "care of the soul" involves paying attention to this imaginative, emotional, and embodied dimension of life. It's about finding meaning and depth in our ordinary experiences, embracing our vulnerabilities, and cultivating a sense of the sacred in the mundane.

Spirit:

• Tendency Towards Transcendence and Abstraction: Moore often associates "spirit" with a drive towards transcendence, purity, and abstraction. It's the part of us that seeks to rise above the earthly, the messy, and the imperfect.

• Can Lead to Disconnection: While not inherently negative, an overemphasis on spirit, without the grounding of soul, can lead to a disconnection from the body, emotions, and the realities of human experience. It can foster an attitude of trying to "fix" or escape problems rather than understanding them deeply.

• Associated with Certain Religious or Ideological Stances: In some contexts, Moore sees "spirit" as leading to rigid moralism, simplistic answers, or an avoidance of the complexities and ambiguities of life, precisely because it seeks to transcend them.

• Can Be Disembodied: When spirit is detached from soul, it can become disembodied and lacking in depth, leading to a superficial or overly intellectualized approach to life.

In essence, Moore's distinction can be summarized as:

• Soul is about immanence: Finding depth, meaning, and sacredness within the ordinary, messy, and embodied experience of life. It's earthy, imaginative, and embraces the full spectrum of human emotions and imperfections.

• Spirit is about transcendence: Reaching beyond the ordinary, towards ideals, purity, and a more abstract, often disembodied, realm.

Moore isn't necessarily against "spirit" as a concept, but he critiques a modern tendency to prioritize spirit over soul, which he believes leads to a loss of meaning, emotional disconnection, and a shallow approach to life's challenges. His work is a call to reclaim and cultivate the soul, bringing depth, imagination, and a sense of the sacred back into our everyday lives.