Soul vs Spirit
Soul and Spirit are two words that are often thought to be interchangeable, but there is a difference between them. Soul is considered an all-pervading entity, while Spirit is not all-pervading and pertains to an individual. In other words, the word spirit is often used as a synonym for soul, though they cannot be used interchangeably. The concepts of soul and spirit are frequently discussed in the context of Christianity. Bearing all this information in mind, let us further examine the differences between soul and spirit.
What does Soul mean?
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a soul is “the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal, regarded as immortal.” Soul is all-powerful in nature. It moves from body to body after death. Philosophers describe the soul as the state of existence that is not affected by happiness, sorrow, profit, loss, heat, cold, and other pairs of opposite experiences. The soul is imperishable, while the body is perishable. Monists believe that each soul is potentially divine. Realizing the soul puts an end to the transmigration of life.
The word soul is used only in the sense of good. We speak about “good souls.” On the other hand, you would not come across the term “evil soul.” This shows that the word soul has a positive connotation, possessing virtues rather than vices. The term soul is not used to refer to supernatural beings, indicating that the word soul is used in a philosophical sense.
However, in everyday life, we use the word soul to mean “person, individual, or someone.” For example, “There was not a soul in the house at that time.” In this sentence, soul does not refer to the immortal entity people believe in but rather means someone, as in “there was no one in the house at the time.”
What does Spirit mean?
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a spirit is “the non-physical part of a person, which is the seat of emotions and character.” Unlike the word soul, the word spirit is used to refer to both good and evil. The term “evil spirit” is still in usage. Poets and writers often use the word spirit to mean a ghost, a supernatural being. Consequently, you may be familiar with expressions such as “spirits of the graveyard.” This shows that the word spirit is not used in the philosophical sense.
The word spirit is sometimes used to refer to the energy within. We come across expressions such as “shows the spirit” and “spirited performance.” In both expressions, the word is used in the sense of energy and would mean “shows the energy” and “energy-filled performance,” respectively.
Key Takeaways
- A soul is “the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal, regarded as immortal,” while a spirit is “the non-physical part of a person, which is the seat of emotions and character.”
- Soul is used only in the sense of good, while spirit is used to refer to both good and evil.
- Soul is not used to speak about supernatural beings and is used in a philosophical sense, whereas spirit is used to speak about supernatural beings and is not used in a philosophical sense.
