What is a spirit?

Question

I was thinking about this the other day, and I realized that "spirit," could be defined in a few different ways. Do you think a spirit is like a ghost? Is it something that's there, but you can't see? Is it a feeling? Is it humanoid?

As a matter of fact, we DO assign names to lots of our feelings, so excuse me.

Answer 1

Spirit is one of those nebulous terms that can mean any number of things. Example: "high spirits", the "spirit of St Louis", "distilled spirits", "boost your spirits", the "spirit realm", "loss of spirit", they "spirited him away", in the "spirit of the day", etc on and on. The big problem with this is that people often use the word spirit without saying which definition they mean, this leaves the interpretation of what they are talking about to the reader or listener and that leaves a lot of leeway in what they are communicating. If you are going to talk about 'spirits' or a 'spirit' then at least define what type of connotation you are using with this very nebulous word.

Answer 2

There's no such thing. But if you wish you could say it's like a ghost, because there are no ghosts, either. And no, it's not "there", either, nor is it humanoid. There is simply *no* supernatural at all.

Now your second-last might be true, if you "feel a spirit", but that's misleading because it is - as you say - a *feeling*. Why assign "spirit" to a feeling unless you're going to assign names to all your feelings?

Answer 3

It is the the life within us, to put it mildly. Our body would not have life if there was no spirit. You cannot touch it, it does not take up space. It goves you the feelings you have because it gives you life and the personality you've got.

Answer 4

I am assuming that you are refering to a Human spirit.

The spirit is the "spiritual heart",the real you, or inner person, It is in a way "activated" when one is born again,and is in communion with God. It is not to be confused with the Soul,which is the mind,will and emotions.