"Ghosts" vs "Spirits"?

Question

There are a lot of people who seem to want to use the term 'spirit' instead of 'ghosts'. I don't want to insult anybody, but I find this annoying. There's enough 'politically correct' crap going around without trying to apply it to the paranormal. Do not use a broad term when you are speaking of entities. You don't call people 'humans'. You say 'men, women, and children'. The same applies for entities. You have ghosts (human spirits), and you have non-human or inhuman entities (demonic and angelic). When you say "I have a spirit in my house", its like saying "There's a human walking around my house". Okaaay. Is there a man walking around your house? A woman? A Child? What's your point? When you say there is a spirit in your house, thats great. What kind are you dealing with? Is it a human spirit (ghost), or an inhuman (demon, etc.)? If you can't tell, thats fine. Saying there's a spirit around will work. But if you know what you're dealing with, be specific.

I ran out of room, lol. Anyway, I would like to know people's opinions on the subject, and why they have that opinion. Thanks!

Forgive any confusing twists here. I wasn't meaning gender for the ghosts/spirits. It was for the comparison between reporting something paranormal in your house and reporting a living person.

Ok, human. Use the terminology you desire.

Millie, I don't agree with some of your ideas, but I appreciate your insight into the matter.

I want to make a clarification, since it seems that some of my words have been overlooked. Ghosts, Demons, and any type of inhuman entitiy are Spirits. My point is that the term Spirit is too broad. Just like the term Human is broad.

Answer 1

Not sure what you are looking for here Hon. In my understanding, ghosts are the projections that spirits make for whatever reasons. The spirit is the entity you really have to deal with, manifestation notwithstanding. Also, spirits do not have gender per se because in a spiritual state, they have gone beyond that. They can be male or female by character however or by energy definition and the male and female principles always exist and some may carry this over for identity purposes.

Answer 2

A Ghost is a Spirit which is a Soul the Etheric body that we use to Astral Travel so when we pass over that is what leaves the body. It is understood as a sort of life force body or aura that constitutes the "blueprint" of the physical body, and which sustains the physical body.

Some people don't pass over because of unfinished business
Or they just don't know they have died
Or they didn't know to go to the light
This is what people call a Ghost
I call Spirit some call Lost Souls

You also have a Spirit Guide which has been with you from the time you was born till the day you pass over : )

Do you also know that people that Astral Travel are seen as ghost, so maybe people are seeing ghost maybe are just living people just exploring via Astral travelling : )

Food for thought isn't it ?

Nothing in life is to be feared, It is only to be understood.

Love & Blessings
*^v^*Milly*^v^*

Answer 3

Well if you want to get technical it is because the origins of the word are andswerien, andswerian, andswarian and andswaru all meaning to answer. So the kept the w in place because it was in the original spelling. I agree with you though it is sort of a silly letter to be there because it serves no purpose, but now that I have grown accustomed to spelling the word that way I couldn't imagine spelling it any other way. Anser =( Ansir =( Answer =) It just doesn't look right misspelled. It will just have to be among the other words with silent letters that really don't need to be there such as.. castle..silent t and handkerchief..silent d Good question though =)

Answer 4

If you do not see or feel them in a way that you can catigorize them, then either will do!! If youare sensitive enought to know then the terms have relevenace.
Ghosts are earth bound dead people.
Spirit applys broadly to any "energy body" of an etheric nature, and used alot.
The more you study these you will find more names applicable, like angels, masters, etc.
Devils are thought froms... they are brought about by people thinking alot about them thus creeating them to a point that they become animated and real. Peope will created then from within themselves to "scare" themself to live better.
Devils can also take forms as ghosts who are just evil earth bound entities, who by their evil ways, just do stupid and un goldy stuff for they do not know better.

so unless you have developed your inutitive faculties, like psychic, clarivoyant, clairsentient, clairaudio, etc, you cannot really "classify" them. Most of what people feel are there angelic guides, and spirits of there relatives.

Answer 5

The two words have somewhat different meanings. Spirit is the broader term for some essence that is not not material, and everyone supposedly has one. A ghost is a spirit of a dead man who is still seen on Earth. Both are fantasy. There is no real evidence that either exists. I have looked for ghosts, but I never see one.

Answer 6

I like political correctness generally -- most of the complaints against it seem like complaints against courtesy -- but in this case going for the "specific" answer seems unreasonable. Some people believe in ghosts but not spirits. Others believe in spirits but not ghosts.

The truth is we are ignorant. It's arrogant to pretend otherwise. People should have the choice of the language they are most comfortable with.

Answer 7

Jeff H;
Nice one, a shining beam of intelligence in the darkness.

Answer 8

The proper term is "Apparition Americans".

Answer 9

Look at this

http://www.livevideo.com/video/javen1one/09E2359071034E72953A8CC148E67B35/ghosts.aspx

Answer 10

GHOSTS!!!! its more interesting I think=D:-)))