spirit vs. soul

[Memphremagog]

In some of my previous questions on the status of the vampire's soul I should have included this: is there a difference between the spirit and the soul? Most often these terms are used interchangably. But didn't some theologians make a distinction. That being that the spirit is a life force common to all living creatures while the soul is that part of us that is eternal and unique in the sense that each of us unique. Might the vampire then no longer posses one while still hanging on to the other? Certainly the demonic entity is responsible for the evil aspects. I wonder if the demonic part replaces the life force and accompanies the soul in the revenant. Or could the demon replace the soul and the corpse have two life forces. If the soul remains behind then it could cooperate with the demon as it would have free will and thereby perhaps being "perfectly possessed". Such a soul would it seems be in hell right here on earth along with the demon. But if the soul is absent after expiry, then the spirit, being merely a life force or energy would not necessarily be in hellish agony. These are merely the ruminations of a layman, albeit a layman who has studied theology for over 30 years! There is something clearly wrong in the vampiric condition and I can't quite put my finger on what it is! Please comment if you please. Memphremagog.

[Vampirologist]

The Book of Daniel envisioned a time when "many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake [Daniel 12: 2]" and Jewish martyrs in the time of the Maccabeees defied their tormenters by saying: "You dismiss us from this present life, but the King of the universe will raise us up to an everlasting life [2 Maccabees 7: 9]."

The doctrine of resurrection embodied a belief that true life required a unity of body and soul. Without the body the soul may exist but cannot be said to be truly alive, since neither body nor soul can function without one another.

This contrasts with the Greek view of the immortal and independent soul. St Paul spoke of the existence between death and resurrection as being naked and needing to be clothed.

"For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptable [1 Corinthians 15: 52]."

"God is Spirit [John 4: 24]." The Hebrew term, "rauch," translates as "wind," "breath," and "spirit" when reproduced in English. The idea of the Spirit as "bond of love" has important implications for St Augustine's doctrine of the Trinity, and his doctrine of the Church.

St Augustine regards the Spirit as the bond of unity between Father and Son on the one hand, and between God and believers on the other. The Spirit is a gift, given by God, which unites believers both to God and to other believers.