Hebrew Bible; Judaism

Also: Soul; life; breath

Lowest level of soul; life force; animating principle. Gen 2:7: God breathed into Adam the breath of life (nishmat hayyim) and he became a living nefesh.

References: Gen 2:7; Lev 17:11; Deut 12:23

Realm: earth

Hebrew Bible; Judaism

Also: Spirit; wind

Spirit; intermediate soul level; associated with emotion and moral capacity. Survives death in some traditions.

References: Ecc 12:7; Isa 57:16; Ps 31:6

Judaism; Kabbalah

Also: Divine breath; highest soul

Highest soul level; divine spark; intellect. In Kabbalah, the three levels (nefesh, ruach, neshamah) ascend through purification.

References: Gen 2:7 (nishmat); Job 32:8; Kabbalah

Jewish mysticism; Kabbalah

Also: Transmigration; reincarnation

Transmigration of souls; reincarnation. Souls may return to complete rectification (tikkun).

References: Kabbalah; Lurianic tradition

Greek philosophy; Plato

Also: Soul; mind

Soul; in Plato, immortal and pre-existent; descends into body, ascends after death. Tripartite: rational, spirited, appetitive.

References: Plato: Phaedo, Republic

Greek; New Testament

Also: Spirit; breath

Spirit; breath; in NT, Holy Spirit (pneuma hagion) or human spirit. 1 Cor 15:44: spiritual body (soma pneumatikon).

References: 1 Cor 15:44; John 3:6; 2 Cor 5:5

Christian tradition

Also: Soul survives death

Soul is immortal; survives bodily death; awaits resurrection and final judgment. Heaven, hell, or purgatory.

References: Matt 10:28; Luke 23:43; 2 Cor 5:8

Christian; New Testament

Also: Soma pneumatikon

At the last day, souls receive resurrected bodies—spiritual, incorruptible. 1 Cor 15.

References: 1 Cor 15:42–54; 1 Thess 4:16–17

Catholic tradition

Also: Purification after death

Intermediate state; souls purified before heaven. Not in Protestant canon but attested in tradition.

References: 2 Macc 12:46; 1 Cor 3:15; tradition

Realm: other

Islamic; Quran

Also: Self; soul

Soul; self. Stages: nafs al-ammara (commanding evil), nafs al-lawwama (self-reproaching), nafs al-mutma'inna (at peace).

References: Quran 12:53; 75:2; 89:27

Islamic; Quran

Also: Spirit

Spirit; breathed into humans by God. At death, ruh is taken by the Angel of Death.

References: Quran 15:29; 32:9; 39:42

Islamic; Quran

Also: Barrier; intermediate state

Barrier between death and resurrection; souls await judgment. Quran 23:100.

References: Quran 23:100; 25:53; 55:20

Hindu; Vedas; Upanishads

Also: Self; soul

True self; eternal soul; identical with Brahman in Advaita. Transmigrates through rebirth (samsara).

References: Bhagavad Gita; Upanishads

Hindu; Buddhist

Also: Cycle of rebirth

Cycle of birth, death, rebirth. Souls transmigrate based on karma until liberation (moksha/nirvana).

References: Bhagavad Gita; Buddhist texts

Buddhist

Also: No permanent self

No permanent, unchanging soul; continuity through karma and rebirth. Liberation (nirvana) is release from cycle.

References: Dhammapada; Buddhist canon

Zoroastrianism

Also: Soul

Soul; at death crosses Chinvat bridge to judgment. Righteous to paradise; wicked to hell.

References: Avesta; Zoroastrian texts

Zoroastrianism

Also: Conscience; spiritual self

Spiritual double; meets the soul at Chinvat bridge. Reflects deeds in life.

References: Avesta; Bundahishn

Cross-cultural

Also: Tradition-dependent

Soul or spirit as understood in various traditions; definition varies. May be immortal, transmigrating, or annihilated.

death Hebrew Bible

Realms: earth → hell

At death, souls descend to Sheol—the underworld. No moral distinction in early texts; all go down.

References: Gen 37:35; Num 16:33; Ps 6:5; 88:3–5

death Greek; Luke 16

Realms: earth → hell

Souls of the dead go to Hades. Parable of rich man and Lazarus: torment vs. Abraham's bosom.

References: Luke 16:19–31

judgment Christian; Matthew

At death or last day, souls judged. Righteous to heaven; wicked to Gehenna.

References: Matt 25:31–46; Rev 20:11–15

judgment Zoroastrianism

Realms: earth → ?

Soul crosses Chinvat bridge; righteous pass to paradise; wicked fall to hell.

References: Avesta; Bundahishn

death Islamic; Quran

Realms: earth → ?

Souls in barzakh await resurrection (qiyama) and final judgment.

References: Quran 23:100; 40:46

ascent Genesis; 1 Enoch; 2 Enoch

Realms: earth → ?

Enoch walked with God and was taken; did not die. Bodily ascent through heavens.

References: Gen 5:24; Heb 11:5; 1 Enoch; 2 Enoch

ascent 2 Kings

Realms: earth → ?

Elijah taken up in whirlwind with chariot of fire. Bodily ascent.

References: 2 Kgs 2:11

ascent 2 Corinthians

Realms: earth → ?

Paul caught up to third heaven (Paradise); in body or out, he did not know.

References: 2 Cor 12:2–4

ascent Luke; Christian tradition

Realms: earth → ?

At death, souls of righteous go to Paradise (Abraham's bosom) or heaven.

References: Luke 23:43; 2 Cor 5:8

descent 1 Enoch

Realms: ? → earth

200 Watchers descended from heaven to Mount Hermon; took human wives. Fallen angels.

References: 1 Enoch 6–7

descent Isaiah; Luke

Realms: ? → hell

Lucifer/Satan cast down from heaven. Fallen angel.

References: Isa 14:12; Luke 10:18

reincarnation Jewish mysticism

Realms: ? → earth

Souls return in new bodies to complete rectification or atonement.

References: Kabbalah; Zohar

reincarnation Hindu; Buddhist

Realms: ? → earth

Souls reborn based on karma. Cycle continues until moksha or nirvana.

References: Bhagavad Gita; Buddhist canon

purification Catholic tradition

Souls in purgatory purified before entering heaven. Prayers and masses aid.

References: 2 Macc 12; 1 Cor 3:15; tradition

resurrection Christian; Jewish

At the end of days, dead rise; souls reunited with bodies. Final judgment.

References: Dan 12:2; John 5:28–29; 1 Cor 15

resurrection Islamic; Quran

Day of resurrection; souls judged; paradise (janna) or hell (jahannam).

References: Quran 75; 82; 101