The human spirit

The power of life comes from the organic form of matter, known as the "soul" (anima, psyche) in the Aristotelian tradition.

The soul is the form of the body.

There are two kinds of living souls: plant and animal.

The human soul has God-given spiritual powers that distinguish us from all other living beings: intelligence and free will.

God is pure, uncreated spirit.

The angels are pure, created, spirits.

We are incarnate (enfleshed) spirits--"geist im welt" (Rahner).

The human spirit is not a byproduct of material complexity but is a direct, personal gift from God at the moment of our conception.

Our spirit is our deepest, truest identity.

Our spirit empowers us to receive God Himself. No other living beings on earth have this power; whether there are other incarnate spirits (extraterrestrials) in the universe remains to be seen.