Soul: The True Essence of Human Nature
From a religious-philosophical perspective, the assertion that a human being is a "Living Soul" emphasizes that the true essence of a person is not their body, but an immortal, spiritual substance that is distinct from and superior to material existence. The soul is the bearer of higher capabilities, such as memory, reasoning, creative will, and the ability to communicate with God. It is the soul that defines a person's true life, remaining active and significant even when the physical body ceases to function as an organ of life.Thus, according to one source, "The human soul infinitely surpasses, in its organization, his bodily substance; therefore, as long as it remains with the body, all the most essential psychic and spiritual functional capacities of a human being are attributed to it..." (source: link txt). This underscores the idea that it is the soul which primarily possesses qualities like memory, reasoning, and creative will, while the body plays only an auxiliary, mechanical role.Another source states, "The human soul is spiritual and immortal – that is a dogma. According to the definition by the blessed Augustine, it is formless (invisible) and unformed..." (source: link txt). This perspective implies that the true "self" of a person is their spiritual essence, created by God, which does not depend on transient material forms and remains alive even after the physical existence has ended.
An additional important point is the priority of the soul over the body: "What is more important in a human, the body or the soul?The soul is the main thing. When the soul lives, the person lives. And when death comes, what dies—the soul or the body? The body dies, but the soul remains alive." (source: link txt). This once again draws our attention to the fact that a person's essential life is determined by the state of their soul, not by the external manifestations of physical existence.Thus, the assertion conveys that by its true nature, a person is a living spiritual entity with an immortal essence, which is the source of their mental, moral, and life qualities, as well as their connection to higher, divine principles.