There is no other word in English to indicate Atman other than the Soul.+

Many people get confused when the word Soul is used because there is no other word in English to indicate Atman other than the Soul. The Soul is the 'Self. The 'Self' means the real existence hidden by the 'I', which is the dualistic illusion or Maya. 

The word Soul is an indicator of the truth hidden by ignorance. Different words are used for the same by different people.

Bhagavan Buddha called it as emptiness/nothingness,

Sage Sri, Sankara called it as Brahman (ultimate truth,)

Christens called it Christ consciousness (Spirit,)

The Intellectuals call it consciousness,

Thus, there is no harm in using the word Soul, which is merely a  pointer to the core of the true existence, which is not physical but it is the Spirit.

Atman or Soul means eternal existence.   The Soul is permanent the ‘I’ which appears and disappears is impermanent.

Because the Soul the ‘Self’ is Self-evident It is not established by extraneous proofs. It is not possible to deny the Soul which is present in the form of consciousness because It is the very essence of the one who denies It. The Atman is the basis of all kinds of knowledge, presuppositions, and proofs.

Sage Sankara said: ~  Just as the snake is superimposed on the rope, this world and this body are superimposed on Brahman or the Soul the ‘Self’. If one gets knowledge of the rope, the illusion of the snake will vanish. Even so, if he gets knowledge of Brahman, the illusion of the body and the world will vanish.

The snake is only an idea: it disappears on inquiry but deeper Self-search reveals the fact that the rope is also an idea and its reality will be exposed when wisdom dawns. There is neither a snake nor a rope in reality because from the ultimate standpoint the duality is merely an illusion created out of consciousness.

The Soul which is present in the form of consciousness is the root element of the universe. From consciousness, the universe comes into existence. In consciousness, the universe resides. And into the consciousness, the universe is dissolved.   Consciousness is the parent of all that is there. Consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman God in truth.

Consciousness is the only reality, and the universe too but an illusory manifestation.  Santthosh Kumaar