Homo Angelicansis:
A worthwhile analysis of evolutionary thought
Rapport – South Africa – 26 January 2008
By George Claasen

Journalist, writer and ombudsman GEORGE CLAASSEN examines a new South African contribution to “loosening the grip that religions still have on mankind’’.

Scientific discoveries are systematically getting rid
of the unquestioning acceptance religions have on absolute knowledge and of being the only legitimate interpreters of truth. The uncritical acceptance for centuries by believers, especially
in the monotheistic religions, is daily being circumscribed
by scientific findings.

This process already started in the sixteenth century
when first Copernicus and then Galileo came to conclusions
about our solar system, which radically undermined
the Church’s authority. Charles Darwin’s publication in 1859
of The Origin of Species, in which he outlined evolutionary
theory for the first time, irreparably upset the religious applecart. After the powerful confirmation of evolution as the mainstay
theory of twentieth century biology and genetics,
despite fierce opposition by creationists, faith in a creative God
started losing its grip on the psyche of mankind.

The British scientist Julian Huxley described the fading credibility of religions in the onslaught of scientific discoveries as: “Operationally, God is beginning to resemble not a ruler,
but the last fading smile of a cosmic Cheshire Cat."
Izak Botha contributes to the loosening from the grip religions
still have on humanity. His book follows on a series of publications from the last decade demonstrating science’s impatience
with the continual dismissal of evolution – based on ignorance
and fear – as a legitimate mainstream scientific theory
by creationists and followers of the Intelligent Design theory. Consider then Daniel Dennett’s Darwin’s Dangerous Idea,
A.N. Wilson’s God’s Funeral, Victor Stenger’s God: The Failed Hypothesis – How Science Shows That God Does not Exist, Richard Dawkins’s The God Delusion, and Christopher Hitchen’s God is not Great – How Religion Poisons Everything,
to name a few.

Botha takes a strong stand against irrational religious claims
and the influence it still has on humanity’s non-critical thinking.
He speaks plainly concerning the expectation that an immortal soul will one day allow everybody to rise from the dead
and stand before the judgement seat of some or other creationist-god. “These fantastical stories are exactly what we need
to get away from. There is no truth in them, they have no merit
and should die a quick death right here... it is not the truth, never was and never will be. Soul or the life and existence of soul have nothing to do with religion. The doctrine... is a myth or part of mythology as much as the ones created 3-4000 years before
the so-called birth and life of Jesus. It is nothing more.”

He offers a thorough overview of the origin of thoughts
concerning spirituality and the soul. He also dedicates chapters
to myths and unproven arguments concerning religions
and philosophies whereby the soul reincarnates and continues
to exist in other creatures after death. He discusses pseudo-scientific writers such as Erich von Däniken, David Icke and many similarly farfetched philosophies, a view which again flabbergasts one about the absolute drivel people manage to believe.
On New Year’s Day South Africa saw a good example of this type of uncritical thinking and the media’s contributing role when Freek Robinson in his talk show “Praat Saam” [talk together] dedicated almost an entire hour to astrology, with an astrologer as the guest. Talk about uncritical thinking!

Particularly in the last chapters, Botha explains his own theory regarding the possible immortality of the soul. For the soul
to exist, he admits, we will have to verify its existence scientifically. He believes the only way the concept of a soul can survive
is when Homo sapiens, through evolutionary means, develop
into a new species he calls Homo angelicansis. He emphasises that spirituality is a destiny, not a formalised doctrine or belief.
“As we now see, that destiny has nothing to do with faith
or the belief in some religious creed. We can explain
our destiny scientifically.”

He proposes Homo angelicansis is a new species developing alongside Homo sapiens for the sake of survival. Even though
he strongly rejects the farfetched claims religious followers
and other pseudo-scientists make, he unfortunately makes
the same mistake by not subjecting his theory to scientific testing.
Science is based on facts – herein lies its strength. When you present something as the truth, other parties must independently be able to test it through observation and experimentation
and come to more or less the same conclusion. Botha’s theory cannot be tested as much as believers in the eternal life theory cannot be subjected to Karl Popper’s falsifiability principles.

Despite all the objections by creationists and other believers, Huxley believes recognised science shows how evolution is currently “the most powerful and encompassing idea
ever created on earth”.The evolutionary biologist Ernst Mayr
put it even stronger. In What Evolution Is he writes: “Evolution is the most important concept in biology. There is not a single Why? question in biology that can be answered adequately without
a consideration of evolution. But the importance of this concept goes far beyond biology. The thinking of modern humans,
whether we realize it or not, is profoundly affected – one is almost tempted to say determined – by evolutionary thinking.”
In this regard, Botha’s book is a crucial analysis of evolutionary thinking. It deserves to be read with care, regardless of the lack
of scientific proof for his base theory.

George Claassen is director of Sceptic South Africa
and author of Geloof, bygeloof en ander wensdenkery - perspektiewe op ontdekkings en irrasionaliteite
(Protea Boekhuis).

ForeWord CLARION Rewiews.
MIND, BODY, SPIRIT
Homo Angelicansis:
Spiritual Anthropology & the Evolution of the Soul
Izak J. Botha
Izak J. Botha / Creda Communications
Softcover $19.00
335 pages
ISBN: 9780620373760
****
“…if there is such a thing as the soul, then it is still steeped in mystery and supernature and has yet to be explained…”

Straight out of Cape town, Izak Botha applies a wide-open mind
to the task of pinning down the human soul’s origin. This isn’t religious posturing and it isn’t an obscure exercise. He wants
to understand in order to apply that knowledge
to the development of Homo Sapiens’ successor species,
the only hope for our souls’ long term survival. As the world reaches carrying capacity and resources disappear,
we’ll have to find a way to travel elsewhere, without
the encumbrance of bodies, if possible.

Homo Angelicansis represents a categorical shift in evolution.
As genetic science comes to direct an increasing amount of the physical aspects of human beings, the natural impetus for change may stall out completely. At the same time, our “spiritual intelligence” is trending toward rapid expansion.
“…the soul is becoming conscious of its own existence…”

The history of Christianity is mined for answers,
but like Buddhism, it is found unhelpful in producing anything concrete: “…religious doctrine holds no water since it is riddled with dogma, which is sustained merely by faith.” Occultism,
and Theosophy are similarly flawed, as is Descartes’ dualism.
The principles of Cosmology may or may not prove useful.
Susan Blackmore’s work on memetics may represent an advance. Near Death Experiences, in which hospital patients experience thoughts or memories while flat-lined on brain activity offer a promising lead. Heavyweights of Reason, such as
Thomas Paine, Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking
are tapped for a clue each.

The bibliography lists about three hundred books and articles.
Part One presents a number of crackpot notions,
postulated by various erudite nutjobs. The proposed sources
of the soul run the gamut from reptilian extraterrestrial invaders
to the absurdly unreasonable: “…the possible crossbreeding between divinity and humans is something that has plagued researchers for some time.”
The author isn’t quick enough at clarifying that he discounts
the unadulterated insanity, so those unwarned may give up
before they reach the main body of tremendously insightful analysis. Though Botha considers unusual perspectives, nothing is accepted without tangible proof,
the kind educated people buy into.

The leadoff pack of ideas is similar to something brown
stuck to the bottom of a shoe, but amazing improvement pulls Homo Angelicansis back from the fringe.
Midway through, it’s worth mentioning to a friend.
Eventually Botha’s inquiry and line of logic seem beyond
the merely plausible—it is urgently imperative.
More questions are raised than answered, but the broad
casting yields real results and the loose ends
point to future research.

Reviewed by Todd Mercer - ForeWord CLARION Rewiews.

Longevity magazine
Homo angelicansis:
Spiritual Anthropology and the Evolution of the Soul

Evolutionary theories about life on earth have been speculated and postulated endlessly. But have you ever thought about spiritual evolution or the evolution of the soul? In this thought-provoking book, Botha explores the universe, the meaning of life and spirituality. Passing through creationist myths, religious creeds, esoteric doctrines and philosophical systems he inspires debate and contention. With the help of cosmology and evolution, he guides the reader on a fascinating journey documenting the evolution of the soul. Homo angelicansis is a new species that
has evolved past primates and past Homo sapiens into a spiritual realm. With a spiritual and physical nature, these beings may be evolving even further into an entity that can survive the destruction of the earth. Using a controversial framework the author inspires debate in his readers taking them on a journey of possibilities
and opening up new areas of speculation and ideas.


Robyn Wilkinson - Longevity magazine

Books & Leisure
Homo Angelicansis:
Spiritual Anthropology and the evolution of the Soul

I have to admit that I chose this book based on its title.
The idea of the evolution of the human soul piqued my interest.
It takes the reader on a diverse journey though many
disciplines in an effort to prove the existence of Homo Angelicansis. No one set of beliefs (Christian, occult, biology, physics or archaeology, to name a few) is safe from Botha’s probing. He is at times quite scathing of what he perceives
to be human silliness. Beliefs that have circulated for thousands
of years are put to the test though logical and detailed argument. Botha contends that “spirituality is…a destination, not a doctrine
of belief.” And that we are all destined to discover this.
Be prepared to have many of your assumptions and beliefs
put to the test. Be prepared to find yourself arguing
in their defence at times, and look forward to seeing things from
a new perspective. Whilst you may not always end up agreeing with Botha, you will certainly have thought more deeply
about the things that you believe to be true
about human spirituality. I have to confess to feeling
somewhat ignorant of quantum physics and the like,
and so felt unable to argue some of Botha’s contentions,
but for the most part I found his exploration an interesting
and engaging one.


Kemble Elliott