Spiritual Anthropology and the Evolution of the Soul

Homo angelicansis is about spirituality and the soul in the cosmological and evolutionary context. If we cannot place the soul in the evolutionary context, we probably do not have one.
The idea of an immortal soul has fascinated humans for thousands of years. However, there is no proof that the soul exists and no certainty that it could be immortal. All dogma regarding the origin, nature and purpose of the soul remains flawed. Religion and occultism have struggled without success to validate the existence of the human soul. In stark contrast, we have modern science and philosophy refuting any possibility that the soul exists. Yet without proof, we merely sustain our views through hope and faith. Something sceptics cannot accept.

According to neuroscience, all humans (Homo sapiens) have a dualistic nature comprising a body and a brain-mind and from an evolutionary point of view, humans are merely conscious animals. However, that excludes the soul. Sciences’ lack of recognition that the soul exists renders all humans “soul-less” beings. In evolutionary thinking, for the soul to exists, it must be a product of natural selection. It cannot be the result of some “Godly” gift to an elevated human race. Life would have to come up with its own solution to produce a soul.

The possibility that humans are more than physical creatures merits investigation. There are in fact indications that evolution is able to produce a “triune being” with a body, a mind and an evolutionary soul. If that is so, another “Homo” species could coexist alongside Homo sapiens. I call such an advanced soul-empowered species Homo angelicansis. Rather than changing outwardly with physical adaptations, Homo angelicansis evolved on a more subtle “spiritual” level.

Life on Earth is a relatively unsafe cosmic destination and its limited resources will prevent long-term survival for all. In an attempt to find new habitable homes scientists contemplate space migration to other planets in our solar system or even alternative solar systems in our own galaxy. However, we are by no means sure that our science and technology will ever make such space migration possible or that we will find other destinations suitable for human occupation. Moreover, even if such endeavours were successful, not all humans would be able to join the escape. That is if “humans” can undertake such elaborate migrations.

The physics for manned spaceflights beyond our own solar system is actually not possible. It will not only require genetically reengineered creatures to become more suited for the harsh conditions encountered in space, it will require yet to be discovered physics. In all probability, our space programmes will remain a dead end. Nevertheless, genetic engineering and space travel is not nature’s way of dealing with potential catastrophe. It is human’s way. If technology fails, what is the alternative?
Even though science rejects the notion of a soul and even though the “creationist’s soul” is flawed, the conception of an “evolutionary soul” deserves investigation. At a time when scientists are able to change the physical nature of life forms through genetic manipulation and thereby dictate the path and duration of evolution, spirituality is sidelined for the presumption that the soul does not exist. If the evolutionary soul exists, can a species such as Homo angelicansis achieve spiritual anomaly? Proof that the soul exists is crucial and may be around the corner. The implications are huge.