Summary
Spiritual Anthropology and the Evolution of the Soul
One of the most ambitious life questions is whether humans are born with an immortal soul. Yet, all dogma regarding the origin, nature and purpose of the soul remains flawed. Modern science repudiates the soul and disciplines such as religions and occultism struggle to validate its existence for their reliance on doctrine and faith. Yet, only scientific proof can provide a satisfactory answer that does not require faith. Science’s disregard of the soul renders all humans “soul-less” creatures.
According to evolutionary theory, humans (Homo sapiens) have a dualistic nature comprising a body and a mind - the soul component does not exist. However, we no longer question whether evolution exists; we merely study its mechanisms and implications. From a scientific point of view, for the soul to exist, it must be a product of evolution. The question therefore beckons whether evolution can also take place on a more subtle “spiritual” level still undetected by current modern technology. This could then give rise to an “evolutionary soul” rather than it being supernatural speculation. In my opinion, the supposition of an evolutionary soul merits investigation.
There are strong indications that evolution was in fact able to produce the soul. By implication, this means another “human” species could coexist alongside Homo sapiens. If our science determines Homo sapiens by classification are “soulless” creatures, then “soul-empowered” beings must be something else. I call such “soul-empowered” humans Homo angelicansis. Rather than changing outwardly with physical adaptations, Homo angelicansis evolves on a “spiritual” level. Moreover, spiritual evolution has a very specific purpose.
Life on Earth faces a serious problem. Earth cannot indefinitely provide us with safe and sufficient resources and accommodation. Future catastrophe is a certainty. In an attempt to ensure long-term survival, scientists contemplate genetic engineering and space travel to migrate to alternative destinations in the universe. However, they are by no means sure that their technology will ever make cosmic migration possible. In all probability, their space programs and genetic endeavors will remain a dead end. If their technology fails, what is the alternative? Genetic engineering and space ships are not Nature’s way of dealing with potential catastrophe. It is Man’s way. Homo angelicansis – a soul empowered species – could be nature’s solution to extinction. Soul empowered beings will not require space ships or genetic engineering to migrate elsewhere in the universe. In all likelihood, the soul will migrate to different dimensions of reality.
The soul is actually not a prerequisite for life on Earth in that humans do not require a soul to exist. We only need a physical body with a brain. It is only when our thoughts and consciousness extend beyond the confines of the physical body and the physical realm that soul becomes essential. Perhaps nature was indeed preparing for such migration when first creating a soul. A “soul” transcending to some form of “heaven” is therefore not that farfetched. I do not think the conception of a soul is erroneous and mere delusional fantasy as modern science suggests. If anything, we should direct our science and technology towards the discovery and survival of our soul. The struggle for spiritual survival has never been as crucial and yet so vulnerable, as now.
Homo angelicansis is a scientific wide-ranging exploration of our evolutionary soul rather than another dogmatic look at spirituality. At a time when scientists are able to change our physical nature through genetic manipulation and thereby dictate the future path of evolution, spirituality is sidelined because of the presumptuous assumption that life exists on a physio-biological level only. If the soul already exists, can a species such as Homo angelicansis achieve spiritual singularity before it is too late? Scientific proof that the soul exists may be around the corner. The implications are huge.
About the Author
Izak J. Botha was born in 1957 in South Africa. He finished secondary education in Johannesburg in the mid 1970s, after which he did conscription service in the South African National Defence Force. Later, he studied ballet at the University of Cape Town to become a principal dancer in the Cape Town City Ballet (CAPAB), and earned two bachelors’ degrees in building sciences: (B. Build) (B. Arch) at the University of Port Elizabeth. Whilst practising as an architect he furthered his business career in outdoor media and property development. It was also during this time, that he successfully challenged three pension funds in litigation that lasted five years. In 2002, he retired from corporate life to write about the driving force of his life: spirituality. His research on spirituality stretches back thirty years, with the last five years dedicated to the writing of his first book Homo Angelicansis.
Izak J. Botha is currently busy writing a second book on spiritual consciousness.
