When we hear the word "Evolution"... What most likely comes to mind is "Darwin's Theory of Evolution". And while the term "Evolution" has many meanings... it is the Biological Definition that is by far the most familiar. And when We think of Biological Evolution... We almost certainly think of "Darwin" and his Theory of Evolution.

Darwin's Theory of Evolution... as first introduced in his seminal Origin of Species publication... is historically not the only comprehensive Theory of Evolution. Actually, another naturalist of the time, Alfred Russel Wallace, had formulated his own Theory of Evolution through extensive observation of wild life. Darwin was given the credit for the Theory of Evolution because he was the first to explain the major "Why" of the phenomena of Evolution... which was Natural Selection.

It is said that Biology as a science made its move from an Aristotelian stage to a Newtonian one with the development of the Theory of Evolution. Quite an accomplishment... for both Science and Humanity.

But what about "Religion"???

Here again... when we hear the term "Religion"... we think of "Orthodox" or "Established Religion". Even in its most elementary form, Religion is generally defined as a "set of beliefs". A set of "Dogmas". A set of "Unscientific Opinions or Convictions". Science is thought to be based on "Fact"... and Religion is based on "Non-Fact" or "Belief". Seems pretty "Cut and Dried"... doesn't it?

Of course, any truly critical thinker could argue the "Pros and Cons" of the "Reality of Science" vs the "Reality of Religion" forever. Philosophically speaking... neither can absolutely "Prove" anything outside of context! But the Fact of the Matter... is that both the Scientific Realm and the Religious Realm... both have as its Major Objective (or Purpose or Intent or Impetus) to "Come to Realize and Understand" the Universe as it is... in "All Its Glory and Truth". We do this through "better approximations" of our Definitions of Universal Reality. And when it comes right down to it... the "Thinking" part of our Minds that use Definitions in the first place... can only "take us so far". Our "Perceptions" are not limited to only our Intellectual Processes... but many "Other" capacities that we are for the most part "Unaware". We talk in terms of knowing "with the Heart" and "through Intuition"... but we have a very difficult time "mentally" understanding them. We find it almost impossible to explain them in the Realm of Science.  

So... "What's The Point"???

This Article is about the "Issue" of Evolution. That involves the Concept of Evolution in the Scientific Sense and in the Essential Sense. From a Social Perspective, it involves the Concept of Religion in the Orthodox Sense... and also in the Essential Sense.

Without addressing the "Essential Sense" of Evolution and Religion... there is no way to resolve the "Issues" surrounding the drama between Science and Religion on the Subject and its Social Implications. Obviously, from an Intellectual perspective, to adequately and comprehensively address this Issue would take Volumes of Academania and Aboutisms. That's basically the crux of the Problem to begin with. Rather, it is "My Objective" here to simply give a very brief introduction to the Subject of Evolution... make some very relevant "points"... and try to create further thought and investigation into the Scientific, Religious, Philosophical and Essential aspects of the Phenomena we label "Evolution".

So... What is the "Essential Sense"???

While it may be argued that "Everything" in Existence has an "Essential Sense"... here I am limiting the discussion to Animals... and the "Human Animal" in particular. One of the many "Problems" with Orthodox Religion is their inability to include All Animals in "God's Grace"... but that is an Issue in an of itself. For now... let's just focus on "Human Essence". Further... let's refer to "Essence" as the "Soul".

On an Elementary Level... both Science and Religion have a real "Problem" in conceiving the Phenomena of Essential Evolution as Relevant to their specific Realm of Understanding. Of course, most of the Problem is that they are Thinking on an "Elementary Level". Their "Definitions" are both Childish and Immature. That is not to say that Science or Religion as Institutions are Elementary "in and of themselves"... but rather a significant cross section of both entities are. Of course, to think of Individuals in terms of "either or" is not accurate or realistic. Mostly "Scientific" Thinkers are also "Religious" in some sense... and Mostly "Religious" Thinkers are also "Scientific" in some sense. Einstein even referred that "A Scientists that is not a Philosopher is not a True Scientists". But I digress... 

True Scientists understand the limitations of their Discipline. Science itself is fundamentally a "Methodology". It is a system of "Noting Consistencies"... and trying to "make sense" of  those consistencies. It is like "painting the Invisible Man". The "Form" of the Man is "made visible"... but the "Essence" remains unseen and a Mystery. So much of the "Body of Scientific Knowledge" is wrongly attributed to "Science". The "Sense" that is made of the "Noted Consistencies" come from "Various Sources" of Human Perceptual Capacity... including but not inclusive of the Intellect. Through Inductive and Deductive and Intuitive Reasoning (to name a few)... We "make sense" of the data derived from Scientific Methodology. And we subsume it all under the grand umbrella of "Science".

From a Biological Perspective... that Species Evolve is an Undisputable Fact of Life. Natural Selection is also undisputable as being "one explanation" as to "how" they Evolve. As are "All" Explanations (Definitions), there is undoubtedly room for improvement (better approximations). The "key word" though here is "Biological"... or "of the Body". By assuming or implying that Biological Evolution is inclusive of "The Soul"... then the "Science of Evolution" has gravely Overstepped it Bounds. To be Fair... The Institution of Science... and Darwin's Theory of Evolution is not exactly the same thing. While many "members" of  the Scientific Community wholly sympathize with Darwin's Theory of Evolution in its entirety... many do not. "Darwinian Evolution" loses its Credibility when it attempts to apply Biological Evolution to The Soul. And that is just what Charles Darwin "Believes" to be true. At that point, that aspect of His Theory becomes "Religion". It may or may not be true... but IT IS NOT SCIENCE!

Enter Alfred Russel Wallace...

In the Book "Darwin, Discovering the Tree of Life" by Niles Eldredge... it is mentioned that Darwin's Theory of Evolution concludes the "Evolution of the Soul".
 

While "Evolution of The Body" may imply "Evolution of Consciousness"... it DOES NOT imply "Evolution of The Soul". Making this "Assumption" is an Unscientific and Ethical Error... even if it is a Question that needs to be fervently pursued by both the Scientific and Religious Communities.

It is worth noting here, that Eldredge apparently equates "Human Consciousness" with The "Human Soul". That is a far fetched notion... and is a good example how "Concrete Thinkers" have a difficult time comprehending Abstract Concepts. While Human Consciousness and The Human Soul are without a doubt two of the most challenging mysteries in human history... "Consciousness" (whatever it is and however it is) is most definitely Real. The "Soul" on the other hand is not something that (within Reason) we can say is Unequivocally Real. While most people both Believe and "Feel" that it is a Real Aspect of their lives... it is at this time not applicable to Scientific Speculation... while "Consciousness" is. That "Does Not" mean that the Soul does not exist... or that it hasn't "Evolved" also. Nor does it mean that Science may someday be able to both Prove the Soul's Existence and Explain "What It Is" and "How It Is".

For now though... the Soul remains an Enigma to Science and Objective Observation.

What is important "Now"... for both Science and True Religion... is that both Institutions Evolve their Paradigm to explain both the Physical and Spiritual aspects of "Evolution" as related to "Beings" (Human and Otherwise)... in terms of Body, Consciousness, Emotion and Essence... and perhaps "Spirit".

The "Issue" of Evolution also involves the "Universal Sense" of the Concept...

Evolution of "Physical Life Forms" relative to "Conditions through Time" here on Earth... does not exclude or negate the Influence of Universal Realities on those same Beings. To think that a "Universal Life Force" is not involved in the Cosmic Evolutionary Process (of which Darwinian Evolution is but a small part) is absurd. Not being able to "Prove it to be True" is not a "Proof that it is Untrue". Unquestionably, "Life on Earth" is Evolving toward "Something". What is that "Something"? Will the "Evolution" of Body only take us so far... and ultimately transform us into pure "Energy Beings"... or Beings of the Spirit?

These questions seem so Unorthodox to the conventional way of Thinking... for both the Scientific and Religious Community (especially the Fundamentalists). But... We have to ask the "Critical Question"... "Are We Essentially Energy Beings"? Is the Body (Soma) simply a Manifestation of the Our Energy Self? Ask a Physicist what "Matter" really is. The answer will be (eventually) "Energy".

The point is that if We do not seek to Understand Life and Evolution in Terms of "Essential Energy"... then We may be limiting the capacity of both Science and Religion to take Us further into the Awareness and Understanding of Our Existence on Earth... and how We relate and are connected to Universal Reality. And when it comes to the Reality of "The Soul"... We have to ask the Essential Question, "Does The Soul Evolve"... or is it Eternal? Is it more of a matter of "Metamorphosis" of the Soul when Humans Die? And... are Humans the only Animal with a Soul? Indeed, some heavy questions... of which many will say is "not relevant" to the Issue of Evolution. But then again... some will say... "Why Not"?

Questioning the boundaries between "Body, Mind and Spirit" is part of the Relevant Inquiries about Evolution. If "Everything" is a "Manifestation of Energy"... then what actually is "Body and Mind"??? And what of the Soul? Is the Soul "Energy"?

It is said that the only thing permanent in life is "change". Everything changes in some way... through time. Sometimes the changes may be simply by aging... or by interactions with "the Elements". But sometimes... the changes come via Evolution. All living organisms Evolve. Likewise, all systems of purpose, like Societies themselves, Evolve in their own way. 

Evolution is an incredibly profound concept. That is why it has remained so pervasively in Societies and Cultures throughout the world. Because Evolution, in all its implications, is such an integral part of our Lives... on both an academic and practical way... it maintains its familiarity to us in all of our Social and Cultural and Scientific Dialogue. Yet no matter how acquainted we are with the Term and Concept... there still remains a mystery and mystique surrounding it. Perhaps the reason is that there is so much more to be understood about "Life on Earth" and how it relates to Humanity and the Universe... than We can ever Imagine?

For a Better Informed & Involved Public...

Lonnie J. Burris
Activist & Concerned Citizen