(03-04-2025, 09:22 AM)F2d5thCav Wrote: At MSB-- that surely played a role in the "journeys" of Shamans.
But the "bright light encounter" is not a satisfying explanation. Even if one entire tribe was unified with the Source (given eternal souls) at once, that doesn't make clear how all (well, most, I am of the opinion there are genuine NPCs among us who have no soul) humanity came to have souls.
Yet, it is difficult to imagine the first proto-humans who were just a bit more advanced than great apes ... having a soul while the apes got left with animal spirit. Not that animal spirit isn't special itself, but IMO that is not the same as them having eternal souls. I guess what I'm trying to point out is that, from appearances, some kind of "intervention" took place at some point during the evolution of the human species.
I have discussed the soulishness of animals with a friend and he believed that through association with humans that animals can have an eternal soul. I don't think there is any Christian doctrine that supported his contention, however far Eastern ones may.
It seems unreasonable to believe that one has a soul and another doesn't. I find it hard to believe that an insect has a soul, but I have seen some insects act intelligently rather than out of instinct alone. I tend to believe that everything has a soul, even inanimate things. All or nothing more or less.
A trail goes two ways and looks different in each direction - There is no such thing as a timid woodland creature - Whatever does not kill you leaves you a survivor - Jesus is NOT a bad word - MSB