by Daniel Brouse
The questions “How do I get to go to heaven?” and “What is a soul?” have intrigued humans for millennia. These concepts touch on the deepest aspects of human existence, offering not only spiritual and philosophical contemplation but also a search for purpose in the cosmos. Our understanding of these concepts has evolved over time, shaped by religious beliefs, scientific discovery, and our exploration of the universe.
Humans have been on Earth for about 200,000 years, with our closest evolutionary relatives dating back around 140,000 years. The earliest recordings of human history date to roughly 100,000 years ago, with the story of The Seven Sisters of The Pleiades being one of the first known narratives. This group of stars in the Taurus constellation has been part of various cultures’ mythology, and though there are six stars visible to the naked eye, the seventh has not been visible for over 100,000 years. This symbolizes humanity’s evolving understanding of the cosmos and our place within it.
Throughout history, humans have developed belief systems to explain the world around them—beliefs that often stem from our perception of the unknown. These ideas have manifested in religion, astrology, and other metaphysical systems. Unfortunately, some of these beliefs have led humanity down paths of ignorance, arrogance, and intolerance, as we veered away from scientific discovery. By focusing on metaphysical worlds, we have often squandered the opportunity to understand our true nature, the universe, and the critical importance of our interconnected existence.
Heaven: A Birth on Earth
The concept of heaven, when examined closely, seems less about an afterlife and more about the potential for creating a “heaven on Earth.” Across various religious traditions, heaven is often depicted as a paradise—a place of ultimate peace, fulfillment, and divine presence. However, this idea can be interpreted as a goal for humanity to strive toward during our lives, not just a distant, unattainable state after death.
To “get to heaven,” then, might not require some grand external journey or the fulfillment of certain religious doctrines. Instead, it might be more about how we live on Earth—creating a world that reflects the values of peace, cooperation, and harmony that we associate with heaven. Heaven, in this sense, can be seen as a state of being that we build through our actions, both for ourselves and for future generations.
The Soul: Your DNA and Continuity
The soul is often thought of as an immaterial essence that defines who we are, but a more scientific interpretation can be found in the physical structure of our being. Our soul, in this view, is our DNA. DNA contains the genetic blueprint that passes down traits from one generation to the next, linking us not only to our parents but to all of humanity and life on Earth.
Your soul, then, is not a metaphysical entity that exists outside of your body. Rather, it is the very code that makes up who you are—a code that carries with it the imprints of your evolutionary past. It is the continuity of life, passed down through time, ensuring the survival and progress of your species. Each of us is, in a sense, a living continuation of our ancestors, carrying forward the legacies and experiences encoded within our DNA.
The idea of the soul as DNA helps to anchor this concept in scientific reality. It places our spiritual essence not in some supernatural realm but within the biological processes that sustain life. Our soul’s journey is intricately tied to the survival and evolution of the human species and, by extension, to the health of the entire planet.
The Meaning of Life: Ensuring the Continuity of DNA
The meaning of life, then, can be seen as the pursuit of ensuring that your soul—your DNA—continues to live on through eternity. This is achieved through reproduction, passing your genetic material to future generations, and contributing to the ongoing evolution of humanity. However, this is not a solitary endeavor; for the human species to survive and thrive, other species must also continue to exist in a balanced and sustainable ecosystem.
For life to continue, the survival of biodiversity is essential. Our existence is intertwined with the survival of countless other species, from microorganisms to large mammals. All life must evolve together to ensure the continuation of the genetic code that sustains us. Humanity’s well-being is inextricably linked to the health of the Earth’s ecosystems, making the protection of biodiversity a vital part of ensuring the survival of our DNA—and, by extension, the survival of our souls.
Climate Change and Biodiversity: Existential Threats to Life and Heaven
In light of this, issues like climate change and the loss of biodiversity are not just environmental concerns; they are existential threats to our souls and the possibility of creating a heaven on Earth. Climate change, driven by human activity, is disrupting ecosystems, threatening species with extinction, and causing irreversible damage to the planet’s ability to support life. The loss of biodiversity only accelerates these effects, creating a feedback loop that endangers the survival of humanity itself.
If we are to protect our future and the legacy of our DNA, we must take action to address these threats. It is not enough to rely on metaphysical beliefs or wait for some divine intervention. The survival of our species and the continuity of life depend on our collective ability to change course, reduce our environmental impact, and ensure that future generations inherit a planet capable of sustaining them.
Conclusion
Often when people refer to the soul, it falls within the realm of subjective or consensus reality. In that context, your soul is “real” in the sense that it is shaped by feelings, emotions, and beliefs, whether true or false. However, this doesn’t make it objectively true. In contrast, existential reality and scientific reality are grounded in facts and verifiable information. Your DNA contains genetic material from hundreds or thousands of your ancestors, extending back tens of thousands of years. This is scientifically verifiable information, representing a biological record of your ancestral lineage, which can be thought of as a form of “reincarnation” through genetics.
Heaven, the soul, and the meaning of life are not abstract, distant concepts. They are deeply connected to the physical world and the actions we take to protect it. The soul is our DNA, and the meaning of life is to ensure its continuation through both reproduction and the preservation of the ecosystems upon which all life depends. Climate change and the loss of biodiversity represent direct threats to these fundamental goals, making them existential concerns for humanity’s future.
To create a heaven on Earth, we must embrace the responsibility of caring for the planet, ensuring the survival of all species, and making the changes necessary to reverse the damage we have caused. Only by doing so can we ensure that our souls—our DNA—continue to thrive for generations to come, in a world that reflects the values of peace, sustainability, and harmony.
