The identity of human beings – and all beings!

We know for certain that we have identities. Descartes' often quoted phrase is “Cogito, ergo sum” (“I think therefore I am”). If we were to agree with him, we see independent thinking identities all around us - in our pets, in wild animals and the fish of the sea - in fact, in all living life forms. Every ant in an ant’s nest, every bee in a beehive appears to have independent identities. Furthermore, when these identities cease to animate their bodies, they die – just as our bodies die when ‘we’ leave them. For more than fifty years University of Virginia’s Division of Perceptual Studies documented more than 2300 case histories suggesting that our human identities, or our souls, pre-existed their birth and survived death (search ‘Virginia University reincarnation’).

We know for certain that human prodigies have always existed. We think of Mozart who played the harpsichord and was composing music at five. Around two billion people or a third of the human race (particularly those of Hindu and Buddhist traditions) believe in the reincarnation of all living beings. These schools suggest that our identities or souls are on a vast experience driven journey ultimately leading to enlightenment – or sainthood within the Christian tradition.

Famously, St Francis talked to animals who responded in extraordinary ways. We remember the story of the vicious wolf who would attack and feed on villagers of Gubbio in Italy. Francis simply went out alone, talked to the wolf and persuaded him to just eat the food the villagers promised to provide for him at a particular time each day. He did this for the rest of his life. (search ‘Francis Gubbio’). Perhaps our identities/souls are all on these vast evolutionary journeys through the species to end up at our humanity and ultimately at sainthood like St Francis! According to the highly respected body, Pew Research, 38% of Americans Christians now believe in reincarnation. This figure has in fact risen from 25% in 2016. (search ‘Pew Research reincarnation’). 

The theory of reincarnation certainly solves a lot of ethological and theological problems especially those relating to apparent inequalities associated with our birth opportunities. Some people seem to be born great musicians – possibly because they are already great musicians! If we discover that we are all on the same evolutionary journey we will learn to love and respect all life forms just as St Francis and many great saints always have.