I find it somewhat odd that so many people think that if consciousness is an entirely physical process, made of neurons and chemicals and the such, that somehow demystifies it and limits it's potential. If all matter is a compressed form of forces from energy and gravitation, should a physical entity not be capable of anything that an energetic entity can do, so long as it becomes sufficiently advanced in its complexity? Neurochemical stimulation by means of hallucinogens and entheogens in general have lead to some of the most profound perceptions, thoughts, and changes in our view on reality. What I'm getting at is that forces of energy, or whatever other non-matter substance you like to think of, are only relevant as to how they affect the material world. Chemical reactions and physical processes can affect the physical world in the same way that people percieve mystical non-descript substances such as a "soul".

Perhapse it is a fear of knowledge that convinces us that a physical entity must have such extreme limitations. A fear that if a process is fully explainable and actually works within the confines of logic, it will somehow loses the potential to carry us beyond our every day perceptions and overal portential. I don't believe this however, I think there's no such thing as real processes that work outside of logic, or mystical entities that work through "magic" and overall unexplainable concepts. I think it's more realistic to believe that everything, even if it were god, a soul, Gandalf's magic, or jedi using the force; all of this would work through logically defined means that have yet to be understood by the human mind. Which is why I also believe that furthering the limitations and understandings of humanity, understanding how to manipulate this universe to our ultimate benefit, will only be hindered by abdicating power and responsibility to unseen higher powers. I don't mean to suggest that we should declare everything unseen as imaginary, quite the contrary, I think we need to consider and explore every avenue of thought. But giving up and explaining things with mysical terms like "soul" and "god" and refusing to define their borders and how they would, will ultimately hinder the progress of human consciousness considerably.