And Buddhism, in many ways; for all the popularity of accusing Christianity of appropriating Buddhist themes I think the charge is better made against the Gnostics (perhaps naturally, since in their purest forms both gnosticism and Buddhism are more philosophies than religions; Buddha discouraged inquiries about divinity on the same grounds as modern materialists: Even if it exists, it defies human investigation. ) And, no, no scientific measurement will ever be made of it, just as we'll never meet the soul of an atom; it's apples and oranges.

I would note, however, that one critical task of overcoming the ego is that just as we must each recognize we aren't preeminent as individuals, we must recognize humanity or even earthly life is not preeminent as a whole. If there is a true spiritual fundament to human and other life if possesses all of humanitys positive spiritual attributes as well as superior ones we lack; it must, to have both granted ours and created them and us to coexist in the first place. At that point, just as our duty to humanity is greater than that to ourselves, our duty to our Maker is greater than that to anyone else, individually or collectively. The nature of creation is such that typically takes the FORM of duty to our fellow lifeforms, but it's vital we never lose sight of our highest loyalty.