Hmm, something just popped into my head as I was re reading www.evafaq.com
"We learn in the course of the series that the genetic code of the EVA's is
very close to that of mankind itself. This revelation is setting us up for
the final moments of the series to help us understand the almost apotheistic
conversion to a spirit state of the entire population of the world. Mankind
becomes in effect the 18th angel aided to this end by the sacrifice of
Kaworu and the decisions of Shinji."

So, in that meaning, mankind becomes the 18th angel through third impact,
and they weren't previously. Does this mean that all the other angels were
the final stage in the evolution of 17 seperate species? like, were there
millions of people transformed into one being? (just as humanity was
transformed into a huge mass of goo, which was in effect the 18th angel?

This would mean that each time the angels were destroyed, humans would be
commiting genocide and mass murder all in one! argh. we are bad!

SAM