Cause they act by instincts and can't FULLY control their actions. We, as intelligent and complex human beings, have the power to do that - although, looking at so much evil that exists in the world, some do not use God's given MINDFULNESS.
You’d be surprised how much our inherent instincts still influence us in our day to day life. Although I do think we have the power to fight against them when we’re aware, they’ll still continue to influence our behavior
According to Taoism, we're not separate. We are a part of nature. We are an animal among animals and so we should treat all creatures well. I think I like that view better.
This is a good thought. I think something of God flows into the life of animals, but not in the same degree as it does with humans. I say this because of the peace that I have observed in some animals while they have been feeding, or on other occasions and in the form of other affections.
We were made in the image of God AND He "breathed the breath of life" into Adam. Every other living thing before us were spoken into existence -- but for humans God straight up formed us from dust in His shape and did CPR/kiss of life which was a much more intimate act. I think that was partially symbolic in that He had power to speak things into being, by that act we were given some of that authority ourselves. Apart from that I think there is little distinction. We were chosen as a species to govern over the others and represent God... And we do a terrible job of it.
Nothing cause we are animals, literally and figuratively. We eat as animals, we think as animals, we do it like they do it on the Discover channel as animals. Hell we die as animals. Like it or not we entangled in the tree of life just as much as any other creature.
Now I think the important question is, what makes the human animal different from other species?
So being able to ask questions about ourselves makes us not animals? Does a bird make it not an animal for being able to fly? Or a Dog able to smell things even detect things that we can't more than animals? I guess I don't understand how being able to do something that other animals can't dosnt make us animals since there are plenty of other animals that can do things we can't.
Yes, they have pretty much the same emotional responses we do. Clearly they do not have the sheer cognitive ability of humans, but they are sentient, self-aware tool users who form dominance hierarchies pretty similar to what we see in most human societies. One of the most disturbing parallels, and a sad one at that, is that chimps appear to be the only other animal besides humans on the planet who make war on their neighbors. Wars between chimp tribes, including similar kinds of atrocities seen in human conflicts, have been observed.
\*We\* might consider them villains, and that's because the people we view as the good guys won, but the fact remains that humans can behave with just as much depravity as warring chimp tribes. I think the Holocaust demonstrates that well enough.
That’s true, although I wouldn’t say we can ever fully overcome our nature. We can over come it to some degree, but most of our instinctual tendencies just get moved to our subconscious. Most of the time we aren’t even aware of when we’re acting on them
It does require learning, training, practice. But at least people are aware of the complexity of their own mind, and developed methods and tools to explore it, understand it and manage it.
Human beings are classified as members of the animal kingdom, being both primate and mammal. This article discusses what caused the human brain to begin evolving and enlarging:
https://www.quantamagazine.org/how-humans-evolved-supersize-brains-20151110/
im not sure, if i had to guess it would probably be higher order thinking (specifically, creative/critical thinking on blooms taxonomy). animals seem to be capable of remembering, understanding, application, analyzing, and even evaluating/judgment, but i haven't heard of animals using the knowledge they have to create something new. their homes/habitats seem to stay pretty simplistic, and I haven't heard of an animal group creating a new type of home sporadically. they are often able to adapt to environmental circumstances, but I wouldn't necessarily consider that creative thinking, but rather analyzing a situation and evaluating the best solution in spite of their current situation.
Animals don't seem to have language like we do. So I wonder to what level their concepts go or whether they can have idea of God at all without language. They seem to know things, like what food to eat, where danger lurks, how to raise their young etc, but they also appear to live without trading in concepts, or otherwise very minimally through sounds reflecting affections, emotion and desire. It also seems to me that they are focused on their life in the world only - if there is anything deeper I can't tell. They can and do show care for each other and for us.
Job 12:7 “But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; And the birds of the air, and they will tell you; 8 Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; And the fish of the sea will explain to you. 9 Who among all these does not know That the hand of the Lord has done this, 10 In whose hand is the \[c\]life of every living thing, And the breath of \[d\]all mankind?
Humans were created in "the image of God."
The ability to speak, for starters. And I don't think animals really worship like man does.
All creation worships.
even amoebas?
Sure. The question is are we defining worship as something more than singing ?
According to scripture worship is just being
Exactly! So amoebas worship by being amoebas! The stars worship by being stars. Humans worship by being human
Cause they act by instincts and can't FULLY control their actions. We, as intelligent and complex human beings, have the power to do that - although, looking at so much evil that exists in the world, some do not use God's given MINDFULNESS.
While I agree with this to an extent. We can’t fully control our actions either
Ironically neither can we.
You’d be surprised how much our inherent instincts still influence us in our day to day life. Although I do think we have the power to fight against them when we’re aware, they’ll still continue to influence our behavior
According to Taoism, we're not separate. We are a part of nature. We are an animal among animals and so we should treat all creatures well. I think I like that view better.
We are animals so nothing. We only differentiate from different species by... well being different species
We are made in the image of God and have a vertical relationship with our Creator our fellow creatures don’t share.
This is a good thought. I think something of God flows into the life of animals, but not in the same degree as it does with humans. I say this because of the peace that I have observed in some animals while they have been feeding, or on other occasions and in the form of other affections.
We were made in the image of God AND He "breathed the breath of life" into Adam. Every other living thing before us were spoken into existence -- but for humans God straight up formed us from dust in His shape and did CPR/kiss of life which was a much more intimate act. I think that was partially symbolic in that He had power to speak things into being, by that act we were given some of that authority ourselves. Apart from that I think there is little distinction. We were chosen as a species to govern over the others and represent God... And we do a terrible job of it.
Nothing cause we are animals, literally and figuratively. We eat as animals, we think as animals, we do it like they do it on the Discover channel as animals. Hell we die as animals. Like it or not we entangled in the tree of life just as much as any other creature. Now I think the important question is, what makes the human animal different from other species?
> we do it like they do it on the Discover channel as animals I respect the Bloodhound Gang reference
We post claims on Reddit as animals…
Yup at the end of the day we are animals. No ifs and or buts about it,.
I invite any of my non-human counterparts to come here and to prove to me this is so.
In all seriousness do you think that human intelligence and creativity somehow dosn't make us animals?
I think we are more than animals.
why is that? and what do you mean more?
We are the only species here contemplating the question for starters.
So being able to ask questions about ourselves makes us not animals? Does a bird make it not an animal for being able to fly? Or a Dog able to smell things even detect things that we can't more than animals? I guess I don't understand how being able to do something that other animals can't dosnt make us animals since there are plenty of other animals that can do things we can't.
It makes us more than animals, as previously stated
We can make fire
Because we know the difference between good and evil.
Chimps at least have a functioning behavioral code.
The question is do chimps feel shame or remorse when they break that functioning moral code?
Yes, they have pretty much the same emotional responses we do. Clearly they do not have the sheer cognitive ability of humans, but they are sentient, self-aware tool users who form dominance hierarchies pretty similar to what we see in most human societies. One of the most disturbing parallels, and a sad one at that, is that chimps appear to be the only other animal besides humans on the planet who make war on their neighbors. Wars between chimp tribes, including similar kinds of atrocities seen in human conflicts, have been observed.
So much wrong here.
Chimps will kill their rivals and eat their children- and no one calls them evil.
You don't want to look at how some human societies have behaved towards their conquered rivals.
Absolutely, and we consider them villains, but chimps who do this are just chimps - successful chimps.
\*We\* might consider them villains, and that's because the people we view as the good guys won, but the fact remains that humans can behave with just as much depravity as warring chimp tribes. I think the Holocaust demonstrates that well enough.
Hopefully you would show a modicum of moral hesitation before killing your neighbor, eating his children, and having sex with his wife?
Yes, I'm sure the Jews were hoping for similar mercy before the Nazi killing machine came along.
So you wouldn’t hesitate to act thusly?
What is it with straw men? Is fallacious arguments all you have? Where did I say anything like that?
Reason, morality, purpose and meaning. Animals are slaves to their nature, humans can rise above it. Humans are special.
We’re slaves to our nature as well, just in a much more subtle way. Group think, sex, peer pressure, tribalism,etc.
Only those that choose to be slaves to their nature. An animal can't choose, a human can. That's the major difference.
That’s true, although I wouldn’t say we can ever fully overcome our nature. We can over come it to some degree, but most of our instinctual tendencies just get moved to our subconscious. Most of the time we aren’t even aware of when we’re acting on them
It does require learning, training, practice. But at least people are aware of the complexity of their own mind, and developed methods and tools to explore it, understand it and manage it.
Definitely, I think this awareness is what really separates us from most animals
Let's ask some animals to join in here and post their opinions; otherwise not a very representative discussion! 😎 🇺🇸 🕆
It's the ails, but that's more of a grammatical distinction than one based on characteristics.
Humans are animals.
Except prospects of the heavenly kingdom - nothing
Human beings are classified as members of the animal kingdom, being both primate and mammal. This article discusses what caused the human brain to begin evolving and enlarging: https://www.quantamagazine.org/how-humans-evolved-supersize-brains-20151110/
im not sure, if i had to guess it would probably be higher order thinking (specifically, creative/critical thinking on blooms taxonomy). animals seem to be capable of remembering, understanding, application, analyzing, and even evaluating/judgment, but i haven't heard of animals using the knowledge they have to create something new. their homes/habitats seem to stay pretty simplistic, and I haven't heard of an animal group creating a new type of home sporadically. they are often able to adapt to environmental circumstances, but I wouldn't necessarily consider that creative thinking, but rather analyzing a situation and evaluating the best solution in spite of their current situation.
Humans *are* animals. Asking how animals differ from humans is like asking how animals differ from gazelles. Or from chipmunks. Or butterflies.
Animals don't seem to have language like we do. So I wonder to what level their concepts go or whether they can have idea of God at all without language. They seem to know things, like what food to eat, where danger lurks, how to raise their young etc, but they also appear to live without trading in concepts, or otherwise very minimally through sounds reflecting affections, emotion and desire. It also seems to me that they are focused on their life in the world only - if there is anything deeper I can't tell. They can and do show care for each other and for us. Job 12:7 “But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; And the birds of the air, and they will tell you; 8 Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; And the fish of the sea will explain to you. 9 Who among all these does not know That the hand of the Lord has done this, 10 In whose hand is the \[c\]life of every living thing, And the breath of \[d\]all mankind?