Do you understand this statement?

Question

If we turn all of our "Thous" into "it's" it becomes easier to destroy, profane, and desregard them. No one thinks twice about destroying an "it" but we tend to reconsider doing so to a "Thou."
Can you grasp my thought and if so what are your feelings.What are your "Thous"?

When we turn that which is sacred or held as sacred into something everyday or ordinary it becomes easier to destroy or erradicate it. Such as the loss of respect for life and hence the increase in murders and abuse.

Animals are indeed worthy to be held in such esteem

Answer 1

Yep, that's why it's easier to drop bombs than shoot someone in the head. It's easier to be beastly to people from a distance, or as a pigeon-holed group, than as individuals.

Answer 2

It sounds to me like you have been reading Martin Buber's "I and Thou." To answer your question, I see a "thou" as a fellow being, and thus someone I can relate to and feel empathy for. An "it" is merely an object, a something rather than a someone.

My son, my husband, my parents, and other close people in my life are "thous." I could even argue that I have an "I-thou" relationship with two of my three cats, as much as such a thing is possible with a cat.

Answer 3

Yes, this is what's happening in our culture today unfortunately.
As you might know, the Catholic Church is one of the few institutions that is avoiding this trend, most recently by ratifying the Latin translation of the Mass to make it more dignified and sacred.
I don't know specifically where you see this happening, but I have seen similar changes in books I have read that made the language used more profane and impersonal, and you're right about the effect such changes have on our ideas and beliefs.

Answer 4

Interesting question.

The only way I can think to answer is to state that if I was given the choice of saving either all human life on Earth or all the 'lesser' animals from a total extinction by some means...well, let's just say there'd be a lot less wars, hate, pollution, crime, hypocrisy, deceit, destruction and greed after I'd made my choice...and I would willingly make that decision, knowing full well that I too, am a human. The sacrifice would be well worth it.

Answer 5

This is very deep but what you are writing has truth in it. This is a very positive way to look at life. My "thous" of course are my children, my ears so that I can have the opportunity to listen, and my eyes, so that I can have the opportunity to see.

Answer 6

If you are referring to altering words in the Bible so that "people can understand better" I am against changing it in any way. It was written the way it was for a reason and when people start changing words it takes Gods words and twists them into something that wasnt intended.

Answer 7

I can see your point in that "it" might make it more trivial than "thou". But I prefer to translate "thou" to "you" and that makes it actually more personal for me to realize what God is speaking in my life.

My absolutes are basically in the new testament where the Bible speaks of how we are to conduct our lives.

My biggest thou is then in the chapters where it talks about walking in love.

Answer 8

Are you saying that by de-personalizing something, it is easier to "destroy, profane, and desregard them?" I think that's true. That's why you don't name an animal.

Answer 9

It's choice between an objective and a person or grouping of persons of objectivity as opposed to subjectivity in a objective correlative manner, " IF" you get my drift.

Answer 10

You are to deep for me Debra !
But heres a thought, "why dont you stop drinking that brand of coffee that your drinking and start using decaf, have a couple of cookies with it and youll be good to go !