Humans are not the only sentient creatures?

Question

We think we are special because we have the capacity to think, reason, and realize that we are people. This is the Christian explanation of the mind- a soul. Unfortunately, many primate species and dolphins are also self-aware (IE with "theory of mind", self-recognition etc). So either we go to heaven with dolphins or we don't go anywhere. Which sounds more logical to you?

Answer 1

Very interesting question!
MY image (not the biblical image, not anyone else's) of heaven is like earth with a bright pink sky with rainbows and children laughing and playing and people feasting, animals of all sorts (i.e., dolphins in a pond) and humans living happily together and enjoying heaven as it is, so, this is how I see Christian heaven, and basically this was an opinion question so, that is my opinion.
Hope it helped!

Answer 2

I agree that dolphins and primates are sentient. Some computer programs soon will be as well.

To me, it sounds more logical that we don't go anywhere. It's either that, or there will be computers in the afterlife with us.

Did Jesus come to save my computer? I don't think so.

Answer 3

I think its possible that almost all animals are sentient. My cat seems most definately to be aware of the things around her. I was in the hospital for a month, and she freaked out. My grandmother tells me that my cat was wandering around the house for hours calling for me. And I know she has a specific sound for me (which must be the name she's given me, it only makes sense). She knew something was wrong but not what. Then, when I got back, she was all over me for days. Even now she's on me almost constantly and gets upset when I'm not around.

And then there's my mom's cats. They mourned when she was gone. They used to go looking for her and they cried constantly for almost 3 weeks after she was gone. They still used to sit in her spot on the couch for months after she died.

There's something more to that.

But Christians like to think that they're the epitome of everything so dismiss the possibility that anything else in the world could possibly be aware of themselves.

Answer 4

i recognize what you're speaking approximately, I even have seen information of the gay animals in my cats, my male cats do not care who they bypass after, male or female. and that i agree that there are some animals that recognize themselves. Dolphins or perhaps elephants have been known to renowned their mirrored image, even their own voices. i've got seen in my cats the place the male cats recognize who's their youthful and who isn't even nonetheless they did not provide start to them or perhaps spend time with them whilst they have been newborns. Animals even have their own language. purely because of the fact they are in a position to't write would not recommend that they are in a position to't communicate. i've got been listening to the sounds my cats make and attempting to learn what those sounds recommend besides purely a meow, purr and hiss. i've got even tried mimicking those specific sounds and get the comparable reaction from the different cats whilst a cat makes them. so a techniques i've got found out the cat word for "Come right here". regrettably those sounds won't have the ability to precisely be written down, a minimum of in any human language. i think of that one reason some animals do not recognize themselves in a reflect, is as a results of the fact their techniques waves are on a diverse frequency. Their brains the two paintings too slow or rapid, maximum probable rapid. So shall we take what all of us recognize, a million) some animals do have self popularity 2) Animals communicate of their own language 3) Animals are able to compassion, i.e. An ape suckling a human toddler, a dogs suckling a muddle of kittens, Animals of all varieties rescuing human beings in some way. inspite of the undeniable fact that, purely because of the fact those animals are in a manner sentient, additionally they recognize their place in nature. They recognize that they the two consume or be eaten. As omnivores we've a option to the two consume in particular vegetables, meat or the two. the version between human beings and animals as that we seem to have risen above the guidelines of nature to the place we've made our very own rules. different than that we nevertheless have our organic tendencies in spite of the reality that maximum would quite forget approximately approximately them and view them to be sins. We as human beings do ought to reconsider and retranslate the bible and attempt to appreciate our place in nature. For even after we modify into extinct, and our rules lost, the guidelines of nature will bypass on because it constantly has.

Answer 5

i think that all animals are sentinent.

anything that can know fear is intellegent and can think for itself. and if it can think for itself it is self aware.

Answer 6

i think termites are sentient because they cultivate their fungal gardens... well, almost.

Answer 7

i think the Bible isn't meant to be interpreted literally, as you have.