Tree Huggers: What are we allowed to kill in self-defense, or for the sake of personal welfare (ie:pests)?

Question

Naturally, there is little need for most of us to ever slaughter a rare game animal or endangered species, I mainly speak of the everyday pestilences we face from flies, ants, spiders, roaches, etc.

Plus, if a rabid cat was hissing and advancing toward you, and there was no viable escape, but you had a baseball bat, would you try and negotioate with the cat? Or would you grab the bat and think about PETA later? I'm just curious.

Final query, optional: Why do some people but the rights of insects and animals over humans? I don't think either of us trumps the other...but they have their environment and we have ours. Sorry, I don't find a brown recluse spider cute and cuddly and a candidate to just run about my home unchecked.

To all Fireballers: This is a very *spiritual* subject to me. Very much so.

Answer 1

Apparently nothing. They have their rights too, you know. More than some people it would seem. (And I'm an animal lover. I just think there are those who carry this way too far.)

Answer 2

The Bible is clear that self defense is perfectly acceptable to God as long as it absolutely necessary. That being said your reasoning is weak. If you were describing a military that guarded the borders and retaliated with whatever means were necessary, your reasoning would be sound. You, however, are talking about an army that is sent somewhere else to kill. The United States invaded Iraq, not the other way around. And that is exactly why I could never in good conciense join the military. A soldier is put into positions where they will inevitably be forced to defend themselves. I don't blame the soldiers for what they have to do. The leaders (not just in this country) are the ones ordering that murders be committed. I for one, refuse to take orders that will require me to take someone else's life.

Answer 3

This is a very serious subject for me as well. I believe if we were acting from honest intention then we are not causing harm. I would say, as a tree hugger, that a rabid cat would be an unfortunate situation but allowing the poor thing to cause more damage is not good karma. I would also say the same about brown recluse spiders.....would I try to get it out of my house without killing it, yes, but if there was no other way then I would have to choose the alternative. It is not one size fits all. (Buddhist Yogini)

Answer 4

As I said in another question like yours, If you can save them, then do. If you are being invaded and have no other choice then eliminate them by deadly force. I live by a law of do no harm. I don't live if I am harmed so I do protect myself if I have to. I just don't feel I have a right to end any creature or humans life unless they have an agenda against me.
You are allowed to defend yourself. It has nothing to do with turning the other cheek. Insects are more intelligent than you know. They know they are invading your space looking for food. That is why they run when they see you. The other day I tried to keep ants out of my bird humming bird feeder. They were so smart. I don't have the time right now to tell the whole story because it is almost 1am, but they have gotten around everything. Even a water mote I made. They figured out to swim across. Even Vaseline but it didn't stop them, but it took a while for them to figure it out. Some went home and were not that smart. Some were more intelligent than my tricks.
Just a funny thing that happened concerning the ants.
Good Night,
Rev. TomCat

Answer 5

Kill in self defense is fine, but only if needed. Even PETA doesn't say to allow roaches to roam in your house.

A rabid cat wouldn't be going after you for any old reason, if they wanted to attack you there is no way you would have time to get a bat.

No one puts the rights of animals over humans, some people just stand up for their rights. Just because the fat kid wants a pony doesn't mean the animal should suffer.

And if this as a spiritual issue then its wrong to kill unless in self defense, says the bible

Answer 6

yes you can kill an animal if your life is really threatened, or you have good reason to believe that the animal will cause you undue harm. you should also remember that the biological world that we live in exists as a result of interdependencies that have formed as a result of billions of years of evolution. therefore in order to respect this balance and to allow evolution to continue, including a viable future biological gene pool, one should refrain from killing harmless brown spiders, they also eat flies and mosquitoes which may cause undue harm.

Answer 7

If you're under attack, fight back. Everything has a spirit and we all share the same spirit. Everything in nature fights to survive. Why wouldn't we. The difference between them and us is they only kill when they have to, unlike us. Not too many people can handle brown recluse bites. I get them every year, several in fact. They seem to do something good for me. But, what is good or right for one is not good or right for another. Do what you have to do for protection. We love life, but we're not stupid.

Answer 8

I agree.

If something non-human threatens either my life or the lives of others, especially my family, if I have the means, I will kill it, or at least neutralize it.

I would not give any thought at all to PETA.

Answer 9

You don't have to kill any spiders, cats, etc.

Why don't you trap and release any offending creatures outside if you don't want them in your house?

They're not visiting you on purpose, y'know.

Answer 10

Ur in the wrong forum