Christians-Why do you seem to think that humans are 'above' animals?

Question

when everything points to us being an animal ourself? I know creationists don't want to be classed as anything to do with a monkey but you can see the similarities can't you? If someone said we looked like penguins I coul understand the disbelief.. Also you say men are sinful by nature-doesn't this also fit in with animal nature-survival? Have you noticed that a lot of animals seem to play a lot when they are young and slow down as they become old?
Aren't we just the same but with more intelligent thoughts possibly? Thoughts that enabled us to create the god myth?

st_louis_
Last I saw there are no animals telling humans what to do. So we are above animals.

You can't kill a wilderbeast like a lion can therefore you are beneath.

We have a need to "believe", whether you want to admit it or not. (meaning a strong spiritual need inside us)

I don't.

Maybe I phrased this wrong given some responses. OF COURSE WE ARE MORE INTELLIGENT THAN ANIMALS!!! Funny how Christians belittle them so much but believe god killed all of mankind and saved them all on a nice little boat..

Answer 1

Technically, humans are a species of animal, along WITH EVERY OTHER BEING ON THIS PLANET! HOWEVER, man can decide his own actions for himself. That means he can weigh evidence, decide a course based on wisdom and knowledge and then choose, this is not something all the other animals do. Even those of higher intelligence merely live in the moment, except for humans who always consider the past along with the present and how it will shape the future to decide their actions and then realize whether to act one way or another, ON PURPOSE.

Answer 2

Call God a myth if you want to. It does not make it the truth. The Bible says that God gave man dominion over the animals. Just because apes walk on two legs sometimes, and have hands and feet like a man does not mean that we are like them. A human's ability to reason and intelligence to create, as our creator did, separates us from all other species on the face of the earth. We were created in the image of God. There are no other species like us on the face of the earth. Sorry. Nice try.

Answer 3

We (you and I) have different beliefs as to how we originated.

IF you are correct, and evolution happened, and we are simply a more evolved form of animal, and God is a myth, THEN also, some races are more evolved than others (thus the apparent physical differences) and survival of the fittest is a natural and just attitude - "using" animals, and even other people (slavery) is logical and should be an accepted practice. Nietche is correct, and doing what is best for oneself (looking out for number one) will ultimately be what's best for the family, species, and world. In this model, any particular being, whether human or animal should consider himself "above" any lesser evolved animal or human being.
------------- on the other hand --------------------------
IF I am correct, and creation happened, and God is real, and He made man in His image, then ALL humans are created equal and no humans should consider themselves above other humans (regardless of apparent physical differences) and all humans are in this tug-of-war together between Satan tricking us on one side and God calling us on the other (so we need to help all humans to know God) and all humans (created in God's image) are "above" all animals, plants, rocks, etc. (things NOT created in His image).

Hope this explains why Christians do think that humans are above animals.

Answer 4

Of course we are animals. In science's classification system we are animals. But being defined as an animal doesn't mean that we aren't above other animals. That would be as meaningless in my opinion as saying that an amoeba and a chimpanzee are equals because they are both animals.

Certainly science still believes that humans are above the other animals in many ways? Things can't have changed that much since my degree in Biology. Man is sentient. We not only have the ability to talk as was mentioned, but we have a complex systems of emotions. We are also capable of establishing complex social structures and great societies. To the best of my knowledge, some insects such as ants and bees are capable of a simple societal structure, but nothing as complex as humans. While some claim that their pets have souls, humans for thousands of years have been believed to be above the animals because we have souls.

None of the above even begins to touch on the Biblical understanding of humans.

Pastor John

Answer 5

Is God allowed to create what He wants to create? If He wants to make monkeys similar to humans...who cares. However...monkeys are not humans...they are animals. We are created in God's image, obviously that means he is not a monkey.

Also... there are so many obvious differences it amazes me that you cannot see it...just the same you as appear to be amazed that creationists cannot see the similarities.

Yes, we do have dominion over the animals. God told us to care for the earth and the animals that populate it.

Also... think about it. A scientists decides...you know, I do not want to believe there is a God. Or, a designer. SO, hmmm, which animals look most like men? Wow...the monkey...okay, let's make it our ancestor. We shall say...look at the monkey...it is so much like us. It has hands and fingers, it can learn sign language, and it has internal organs similarly placed and what not as humans. SO...IT JUST HAS TO BE OUR ANCESTOR!!! Just because one animal is more closely designed to humans than others...does not make them our ancestors.

Answer 6

Christians kill me. one guy stated thet he used "empirical" evidence after he said a bunch of pointless statements. being able to build a treehouse does not make you "above" anything. Just makes you different. Most of man's technical advances have not made man happier overall. fatter, more pampered and we certainly have more stuff, but the ability to meet our basic needs has not changed much. For some it has, but worldwide, the big picture is about the same. So, while a dolphin may not be able to build a jet plane, a dolphin has no need to. it would be an evolutionary hiccup if a dolphin did go that route.

man is not even the highest on the food chain. I could argue that viruses occupy that position.

Answer 7

First of all we are above them and for many reasons.
Communication, language,remedial skills, technical....

Ever seen a monkey build a car or an airplane?
All life slows down as it gets older and that is due to degradation of the cellular network. We are programmed to die.
Sinful nature has no bearing on nature and survival. All animals have instincts, however only man can take them to a higher level.
Ever seen a strip bar run by monkeys? Ok well maybe you have seen monkeys in them but they cannot be equal to what humans aspire to.

Get A Grip

Answer 8

Well, let's see. Humans can talk. They have the ability to reason. I don't know that animals do. When you are house training a puppy, he doesn't always get it.

You make great points.

I have never seen an animal grow up and get a job.
They get taken care of all their lives.

All my cats have to do is sleep all day. I take care of their every need. They even get to go have their teeth cleaned every year, to the tune of $600.

They have a life of leisure.

Sounds pretty good to me.

I say, let the animals take over, and we can be their pets. Let them bring home the bacon.
Of course, I'd want a meowmy like me that doted on me and gave me everything good and wonderful.

Answer 9

I'm not a Christian... But maybe it's because we ARE above other animals? What other animal has the ability to destroy the Earth? We are responsible for anything that happens to this planet. We're the only animal that has to make the conscious effort to keep the world in balance.

Answer 10

We are flesh the same as an animal is flesh. God made man in his image above that of the animals being made not only flesh but also with an eternal spirit. If we are simply flesh we do also perish and die and return to the dust.God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit and man was made in this image haveing flesh and spirit and becomng a living soul.