What are your views on the value of animal life vs human life?

Question

To what degree do your religious views influence this perspective?

Obviously there are a lot of possibilities so I will provide some examples to help focus the question. I am an American so this list is necessarily influenced by 'that' social upbringing. Of course, feel free to just "talk" and not address any of these specifically.

Dogs
Apes
Dolphins
Elephants
Parrots
Pigeons
Eagles
Fish (general)
Turtles
Alligators/crocodiles
Snakes (poisonous/large constrictors/"dangerous")
Snakes (nonpoisonous/"nondangerous")
Butterflies
Beetles (general)
Ants
Mosquitos
Octopi
Jellyfish

LOL my wife just rebuked me for not including domestic house cats so please include those, as well :D

Answer 1

I value life. I put human life above all others. I could never be a member of P.E.T.A. who speaks out against killing animals but never against killing babies. Last time I looked an ant or mosquito or butterflies or beetles are not animals.

Answer 2

I think there is something to be said for animal-rights. At the same time you argue a good point because where does the line began when you compare human life to animal life. Without animals we wouldn't have a lot of the stuff we have including the important stuff like FOOD! I think it really lies in the person how much animals are valued. Some of us can come together on a whole and say things like extinction is bad, but you never hear from those pochers who kill all the elephants and pandas. What are their views on animals life? They know its illegal to kill this animal and they know why! Has any pocher ever written an autobiography or said why they still hunt that animal! Again is majority v. minority when it comes to animal rights!

Answer 3

Some believe that human life is worth more than animal life. I disagree with this whole heartedly. Human Beings are selfish, greedy creatures, the vast majority of which have no concern for the environment. What people do not understand, is that when the balance of the earth's food chain is disrupted as a result of over-hunting, over-fishing and the like, it has a chain effect that will eventually affect the way we live. I wish more people gave a ****. Animals kill for food or defense...we kill for sport. What does that say about us?

Answer 4

Atheist.Very comfortable,not at all ashamed that I am top of the food chain.Sport hunting I am against,as well as unnecessary cruelty.But I do not put animals at my level.that is just..unnatural.I have dogs and a cat.I care for them,shots and all,I am fond of them,they are not my equal.Even chimps,our cousins,Thumbs down away,I don't care about the yahoo Nazis anymore.If experimenting on 1,000 chimps helps make a safe product for humans,do it.If there is another ,more humane way,do it.but I am man,and I rule the food chain and proud of it

Answer 5

I value human life & animal life, but to a point. Hey there are some animals I would rather have around than humans. I love my cat more than I like some people. Some animals are just nicer than people. LOL.

I eat meat.
I hate PETA!


I just hope all animals go to Heaven...tee hee.

Answer 6

all life is prescious. Life forms that don't share the top of the food chain with the human animal must only be killed if it is done so for food or self defense.

Answer 7

All animals are equal in value to a human life (though doesn't mean you have to refrain from killing them, just don't do so frivolously, or as a goal in of itself), and, to a less acknowledge extent, so do plants. They are as much alive as we are, and as helpful to planet as well (oftentimes more helpful). It just so happens we are bigger, and can kill everything else more easily. We see ourselves as more important because of that.

Answer 8

I think two words will sum up my perspective: food chain.

Answer 9

Humans are made in the image of God, that means that we know right from wrong.