Christians: If we're so different from other animals.....?

Question

..then how do you explain war, murder, nationalism, etc.

What makes you think we're so different from other animals when it comes to instinct and our most basic biological drives?

Here's the reason I ask:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AhKwEZ68mQmOGjovzjA9Jl3sy6IX?qid=20070817233928AAkpGVA&show=7#profile-info-3a157ae07a65a6679acbb345c94b1970aa

And we come right back to the issue, Morganie, of why Christians CHOOSE to single out homosexuals for their scorn and contempt. Why not focus all that energy on preventing war or fighting poverty, for instance? Could it be that we're nothing more than animals?

(((Squirrel!!!)))

Were you out having fun without me lol?

What's it to me?? I'm jealous, grrr...

Lol! :P

Answer 1

Could it be that primates, in general, are lame, and rodents rule?

I've been out drinking and dancing! :p What's it to you?

Answer 2

In regards to your linked question, the majority of animals aren't homosexual. I'm not sure if there are some anomalies, but we wouldn't say everything that could possibly happen in nature is normal (ie. albino skin, conjoined heads, etc). This is not the reason why I think homosexuality isn't morally right, but I'm saying a few examples isn't sufficient evidence. And this couldn't be used as an argument even if it were a majority because if a certain species lifestyle is based on visciously attacking other animals, this wouldn't make it right for humans .

We have a soul, morality and reason unlike animals. A bear who kills another weaker bear doesn't have the same the sense of right or wrong as a human. Bears don't engage in ethical dilemnas or racism. They don't have the same sense of right or wrong or a soul.

Kant argues what separates man is that we are rational moral agents. "Kant’s theory of autonomy is moral self-legislation. Moral Autonomy for Kant is our willing, or choosing, what we would do if Reason completely determined our will. Our choosing, or willing morally right actions means for Kant that we freely determine the principles under whose direction we will act – so we are moral law givers unto ourselves and are thus autonomous."

This is a pretty big question. You will have to dig through many philosophers and what they say separates man from animal, what they say is the nature of man.

Answer 3

people are saying we have the power to choose bla bla bla...how do you know? We are all animals. We eat, sleep, breath, and have feelings. We are all alive. So some animals are smarter then others. We have learned tho we can teach other animals how to understand us and help us. Dogs can understand human speech and monkeys can learn sign language to speak to us.

What makes us think they don't make choices? How do you know what an animal is thinking?

edit:

OMG! ANIMALS DON'T HAVE SOULS?! YES THEY DO! Souls are what makes us LIVING! Animals are alive there fore they have a soul! The only reason we think animals don't go to heaven is because AS FAR AS WE KNOW, animals don't have religion...so they don't worship god...as far as we know...

Answer 4

Please Christians, we ARE animals. Since when do other animals not have free will, intellect, or self-determination?

edit- look up animals like Koko the gorilla or Alex the African Grey parrot. They know language. Alex speaks in full sentences and knows math. Science has only begun to understand other animals' cognitive abilities.
edit-
It's N'kisi that can speak in full sentences, but read these articles.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%27kisi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_%28parrot%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koko_%28gorilla%29

There are many more like this. You can make excuses all you want. The world doesn't revolve around people just because some 2000 year old book says so.

Answer 5

Animals don't really have a choice in many matters do they? They seldom decide to relocate merely on a whim; man can and has demonstrated that he is willing to. Animals seldom change their diet based on choice, but man does. Other species don't take up pets either. They don't care for other species, they don't farm, or cultivate their own food. There is very little in the way of art in most every other animal except for humans.

Answer 6

There is no difference between animals and humans except one thing. They are governed by the laws of nature, we are not. Animals too have free will, intellect, and self-determination.
Here is proof to that:

"On a quiet October afternoon in 1990, lucy the cat positioned herself between her owner's infant son, Adam, and a 4 foot long rattlesnake, that had somehow managed to enter their home in Laguna Niguel, California.
Holly Lenz had been relaxing with a book in their back yard after she had put Adam down for a nap. Puzzled by the strange buzzing and hissing sound she heard coming from inside the house, she was terrified when she discovered the deadly sepent being held at bay by Lucy who refused to back down and permit the snake access to Adam's bedroom.
A Call to 911 brought police and an animal control officer as reinforcements for the brave cat"<-proves animals have self determination.

"Some years ago, James Hamilton of Georgetown, Kentucky, had a dog named King, who seemed to take keen interest in his surroundings and in the process of life's ebb and flow in his immediate environment.
One day, when King was struck by an automobile and injured, the clever canine seemed to know exactly what to do. He dragged himself to a veterinary hospital."<-this proves animals have intellect

It would take free will for an animal to travel great distances to reach their owners, to save their owners from death, and even stand vigil over their owners bodies if they die

Answer 7

Religion is stupid...who cares if someone believes in god, pretty much every one does. But people who object homosexuality because it is immoral are retarded. Get a life. If you were in their shoes, you would be crying over the fact that people dislike gays as well. So shut your religious mouths about being gay, as it is biological, not having anything to do with your false god.

Answer 8

way to go Moganie_xo!
well, our bodies are made much more complex than any animal.
relating to war etc. animals eat each other, its their instinct! We shouldn't because we know better!!!
The difference is we humans actually have a choice in our actions. Bad choices=Bad results.

Answer 9

The same reason I don't believe that humanity could possibly be the height of evolution--we have conscience and judgment that the animals do not, and look what we do with it!

Answer 10

The difference is, we can choose to act according to our instincts or against them. We can become the master of our bodies or we can be mastered by our bodily urges. We have free will and self-determination which animals do not.

Answer 11

If we're so different from animals, why do med students practice on fetal pigs?