This may technically fit better in a philosophy section but I think it fits in religion too. Evolution says that humans are just another animal among many. Nothing really all that special about us. Eventually we will evolve or die out. Does this view decrease the value of human worth? Does it make it so the value of a human life is no more than the value of a cow we grind into hamburger? If not why? It seems to me while religion gives value to a human evolution strips that value making us no more than any other animal. If this is true why is it permissible to kill a cow and a crime to kill a human? They are both just animals and a small insignificant piece of evolutionary history. Right?
2007-10-06 09:11:19 · 22 answers · asked by Bible warrior 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
paul h - great answer.
2007-10-06 09:55:35 · update #1
The belief that humans are merely higher forms of animal's has caused a great many wrongs to happen in the past and today.... slavery, genocide, infanticide, suicide, abortion, subjucation of peoples and general lawlessness. If we are to believe in survival of the fittest, then Nazi Germany had the right idea of creating a master race and all genetically inferior people in their view should be exterminated to prevent them from mixing with pure blood and being a drag on society. Slavery in America was condoned because Africans were considered only 3/5's human. It should not only be allowable but expected of people to take advantage of or supress other people and worse.
God's view of us is totally different...we are created in His image and are special. We are above the animals he created and subject to His laws. Animals cannot tell right from wrong...man can.
2007-10-06 09:47:02 · answer #1 · answered by paul h 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
*why is it permissible to kill a cow*
Humans are omnivores .. we eat both meat and greens. We are suppose to eat meat. We are part of the food chain. Thats why our teeth are build the way they are
not all species kill each other for food. Its our morals and society that shows us this is wrong.. and i think most people can agree with me on that.
and no.. what u said i dont think *decreases the value of human worth* and evolution doesn't claim that either..
Humans are animals .. we are primates.. humans and all other animals have high value .. we could not live without other species.. and other species could not live without us. We are all part of a chain reaction... if 1 or a few species go extinct .. everything is effected. Just b/c we are considered (somewhat) on the same level as another animals .. that doesn't mean it is degrading.
Yes.. some religions give value .. but thats not the only source.. I have no religion .. and I think my life is very meaningful.. I dont need religion or anyone else to tell me this.
Life is what you make of it
2007-10-06 16:15:33 · answer #2 · answered by nola_cajun 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Evolution has given us the ability to be self aware, have a perception of time, not be ruled by instincts, and be the smartest animals on the planet. We have the ability to reason, and we are social animals, so we have the responsibility to make laws and try to keep order. As far as being special? Every animal is special in their own way. Humans are special because of their intelligence, birds are special cause they can fly, fish are special cause they can breath underwater, etc... As far as it not being fair to kill an animal, if it's not fare to kill a person; I kind of agree. Humans don't need to eat meat. We probably shouldn't be eating life that can suffer, and has emotions like fear, pain, anger, and joy. Most animals have these emotions.
2007-10-06 16:27:06 · answer #3 · answered by straightshooter 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, we are just animals. It is a crime to kill a human because doing so would not help us survive. Killing our own kind isn't a good idea. It only hurts us all.
But the other animals are our food. We need meat because we're omnivores. The other animals feel the same way. We're friend to them only as long as they aren't hungry. And most other animals don't kill those of their own kind either.
2007-10-06 16:25:14 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What they have actually done is the opposite. They have tried to increase the importance of animals and try to get everyone to become vegans.
Don't eat the chimp as he is in our evolutionary chain. We could be eating a unevolved ancestor
They actually fly unwanted dogs from Mexico to the USA so that they can be placed in homes in the US. Now I will tell you the dogs here breed freely and there are lots of them.
What about the children that are unwanted and need medical attention, and there are lots of poor families. Nope fly the dogs into the US, as if we don't have enough already.
2007-10-06 16:18:03 · answer #5 · answered by † PRAY † 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you say:
Evolution says that humans are just another animal among many. Nothing really all that special about us. Eventually we will evolve or die out.
this is just false. evolution does not say anything of the sort, and it says that humans are exceedingly special. it also says that either an organism adapts to an environment, or the environment adapts to the orgainsm, or the organism dies out. but you are confusing divergent evolution, convergent evolution, the THEORY of evolution, and the statement misquoted as coming from darwin "survival of the fittist"
as such, youre question is based on faulty premises.
2007-10-06 16:16:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Actually, evolution doesn't say that at all. It says that humans are animals, but it also allows for significant moral differences between humans and animals.
If you'd like to understand how this works, look up the name Peter Singer. His philosophy explains it, and is completely consistent with evolutionary theory.
2007-10-06 16:17:46 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Actually, Evolution DOESN'T say that - Biology does. ONLY humans consider humans more valuable than other animals. If you were to ask a lion, lions are most valuable. If you asked a shark, sharks would be most valuable. ALL animals feel that way about themselves - it's a matter of SURVIVAL, not evolution or religion.
2007-10-06 16:14:38 · answer #8 · answered by gelfling 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Humans are hunters and gatherers. We are also a social animal. It's wrong to kill another human because that interferes with the society. It's okay to kill a cow because that's food.
Us being smarter doesn't enhance or diminish our humanity. It is what it is.
2007-10-06 16:18:45 · answer #9 · answered by Tony AM 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We are just like any other animal.
The problem is we don't value the life of the animals enough.
Evolution does not devalue humans, Religion devalues everything else by pretending that we are somehow special.
Love and blessings Don
2007-10-06 16:16:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋