why can't atheists realize we are not animals?

Question

can you name me one animal that goes to war and commits genocide in the name of an imaginary being? name just one, and i'll agree that humans are animals.

i'm glad a few of you caught the sarcasm of this message. many of you missed the part of the question which explains genocide and war justified by an imaginary being. that's what i was wanting an example of. ants don't really qualify there, do they?

Answer 1

Sounds like we're pond scum, lower than the animals.

Answer 2

The truth of it is we are animals. But we are animals of complex reasoning and the ability to mimic at higher levels than that of other species. Because of our abilities, we plan ahead for events. Planning ahead and forecasting take imagination, which we developed. This makes possible the ability to imagine Gods and even setup societies using these beings to govern policies of the society...and go to war over...in the name of a non-existent being.
Obviously we cannot point to another animal on this planet that is as evolved, however Primates have the ability to war with each other, and ever kill out of jealously.
But no animal besides us has the complexity and organization to plan out genocidal wars...if so, we would have been attacked as well by now.
This does not prove your point about that fact that we are not just animals...just that there is no other animal that is as evolved at this point (we might be the first on this planet.)
Wait a few million years and see what happens...

Answer 3

I'll name one.


HUMANS.


The definition of an animal is a multicellular heterotroph. The main thing that a scientist can look for when determining if something is an animal is certain HOX genes that are shared by all members of the kingdom animalia. We have those genes hence we are animals.



There are also ants that wage war. As far as if the war is based on beliefs in an imaginary being, well......
you'd have to ask the ants that one buddy.

Answer 4

I can't say whether chimpanzees commit genocide in the name of an imaginary being, because I've never discussed with a chimp his motives for war. However, African chimpanzees and bonobos both have been observed (many, many times) to go on "hunts" to completely eradicate other tribes of chimpanzees. They leave no survivors if they are able. The "wars" seem to be totally unprovoked and are extremely bloody and horrible.

And hey! We share over 98% of our DNA with them!

By the way, the scientific definition of "animal" is this: A living organism made up of more than one type of tissue, which must actively consume other organisms in order to maintain life.

Do you eat food that was once living (plant or animal)? Are you made up of more than one type of tissue? Then you are an animal. It's that simple.

Answer 5

Yes - there's evidence that chimpanzees actually do attack for purposes other than food and defence. They also exhibit superiority behaviour and violance for the sake of dominence which is basically what most wars are about.

According to the definition of animals we are animals. People set out the definitions not nature, thus your question falls down before it's even started.

Trev - not an athiest either, just did biology at school

Answer 6

Many animals go to war with other animals of the same type, this is usually to retain territory and will often include several of the same type of animal from both sides.

Humans are mammals. There is nothing offensive about this. Dolphins go to war with other schools and are considered by many to be just as intelligent as humans ... are they not part of the animal kingdom?

Answer 7

lol. ur mistaken.

animals dont commit those, because both of those require mass movement. meaning all animals on "one side" would have to travel a vast distance to fight animals on the "other side"

however animals DO fight for territory, and some animals do have societies. many animals stay together in packs and protect members of their pack with their life.

animals do kill each other for various reasons; territory, mate, power, etc. animals also display homosexual and/or bisexual behavior. and not all animals have sex for reproduction purposes. its been shown that dolphins have sex as a recreational activity likewise.

edit: lol i missed the part with the imaginary being. oops =]

Answer 8

Chimpanzees go on war parties often.

Not sure whether they have a belief system that is based on faith, but it is clear that the males get together in groups and actively enter another troops territory, killing one or two of the neighboring tribes members, then return.

Its not for food or territory, its plain old war and violence. Its interesting that the war parties are typically dependent on the nature of the leader of the troop at the time.

Answer 9

Humans are an animal that goes to war and commits genocide in the name of an imaginary being. :)

Answer 10

Darkly Dreaming Scarlett is right. Ants do go to war, just like humans do. In fact, when they go to war, they also take prisoners that they bring back to their "tribes" to use as slaves.

Humans have done that a few times in our history, haven't we?

EDIT: And yes, I kind of figured you were being sarcastic.

Answer 11

We are animals. We just happen to be animals who developed self-awareness and the capacity for imagination. Combine that with the natural urges for territory and domination (common with many animals, by the way, including other primates), and you've got a species who engages in war.