Humans are Not Superior to Animals July 10, 2008
Posted by Anita in God is Imaginary.Tags: Animal Abuse, Atheism, Rational Thought, Religion, Souls
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If you’re a Christian or someone who believes you have a “soul,” but animals do not, consider this:
I find it hard not to smile at religion’s conceit that we’re superior to animals on the basis that we have souls and they don’t, when five minutes in a slaughterhouse would convince anyone that, if anything, it’s animals who have the souls and human beings who don’t. -Pat Condell
Wow, that’s pretty much a non sequitur. Animals have souls because people eat them? People don’t because they eat animals?
Steve: You’ve completely missed the point.
Mr. Condell is NOT saying “animals have souls because people eat them.”
He is saying that visiting a slaughterhouse, and witnessing the inhumane treatment of animals, would show you how ridiculous it is to believe that humans are in any way superior to these innocent sentient beings. And by witnessing such cruelty, you would realize how arrogant and conceited it is for religion to preach that humans have “souls,” whereas animals do not.
To paraphrase a bumper sticker: I eat animals because they’re made of meat. They were given to us to sustain us, clothe us and occasionally to provide companionship. If you don’t eat meat, that’s fine, but does it imply that asparagus has a soul because we eat it? Your argument makes no sense. Do abattoirs need to slaughter animals humanely? Absolutely. Do animals have souls? Of course not.
The flaw in your argument is that you equate mankind with animals and plants and rocks. We all exist on the same planet, but only man has been given the spark or soul that puts him above all the rest of creation. Do we abuse that position? Sure, but it doesn’t change the fact that men have souls and animals don’t.
Steve: No one GAVE you the animals and you are in no way superior to them, simply because you are of a different species. How arrogant and conceited to believe that you are.
If you don’t understand that cows, pigs, cats, dogs, birds, etc. are sentient beings—capable of awareness, feeling, and suffering—then you are an idiot beyond redemption.
My redemption is not a matter of my understanding the nature of animals, but rather of my understanding of my relationship with God.
You can drag yourself down to the level of the animals if you’d like, but then don’t complain when people act like animals.
If you don’t understand that cows, pigs, cats, dogs, birds, etc. are sentient beings—capable of awareness, feeling, and suffering—then you are an idiot beyond redemption.
There’s a distinct difference between sentience (awareness), and having a soul. Animals are aware of their surroundings. Arguably some plants may be as well. But neither plants nor animals are sapient forms, meaning that they are not capable of wisdom. The most important distinction, though, is not the similarity between man and animals, but the differences between them. Animals can’t act with wisdom, man can, but chooses not to. That is the God-given difference.
Hi all, just found this in my email inbox – it’s just a light joke, but thought it was a good one to share – sure made me giggle! There’s some truth in it!
And God Created Dog and Cat
A newly discovered chapter in the Book of Genesis has provided the answer to ‘Where do pets come from?’
Adam said, ‘Lord, when I was in the garden, you walked with me every day. Now I do not see you any more. I am lonesome here and it is difficult for me to remember how much you love me.’And God said ‘No problem. I will create a companion for you that will be with you forever and who will be a reflection of my love for you so that you will love me even when you cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish or childish or unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourself.’
And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam. And it was a good animal. And God was pleased. And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and it wagged its tail.
And Adam said, ‘Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom and I cannot think of a name for this new animal.’
And God said, ‘No problem. Because I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him Dog.’
And Dog lived with Adam and was a companion to him and loved him. And Adam was comforted. And God was pleased. And Dog was content and wagged his tail.
After a while, it came to pass that Adam’s guardian angel came to the Lord and said, ‘Lord, Adam has become filled with pride. He struts and preens like a peacock and he believes he is worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught him that he is loved, but perhaps too well.’
And the Lord said, ‘No problem. I will create for him a companion who will be with him forever and who will see him as he is. The companion will remind him of his limitations, so he will know that he is not always worthy of adoration.’
And God created Cat to be a companion to Adam. And Cat would not obey Adam. And when Adam gazed into Cat’s eyes, he was reminded that he was not the Supreme Being. And Adam learned humility.
And God was pleased. And Adam was greatly improved. And Dog was happy.
And Cat didn’t care one way or the other.
Very cute. Thanks, Smithy! :)