While there are many interpolations in the Bible (such as John 3:13 …. .. ) which can be ignored, there are very meaningful verses too in the Bible such as Ecclesiastes 4:1; 8:9 which states: ‘man has authority over another to his detriment, they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors.’
Let us make a comparison of humans (in general) with lower beings, or even with inanimate things! Many people earn, spend, sleep, and finally go into the deep sleep of death, which is no way better than that of a stone or any animate being, which remains unaware of its self, origin, objective of life, final destination and macrocosmic surroundings. The only difference is that most humans live life in stone consciousness with the potential of elevating them to the highest level. When flung, a stone can hurt others. It might hurt itself by chipping or breaking up. This pain or injury could be similar if an individual hits another by chance or choice. There could be mental anguish if one flings unpleasant words at others. A boulder is also harmless if left alone. A human being too is often harmless if left alone, but may reciprocate reflecting the action of others!
Since everything is interconnected, and every part contributes to the whole, figuratively speaking, the whole existence is living and breathing with the power and purpose that may not be comprehensible. Should man claim his scientific attainments for superiority in consciousness? Perhaps no. All technological advancements are conditioned by the forces of nature. If these forces alter any time all innovations would go or have to be reinvented! Likewise, scientists can write volumes about metamorphism of stones and particles/forces of cohesiveness, mass, effect of gravity ….. etc. Thus, a stone can also be classified as complex scientific machinery or entity. The soil/rock we stand on bears our burden while living and covers us in death making our physical body stone or dust again.
The so-called non-living entities or lower species play their part and contribute to the working of the whole! Humans (who boast of possessing superior intelligence) too play their part, yet bringing more harm than help. Application of his scientific knowledge unwittingly led us into a state where air and water are all polluted with the resultant climate change being all set to sink the earth’s most of the inhabitable area.
Things do not end there! Scientists are now almost in the final stage of developing full-fledged, autonomous Artificial Intelligence (AI) that could probably spell the end of the human race, fears even Stephen Hawking! What is the use of such full-fledged AI, making us dispensable? While machines that were designed to surpass human physical limitations serve a good purpose, selfaware AI would bring about a reversal of roles where machines become masters and treat humans the way we treat animals today.
This only stresses the meaningfulness of the verses quoted in the opening para. Humans replaced King of the Universe with human kings and brought in sufferings. Again these human kings were replaced with multiple human representatives in the name of democracy which only in fact multiplied kings (which multiplied our woes)! Now where have we reached? “The wealthiest 1% to own more than 50% of the world's wealth by 2016.” (http://www.bbc.com/news/business-30875633) When costly elections are sponsored by the richest, rulers have to rule to benefit the few! Others are just objects of surveillance!
