As far as I can tell, the only difference between Humans and all other known animals is we are very good at communicating abstract ideas and we're a bit smarter.
Everything else higher animals (primates, etc.) can do too.
Are We Animals?
by Satanus 16 Replies latest jw friends
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Satanus
At the beginning, i listed 3 possible views on this topic.
1.The atheistic view
2.The christian view
3.The new age/eastern viewPeople are familiar w the first two views. However, the third view includes aspects of the other two. The third view could be called pantheism. It basically means that god is all, or all is god.
We could then say that we are all a chip off the old block. Our spark of life, our soul/spirit is a god particle. God is spirit is life. And the reverse: all life is spirit is god. This theory would include within it the idea of jesus' statement that his opposers were gods. On the other hand, it elevates animals and nature, as their life forces, whether conscious or unconscious are divine. It leads us humans into a kinship w nature, w the animals, and w the universe itself. Life is still a struggle, but we can attempt to find a way to harmonize our ways w the ways of nature. Perhaps the struggle can be reduced or become inconsequential. We accept the death of the body as a natural process, and the spirit/soul passes on to the next level. The fear of death is gone from our lives as it is from most animals. It is acceptable that we are animals, but also acceptable that animals have a divine spark.
SS
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teejay
which of mans habits/tendencies are animal, which are divine, orinating from our supposedly being imaged on god?
Saint,
Good question. How about this:
Everything that humans do which can be said to be essential for survival (as an individual or species) describes the animal in us.
Everything else describes the "divine."
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Satanus
TJ
You could be right. Someone made the statement that christianity is death oriented. So what are the christian elements?
love
judgementalism
self sacrifice
control of base passions
store treasures in heaven, not earth
preach
pray
looking after others
faithChristians, feel free to add to this list. I don't see much here that would promote reliance on the self for survival. I think you are right, TJ.
SS
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Marilyn
christianity?
Egotism. They think they are so important that they should have more than is on offer.
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teejay
Saint,
I may have mistaken/misread the premise behind your question. I didn't think of a Christian context when giving you my answer.
Christianity (and all other religions) co-opts many normal human emotions and behaviors that might be deemed "spirituality" and exploits them for their own use. It's like the WTS attempting to quantify spirituality by looking at the number of hours someone spends in service. Other faiths make the same silly mistakes.
My brother is an orthodox Muslim and prays several times every day. He is a devoted student of the religion and can tell you what each prayer means, how the devout stands, holds their hands, head, etc. All of these rules must be followed for the prayer to be received by Allah. I don't consider any of that as having even a bare semblance of spirituality.
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Lionel_P_Hartley
Jan,
Hmmm...reminds me of the elephant biologist who came across a naked man in the jungle. Stunned, the elephant blurted "how in the hell do you manage to breathe through that.
LPH
ps: or is that elephantine biologist?