God and animals?

[Boiled Brain]

Yeah so, similar stories are found in older written work like the Epic of Gilgamash(sp).

Well, from the atheist's point of view you're absolutely right - it's just a mythic story.

 

[HipHopAvenger]

God is almighty. If he wanted nobody would die.

I forgot that Noah and others had "Premium Version" with all options avaliable.

 

[Boiled Brain]

I forgot that Noah and others had "Premium Version" with all options avaliable.

Yeah, and free technical support for one year

 

[Madhuri]

It's in the RSB. It says "the soul of the flesh is in the blood..."

What does the rest of the sentence say? This statement is ambiguous...it could be interpreted in a number of ways. Firslty it is saying soul of 'flesh' which may be poetic language and not refer to the soul of the person, who is more than the flesh. Also, the author may have intended that the soul of the flesh is in the blood of -man-. How do we know that this statement refers to anything with blood?

 

[Boiled Brain]

What does the rest of the sentence say?

It's about prohibition of eating blood.

 

[Madhuri]

It's about prohibition of eating blood.

Well I can believe that since I know that the Bible states in some places that eating flesh is a sin and then contradicts itself elsewhere. And I also realise that people only interpret what they want...but I still cannot agree that the Bible says that animals have souls. At leas't I have not seen sufficient evidence to suggest as much (though it would please me to see it!).

 

[HipHopAvenger]

Well I can believe that since I know that the Bible states in some places that eating flesh is a sin and then contradicts itself elsewhere. And I also realise that people only interpret what they want...but I still cannot agree that the Bible says that animals have souls. At leas't I have not seen sufficient evidence to suggest as much (though it would please me to see it!).

Can we base our evidence on Bible at all? Theoretically, God is perfect and humankind is imperfect. So people would be unable to understand.

 

[HipHopAvenger]

Genesis 1:28

God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

Why are we supposed to rule over all living creatures? We would be dead without their presence. We would have to eat people or grass and vegetable.

Why should animals should be inferior to humankind?

 

[Azakel]

Genesis 1:28

God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

Why are we supposed to rule over all living creatures? We would be dead without their presence. We would have to eat people or grass and vegetable.

Why should animals should be inferior to humankind?

Because that's what the people that wrote the Bible(or at lest the OT) wanted to believe god told them. That they are better then the lower animals.
This is one reason way I like the older Pagan religions. Animals are seen as equals, and part of one big family(well I think that might be more Neo-Pagan, but still back then animal where still treated in a higher regard).

 

[HipHopAvenger]

Because that's what the people that wrote the Bible(or at lest the OT) wanted to believe god told them. That they are better then the lower animals.
This is one reason way I like the older Pagan religions. Animals are seen as equals, and part of one big family(well I think that might be more Neo-Pagan, but still back then animal where still treated in a higher regard).

Yes. This part was taken really seriously.

 

[HipHopAvenger]

I would be afraid of the revenge of our nature for such disregarding its power in the world.:sarcastic

 

[Kathryn]

Genesis 1:28

God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

Why are we supposed to rule over all living creatures? We would be dead without their presence. We would have to eat people or grass and vegetable.

Why should animals should be inferior to humankind?

A good ruler sees the value of the members of her kingdom and treats them well and protects them.

We are called to be noble rulers - not abusive rulers.

 

[HipHopAvenger]

A good ruler sees the value of the members of her kingdom and treats them well and protects them.

We are called to be noble rulers - not abusive rulers.

Even though the long history proves rather the second option(abusive rulers).

 

[Madhuri]

I think it is safe to say that almost every living being is responsible for hte suffering of many other living creatures; human and non-human.

 

[HipHopAvenger]

I think it is safe to say that almost every living being is responsible for hte suffering of many other living creatures; human and non-human.

Good point.
Even though it would sound a bit depressively. Everyone does good and bad things.

 

[Madhuri]

Good point.
Even though it would sound a bit depressively. Everyone does good and bad things.

It is true though even just thinking about our consumer culture. So many of the prominent companies that we support in order to live comfortably (or just to live) are profiting from the use of cheap labour and even slave labour. Look at the carpet trades in the east or the diamond trades in Africa. There are many examples. And then of course, there is our part in animal suffering. Supporting the meat industry being the worst of all.
Many people would feel horrified to cause direct pain or suffering to any creature but it is easy to forget that we do so anyway, indirectly, by simply living.

 

[HipHopAvenger]

It is true though even just thinking about our consumer culture. So many of the prominent companies that we support in order to live comfortably (or just to live) are profiting from the use of cheap labour and even slave labour. Look at the carpet trades in the east or the diamond trades in Africa. There are many examples. And then of course, there is our part in animal suffering. Supporting the meat industry being the worst of all.
Many people would feel horrified to cause direct pain or suffering to any creature but it is easy to forget that we do so anyway, indirectly, by simply living.

Simply we could ask then whether the life of human-being is worthier than life of the animal. That we can speak or use a computer and animal cannot.
But as you said the "consumer society and culture" cannot be turned off like a radio. It is a process which has been expanding through centuries. And now that style of living rules over the world...maybe I could say that money rules over the world.

 

[Madhuri]

Simply we could ask then whether the life of human-being is worthier than life of the animal. That we can speak or use a computer and animal cannot.
But as you said the "consumer society and culture" cannot be turned off like a radio. It is a process which has been expanding through centuries. And now that style of living rules over the world...maybe I could say that money rules over the world.

You would be right in saying that. There is also a lot of ignorance about the consequences of our actions. Many people are not aware of the horrors that go on behind the scenes that allow us to live a comfortable life.

As far as the superiority of humans to animals..thats a different topic of which i am strongly opinionated. However, whatever the case, it is never a nice thing when a sentient entity has to suffer.