Honey looks nice.
But consider this: parasitic wasps trap a caterpillar and keep it warm and alive so that its larvae can slowly eat it inside out.
Was that intelligent design? Maybe for the wasps. Not sure what the caterpillar might think about this design.
I believe that if leaving beings did not need to eat other living beings in order to survive, you would have a point. I don't know, something like solar cells on their back, would work.
Ciao
- viole
EDITED
What the caterpillar thinks is not an issue unless the caterpillar thinks -or, until someone thinks about the caterpillar.
Whether the present design of things is "intelligent" might depend on what the intelligence is trying to achieve.
It seems -now that we are able to think about it -that we find the life and death cycle distasteful -at least at a certain level.
We may not mind mowing a lawn -pulling weeds -or replacing plants every year -but we believe certain life forms should be treated differently -based on their attributes.
We have empathy for animals which are obviously suffering -but may not hesitate to take one out that is of a nature to cause us suffering.
We now have a sort of vacuum within us for what we see would be better -a more intelligent design -and even for immortality.
We are gaining a reverence and respect for life -for certain attributes of life forms -and a desire to order things ourselves based on such.
We have become conscientious, intelligent designers.
Perhaps that was the intent of the intelligent designer.
(Even if one does not believe what is written in the bible, it does answer every issue with a viable solution -and explains the present state -though some would disagree because they do not believe the solutions are possible, as they require that which we deem "miraculous" and unnatural)
In Eden, people were told to eat only plants. After the flood, God also allowed any animal flesh to be eaten.
Later, only certain animal flesh was to be eaten -and later when the kingdoms of the world have become the kingdoms of the Lord, no flesh will be eaten -not even by animals.
(..which will also be the end of war on Earth. Only one more attempt will be made at war before the judgment of all of the dead [and opportunity for all to gain eternal life] -but it will not be successful)
Similarly, the present nature of the animal kingdom has served a purpose in relation to the spiritual state of man and the overall plan.
It has had a psychological effect on man -making man cautious and wary of dangers, causing him to consider mortality, cruelty, kindness -how and why man is different in being able to consider such things -and animals have even been used for specific purposes.
On the positive side, God used hornets to drive out people from before Israel before he eventually gave them over to war.
On the not-so-positive side, there were plagues and death (though even the end thereof will be positive).
The life and death cycle of certain physical species is advantageous -even necessary -given the situation (within a relatively closed and changing system/environment) -and permanence/immortality can also be advantageous -even necessary for some.
If you think about it, we have no hope of lasting peace on Earth without permanence -as each generation makes the same mistakes -and we die just about the time we learn enough to live correctly.
There must be a permanent, capable, righteous government in place.
We have been prepared to accept what will be -and to create responsibly.
Eze 34:25 And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.
Isa 11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
Isa 11:7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
Isa 11:8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
Isa 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Php 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end
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