William Joseph wrote:Religion or philosophy are always interesting topics ,they are certainly human topics.
You never see dogs talking much about the meaning and purpose of life or even asking if there is such a thing as purpose or meaning in life. Animals don't lose hope or commit suicide. Animals aren't hypocrites and never seek for justice or restitution.
No these things are uniquely human. It is uniquely human to seek medications to alter thoughts or remove the pressure of stress.
How many people do you know who suffer from depression or anxiety or have contemplated suicide?
How many people do you know who either take drugs, either illegal or over the counter, to (help) with these complex and deeply personal issues?
No creature is more intelligent or directed by conscience (or rebel against conscience) as humans.
Why do you think that is so?
Are humans different? Are they meant for more?
Is there a way for humans to exist without the sense that there is more even if we don't yet know what it is?
Are we maybe supposed to follow the survival of the fittest model and forget all this other stuff?
If there is no true Good or Evil then it really doesn't matter?
But no that doesn't quite fit either. hmmmm.
I wonder what you think
You have presented some interesting ideas here, but unfortunately, some of the things you think animals don’t do are incorrect. Animals do indeed seek mind altering substances. Have you ever heard of catnip? Animals in the wild are known to seek out and eat plants that have medicinal or mind altering effects. People are better at this, but the behavior is not strictly human.
If you had ever raised a large number of animals, you would know that they do indeed lose hope. Prey animals will die even though mortal wounds have not yet been inflicted. (This is thought to be a function of a parasympathetic storm related to the shock and despair caused by being caught by a predator). As to committing suicide, you don’t know that. Lemmings to the sea?
As to conscience, please! Have you never seen a dog showing guilt when an owner walks in on the dog doing something the dog knows it is not supposed to do? Most social mammals show evidence of all kinds of “human” behavior related to socialization. Study the behavior of a wolf pack or a horse herd. You might be surprised at how human-like some of their behavior can be.
Religion does not and should not rest on some false assertion of humans beings engaging in behavior for which animals have no correspondence. Everything humans do, animals do in some form. Animals love, grieve, experience fear and hope and despair. They make and use tools, feel pain, and in fact, animals show intelligence. The difference is in type and degree, not in the existence of the behavior. Remember, Jesus said God looked after the birds and animals too, just like he looks after people.
