Human Value

[renniks]

Not only smart, but self conscious to boot. Evolution is pretty creative in all sorts of ways.

I kill and eat animals. If that's correct, I'd be a murderer and a cannibal.

 

[renniks]

So then we must be vegetables or minerals right?

I wonder why only creationists are convinced by that "logic?"

Really? Vegans agree, I assure you. They believe we are animals, therefore we should not ever hurt any animal.

 

[renniks]

If they're breathing, they have souls.

Nope. Only man is in God's image, having a spiritual side.

 

[Tinker Grey]

Nope. Only man is in God's image, having a spiritual side.

Demonstrate "spiritual".

 

[renniks]

Demonstrate "spiritual".

You know any dogs that form churches and worship God? Men have always worshiped. Why?

 

[Robban]

I kill and eat animals. If that's correct, I'd be a murderer and a cannibal.

The blood prohibition the eating thereof.

Genesis 9:4,
It says, Flesh that has in it it's soul, which is in it's blood, you shall not eat.
Then next verse goes on to say, But your own blood............

The human soul is the most complex,

It is called by five names.

 

[atpollard]

Demonstrate "spiritual".

A cannibal eats the heart of his enemy to gain his courage.
A wolf kills a strange wolf to defend its territory.

The wolf takes no trophy and shows no sign of holding and “value” for the corpse. Even “animists” demonstrate “spiritual value” to human life (indicating it is not just a Christian trait).

 

[Tinker Grey]

You know any dogs that form churches and worship God? Men have always worshiped. Why?

Where is this spirit? Can you measure it or taste it or smell it or see it? BTW, chimps and pigeons can be superstitious too.

It's imaginary unless perchance you simply mean emotional. In which case, many animals lovers would dispute you.

 

[Tinker Grey]

A cannibal eats the heart of his enemy to gain his courage.

Do you believe he succeeds?

Yes humans are different, but so are octopuses. Every species is different from any other species.

 

[dlamberth]

I kill and eat animals. If that's correct, I'd be a murderer and a cannibal.

That's the very reason for why many become vegetarians.

 

[atpollard]

I would say that the evidence indicates no innate value in human life. What is the value of the homeless living in the shadows? What is the value of the addicts that overdose? What is the value of a child felon charged as an adult? What is the value of the people starving in Sudan?

How much do you pay for them?
How much do you sacrifice for them?
How much time do you spend thinking about them?

As individuals, most people place little value on them. The Government devotes minimal resources to them. Collectively, society goes on with little thought to them.

It seems to me that any value that people possess comes from the fact that God values them. I know you were looking for a “non-religious” source of human value, but the world really doesn’t act like human beings hold any intrinsic value. YMMV.

 

[Robban]

Special offer, on the house.

A nightcap.

"If you don't see God everywhere,
you don't see Him anywhere."

 

[dlamberth]

Nope. Only man is in God's image, having a spiritual side.

It's not a matter of being in God's image, it's about being alive and breathing.

 

[atpollard]

Do you believe he succeeds?

Is that actually relevant?
Does a spiritual belief need to be true to be a spiritual belief?

I am aware of no other species that gives any indication of belief in anything beyond this life. Only man seems to ponder “metaphysics”. You asked for “Demonstrate spiritual” and I provided the most primal example I knew of outside of Neanderthal burial of the dead.

 

[renniks]

Where is this spirit? Can you measure it or taste it or smell it or see it? BTW, chimps and pigeons can be superstitious too.

It's imaginary unless perchance you simply mean emotional. In which case, many animals lovers would dispute you.

Well, first I doubt animals have much in the way of emotion. We love to attribute human emotions to them. I do it all the time to our dogs, but really it's for my amusement. I have no idea if they feel any emotions at all. Matt some kind of affection, but it is likely selfish in motive.
The spirit and soul aren't measurable but they are reality.
But you might consider this:
Quantum experiments suggest that objects only exist with real properties if they are observed. This may suggest that a part of the mind – the soul – is immortal and exists outside of space and time.

 

[renniks]

That's the very reason for why many become vegetarians.

It's a good thing I don't believe animals are people then. Because that deer meat was sure delicious.

 

[renniks]

It's not a matter of being in God's image, it's about being alive and breathing.

Breath is just breath. What does that have to do with the soul?

 

[dlamberth]

Breath is just breath. What does that have to do with the soul?

Breath is life. Life has everything to do with Soul.

 

[dlamberth]

It's a good thing I don't believe animals are people then. Because that deer meat was sure delicious.

I like venison as well. Deer are not people, their Souls are deer Souls.

 

[Tinker Grey]

Is that actually relevant?
Does a spiritual belief need to be true to be a spiritual belief?

I am aware of no other species that gives any indication of belief in anything beyond this life. Only man seems to ponder “metaphysics”. You asked for “Demonstrate spiritual” and I provided the most primal example I knew of outside of Neanderthal burial of the dead.

OK. The way I worded my original question was ambiguous. What I want is a demonstration that there is such a thing as spirit.