Do Animals Have Sentience?

[PACKY]

do you think that Animals have sentience? the ability to reason feel emotions and comprehend actions?

 

[Blank123]

absolutely!

last May one of my two budgies escaped from his cage and flew away, and I could tell by watching Joey that he was compltely heart broken. he was so quiet all the time, he wasn't eating like he should've been, and he seemed a lot more sleepy during the day which makes me think he wasn't sleeping well at night.

when I got him another little buddy a few days later, his spirits perked up immdiately, even though I couldn't put them in the same cage right away, he was so happy just knowing there was another bird in the house.

 

[encouraging_angels1]

Yes they do, i think my dog was abused before we got her, she is afriaid and really nearvy around older teenage girls, but she alright with adults and younger children.

 

[judy]

do you think that Animals have sentience? the ability to reason feel emotions and comprehend actions?

I know animals feel emotions. How can anyone who lives with a dog or a cat doubt this? The feelings of loving and being loved by an animal, why else would we allow animals into our homes? And why else would animals choose to continue living with us? Yes, you give them food, but if it wasn't for the emotional attachment they feel to you, they wouldn't continue to hang around once their tummy was full. You don't need a human sized cerebral cortex to experience emotions.

 

[Evee]

do you think that Animals have sentience? the ability to reason feel emotions and comprehend actions?

I do yes absolutely.

 

[Evee]

I know animals feel emotions. How can anyone who lives with a dog or a cat doubt this? The feelings of loving and being loved by an animal, why else would we allow animals into our homes? And why else would animals choose to continue living with us? Yes, you give them food, but if it wasn't for the emotional attachment they feel to you, they wouldn't continue to hang around once their tummy was full. You don't need a human sized cerebral cortex to experience emotions.

Yes exactly what you said.
I love dogs they are so sweet and loving.
Cats are nice too.
We wouldn't be so interested if they didn't return our affections.

 

[Garzy]

Animals do have feelings and emotions... I remember when my aunt told her dog that she was going to leave for 2 weeks. The dog seemed to understand; it cried!

 

[PACKY]

So we all agree animals have Emotions and can feel such things as pain, loneliness and sadness?
Why is it then that we as christians allow the killing of animals gods very own creation for Sport? why do we allow gods animals to be killed simply for their fur?, I am not against he consumption of meat but animals that are going to be raised for their flesh and human consuption should also be treated with respect and kindness.. In the "farms" of today where our meat comes from Gods animals are kept in snall concrete and steel cages, they never experiance teh cool softenss of grass or the comforting warmth of the sun shining doen upon them, many animals raised in these conditions, sufer from ammonia poisoning from the gasses coming off the tons of feces produced.
this is not the world that god and christ intended us to live in this is not the way that god would want us to treat his creation... Eat meat if you like however be aware of the plight of gods creaton.. god gave us dominion over the earth and all its creatures yet dominion means stewardship in order to be good stewards we need to be aware of all of gods creation... think of it this way, if we can't even show love and respect to gods smallest creatures how will we ever find peace among man? would you wear your dogs skin as a coat? most of us say NO! so why do we as christians allow it to take place. I would like to end my post with two quotes..
"It's also worth recalling that people can agree on the same objectives for
different reasons: A secular philosopher like Peter Singer can oppose factory
farming because it's unethical by his theories of justice. An environmentalist
can oppose factory farming because it's reckless stewardship. A conservative can
oppose factory farming because it is destructive to small farmers and to the
decent ethic of husbandry those farmers live by. A religious person can oppose
factory farming because it is degrading to both man and animal -- an offense to
God."
-- Matthew Scully
"And when I think of the suffering of the creatures in our factory farms,
laboratories, puppy mills, or of any animal neglected or mistreated by man, for
me there is no more powerful question than to ask: "What would the Good Shepherd
think of this?"
-- Matthew Scully
Please let me know what you think...and thank you for the great respectful conversation!

 

[PACKY]

any takers?

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

Well, you'd need a scriptural basis for saying it is offensive to God. It may not be pleasant to think about, and it may not be a fun reality, but you can't call something sin unless God has done so, in His word. What makes something offensive to God is that it goes against His revealed will, in His word.

So, while no one likes to think of any animal dying, the truth is we live in a cursed world of which death is a part. God commanded animals to be killed for sacrifices. John wore a tunic of animal hair. Farmers raised animals as livestock for meat and/or fur then as they do now. We are also called to subdue the world, and we have to lessen overpopulations of animals that create problems or nuisance. There is no scriptural mandate against killing animals for whatever the need, even though we don't particularly like it. Fur is one of those things. Now, maybe there are those who don't like fur since there are other options, but that is a personal preference, not a scriptural mandate. Those who like to wear real fur are at liberty to do so.

The best thing we can do when faced with the results of a fallen, cursed earth is to simply live lives that are pleasing to the Lord and look forward to the new created world that He has promised.

Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this with you.

 

[Shy21]

I agree with you BLESSEDBETHEMEEK that's why I am a Vegetarian and also because I work with animals all day long.

Yeah animals feel emotions. Work with an Elephant for a day and I guarantee you will see it or go around a mother Cow when she has a baby Calf near....matter fact go near ANY mother animal that has just had a baby animal and you will see the love and emotion all mothers have for their babies...whether animal or human.

Since I have been working with animals...the greatest love and emotions I have ever seen, besides a human mother with her baby, is a mother Cow's love for her Calf.

The worst emotion I have seen is when humans take away a mother Cow from her newborn. Imagine giving labor only to have your baby taken away. Its not a pretty sight watching the mother Cow fight with all her strength to protect her young only to get abuse.

 

[judy]

So we all agree animals have Emotions and can feel such things as pain, loneliness and sadness?
Why is it then that we as christians allow the killing of animals gods very own creation for Sport? why do we allow gods animals to be killed simply for their fur?, I am not against he consumption of meat but animals that are going to be raised for their flesh and human consuption should also be treated with respect and kindness..

I was watching a show on animal planet recently called "Papa Bear" about a guy (I forget his name) who was studying black bears in New Hampshire. He had made friends with a female bear named Yoda and she was just getting ready to go into her den for the winter and have her cubs, when some so-called sportsmen from out of state shot her...they claimed they didn't see the big radio collar on her neck...this brought tears to my eyes. These people weren't hungry, they didn't need the bear meat to survive, they just wanted to hang her pelt on their wall.

I am not a vegetarian, but I think hunting animals for sport nowadays is unecessary and repulsive behavior.

Just my opinion.

 

[PACKY]

A COUPLE OF QUOTES TO THINK ABOUT!!!
______________________________________________________________________

I think there will come a time, and this is down the road a great many years,
when civilized people will look back in horror on our generation and the ones
that have preceded it: the idea that we should eat other living things running
around on four legs, that we should raise them just for the purpose of killing
them! The people of the future will say, 'meat-eaters!' in disgust and regard us
in the same way that we regard cannibals and cannibalism.
-- Dennis Weaver
It's also worth recalling that people can agree on the same objectives for
different reasons: A secular philosopher like Peter Singer can oppose factory
farming because it's unethical by his theories of justice. An environmentalist
can oppose factory farming because it's reckless stewardship. A conservative can
oppose factory farming because it is destructive to small farmers and to the
decent ethic of husbandry those farmers live by. A religious person can oppose
factory farming because it is degrading to both man and animal -- an offense to
God.
-- Matthew Scully

GOD BLESS.....

 

[PACKY]

A FEW MORE NOTABLE QUOTES:


[T]he standard vegetarian argument that the average person eats meat, and yet
could not bear to see how it was produced, actually speaks well for the average
person. Imagine a world in which most people enjoyed hearing and seeing the
details.
-- Matthew Scully
Truly man is the king of beasts, for his brutality exceeds them. We live by the
death of others. We are burial places! I have since an early age abjured the use
of meat...
-- Leonardo da Vinci
Various philosophers and religious leaders tried to convince their disciples and
followers that animals are nothing more than machines without a soul, without
feelings. However, anyone who has ever lived with an animal--be it a dog, a
bird, or even a mouse--knows that this theory is a brazen lie, invented to
justify cruelty.
-- Isaac Bashevis Singer
We are all God's creatures--that we pray to God for mercy and justice while we
continue to eat the flesh of animals that are slaughtered on our account is not
consistent.
-- Isaac Bashevis Singer
We consume the carcasses of creatures of like appetites, passions and organs
with our own, and fill the slaughterhouses daily with screams of pain and fear.
-- Robert Louis Stevenson
We have found ways never before imagined to torture and maim animals and make
their lives a misery, almost a living hell for many thousands locked in cages in
the multinational food industry, in government establishments devoted to finding
the newest and best weapons for humans to kill each other, and in laboratories
where often the most important thing being researched is the latest in lipstick
or face cream.
-- David Oderberg

We pray on Sundays that we may have light
To guide our footsteps on the path we tread;
We are sick of war, we don't want to fight,
And yet we gorge ourselves upon the dead.
-- George Bernard Shaw
________________________________

GOD BLESS!! DO YOU WANT YOUR STOMACH TO BE A GRAVEYARD?

 

[Faith In God]

A FEW MORE NOTABLE QUOTES:


[T]he standard vegetarian argument that the average person eats meat, and yet
could not bear to see how it was produced, actually speaks well for the average
person. Imagine a world in which most people enjoyed hearing and seeing the
details.
-- Matthew Scully

Nothing against eating animals. Scriptural.

Truly man is the king of beasts, for his brutality exceeds them. We live by the
death of others. We are burial places! I have since an early age abjured the use
of meat...
-- Leonardo da Vinci

Restricted diet. UnScriptural.

Various philosophers and religious leaders tried to convince their disciples and
followers that animals are nothing more than machines without a soul, without
feelings. However, anyone who has ever lived with an animal--be it a dog, a
bird, or even a mouse--knows that this theory is a brazen lie, invented to
justify cruelty.
-- Isaac Bashevis Singer
We are all God's creatures--that we pray to God for mercy and justice while we
continue to eat the flesh of animals that are slaughtered on our account is not
consistent.
-- Isaac Bashevis Singer
We consume the carcasses of creatures of like appetites, passions and organs
with our own, and fill the slaughterhouses daily with screams of pain and fear.
-- Robert Louis Stevenson
We have found ways never before imagined to torture and maim animals and make
their lives a misery, almost a living hell for many thousands locked in cages in
the multinational food industry, in government establishments devoted to finding
the newest and best weapons for humans to kill each other, and in laboratories
where often the most important thing being researched is the latest in lipstick
or face cream.
-- David Oderberg

We pray on Sundays that we may have light
To guide our footsteps on the path we tread;
We are sick of war, we don't want to fight,
And yet we gorge ourselves upon the dead.
-- George Bernard Shaw
________________________________

GOD BLESS!! DO YOU WANT YOUR STOMACH TO BE A GRAVEYARD?

Do you know what? I do not regard secular people's quotes as much. Why do you seek counsil among the ungodly? Much of this is unscriptural, and advocates vegenarianism, an unbiblical practice that is actually prophesied in the NT.

There is no reason for killing for sport. But there is no reason that animals should not be used to sustain us, either.

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

BLESSEDBETHEMEEK, I do have one question; if God had people sacrificing animals and eating the meat, then where does He stand in the ethical debate?

 

[Shy21]

BLESSEDBETHEMEEK, I do have one question; if God had people sacrificing animals and eating the meat, then where does He stand in the ethical debate?

Those days animals were not treated badly....they were killed and then eaten. Nowadays animals are just treated badly...female animals are being inpregnanted just to feed billions of humans, baby animals being mistreated, Cows having there throat slit and they are keep alive with a slit throat....that is just plain out CRUEL. That didnt happen when G-d alloweed us to eat meat. If you are going to eat an animal.....kill the animal yourself and eat it like they did in the Bible.

For the person saying there is no scripture for not eating meat. There is no scripture for ALOT of stuff

It doesnt say anything about factory farming in the Bible, does it? In the Bible man killed his own food....not a business that mistreat animals.

It doesnt say anything about smoking in the Bible, does it? Why do people say smoking is wrong? Some people say its bad for your health, right? I have an uncle who is 63, been smoking his whole life and he has no problem with breathing.

It doesnt say anything about cloning, does it? Why is that wrong? Is it because man wants to be "G-d?" in your opinion? Well then humans CLONE animals and you eat them everyday. Do the research and you'll find what they DONT want you to know in the government and factory farming about cloning.

It doesnt say anything about oral sex does it? Alot of people do it everyday..lol. Is that wrong? Could I have oral sex and still go to Heaven? The Bible doesnt say it's wrong. G-d said being a Virgin is the right thing....when you have oral sex you are still a Virgin, correct? How is that wrong?

The list can go on and on and on.......................Just because its not in the Bible...does that make it right when these animals suffer? Its understandable if humans kill animals and they dont suffer that much pain, in my opinion, but when they suffer its CRUEL and WRONG.

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

People had livestock farms in the Old Testament. Job is a very good example of this. And again, we cannot call sin what God does not call sin. Cruelty is one thing, but raising animals to feed people is not unscriptural or cruel; just some people have an aversion to it. There's a difference between the two.

 

[Faith In God]

Those days animals were not treated badly....they were killed and then eaten. Nowadays animals are just treated badly...female animals are being inpregnanted just to feed billions of humans, baby animals being mistreated, Cows having there throat slit and they are keep alive with a slit throat....that is just plain out CRUEL. That didnt happen when G-d alloweed us to eat meat. If you are going to eat an animal.....kill the animal yourself and eat it like they did in the Bible.

Do you?

For the person saying there is no scripture for not eating meat. There is no scripture for ALOT of stuff

In fact, Scripture goes and says that vegetarianism is not of God.

It doesnt say anything about factory farming in the Bible, does it? In the Bible man killed his own food....not a business that mistreat animals.

It doesnt say anything about smoking in the Bible, does it? Why do people say smoking is wrong? Some people say its bad for your health, right? I have an uncle who is 63, been smoking his whole life and he has no problem with breathing.

Smoking is bad for you. End of story. It's a drug. It's addictive.

It doesnt say anything about cloning, does it? Why is that wrong? Is it because man wants to be "G-d?" in your opinion? Well then humans CLONE animals and you eat them everyday. Do the research and you'll find what they DONT want you to know in the government and factory farming about cloning.

It doesnt say anything about oral sex does it? Alot of people do it everyday..lol. Is that wrong? Could I have oral sex and still go to Heaven? The Bible doesnt say it's wrong. G-d said being a Virgin is the right thing....when you have oral sex you are still a Virgin, correct? How is that wrong?

What does any of this have to do with the topic? Cleanliness is a rule, here.

The list can go on and on and on.......................Just because its not in the Bible...does that make it right when these animals suffer? Its understandable if humans kill animals and they dont suffer that much pain, in my opinion, but when they suffer its CRUEL and WRONG.

Yes. Okay. But there are at least implications for any and all questions of morals in the bible. Find some. There are some for smoking, some for the other thing, and some for this, I'm sure.

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

Shy, there are general priciples that are revealed in scripture. As for smoking:

1 Corinthians 6:19

6:19Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

6:20for you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body.

This answers all the issues you mentioned. But more pointedly:

1 John 3:2-3

3:2Dear friends, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him as He is.

3:3And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure.

Hebrews 13:4

13:4Marriage must be respected by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge immoral people and adulterers.

However, since the topic of the thread is animals, we still have the fact that people farmed animals and the Lord told us to kill and eat. Again, we have to be sure that what we call sin is actually the Lord's sayso.