Killing insects

Saeph · May 15, 2006

This topic may seem a little odd to some users here, but I was really wondering about it for the last few days.

Is it a "sin" to kill f.e. a bee if it annoys you? Can we look on that issue like f.e. a dog has been killed?

I'd rather hear some opinions from you first, before posting my point of view, because I'm not really sure at the moment.

levi501 · May 15, 2006

no.
I wouldn't needlessly kill an insect though
But if it threatens or annoys me I will.
It's free to do the same to me... if it can.
So all is fair.

knightlight72 · May 15, 2006

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

In the end, humans do have a different role than just insects. As to the dog, they are used for feed animals in many parts of the world.

Pogue · May 15, 2006

I try and avoid killing insects if at all possible- if they annoy me I just put up with it. I'm not comfortable with the idea of needlessly killing something, however small. I'd argue that if you were killing it for no reason, other than it being an annoyance, it borders on the sinful. Quite an odd view perhaps, but then I'm quite an odd person

Merlin · May 15, 2006

We are commanded in the 10 commandments not to murder.
Killing and murder are different.

Pogue · May 15, 2006

I'm not entirely sure, but isn't there a translation issue in the Bible? 'Kill' and 'murder' being the same word in Hebrew? Sorry, correct me if I'm wrong.

KCDAD · May 15, 2006

You are wrong about kill and murder, they are different words.

Killing a bee is not a sin. Killing a bee because you enjoy killing is not a good thing and a real good indication that your life is not right with God.

Pogue · May 15, 2006

KCDAD said:
You are wrong about kill and murder, they are different words.

But I thought that in the original language of the Bible, they were the same word- kill and murder meant the same thing.

sister_maynard · May 15, 2006

I don't go out of my way to kill insects, and I don't enjoy killing them, but I will squish them if they're posing a danger to the cleanliness of my food or to my safety. Yellow jackets have stung me without provocation, and I draw the line at putting up with cockroaches in my house. When insects are outside in their own space, I leave them alone.

vajradhara · May 16, 2006

Namaste Saeph,

as far as i can tell, Christians have no problems (doctrinally) taking the life of non-human sentient beings.

some human beings feel that it is their right to be able to kill other sentient beings.

naturally, my view is that such taking of sentient life is quite unskillful and one would be wise to avoid it.

metta,

~v

elman · May 16, 2006

Saeph said:
This topic may seem a little odd to some users here, but I was really wondering about it for the last few days.

Is it a "sin" to kill f.e. a bee if it annoys you? Can we look on that issue like f.e. a dog has been killed?

I'd rather hear some opinions from you first, before posting my point of view, because I'm not really sure at the moment.

The Bible says there is a time to kill. Killing is not prohibited by Christianity. Being unloving to humans is.

knightlight72 · May 16, 2006

vajradhara said:
Namaste Saeph,

as far as i can tell, Christians have no problems (doctrinally) taking the life of non-human sentient beings.

some human beings feel that it is their right to be able to kill other sentient beings.

naturally, my view is that such taking of sentient life is quite unskillful and one would be wise to avoid it.

metta,

~v

I'd say naturally nearly all humans have few issues with killing animals.

Where do you think their meat comes from?

Often the killing of animals and insects is for food, or because they are a nuisance/disease ridden. Example mosquitoes.

Who likes mosquitoes? How about poisoness animals such as snakes, or spiders? Really, I'd feel much better with them eliminated from my yard, rather than my young child even risk being bitten.

Nightson · May 16, 2006

knightlight72 said:
How about poisoness animals such as snakes, or spiders?

Love them both quite honestly.

rambot · May 16, 2006

I think it's either an antiquated OR extremists view for xtians to think that killing is justifiable, in God's name or not (consider the Westboro baptist winners). Christians don't LIKE killing.

A better question (that I always laugh at with the response from the YEC types) to ask is if BEFORE the fall of adam and eve there was any killing. When I got into a debate about this with an really conservative whippersnapper, he had the GUMPTION to claim that carnivores PRE-fall only ate plants.
That slayed me.

knightlight72 · May 16, 2006

What takes more gumption? Assuming that the bible was correct, or assuming the bible was not?

Respectfully, it one believes God told the truth, what evidence do you have that God did not?

HisEagle · May 17, 2006

It's basically been said already, but I may as well echo it...

If an animal is threatening my safety or the structural integrity of my home, I will do my best to trap it first. But if that isn't possible, it will be killed. Likewise, if my health (or food quality) is being threatened, I will trap the offending creature, or see that it is killed.

Regarding insects, as a general rule, if I can capture it and release it in an area where it will no longer be a problem, I strive to do that. (I'm not perfect, and will sometimes smack that spider on the wall if it's right next to my bed.) For example, I will try to trap a bee in a cup with a lid and release it outside - IF I CAN. Otherwise, it will be swatted. There are times when "trapping" insects to release them elsewhere is unlikely to happen. For example, if my home has a problem with termites, cockroaches, ants, bees, etc.... then the only course of action is to exterminate.

Now, if I'm outside and I see an insect, I leave it alone. After all, it's in its natural environment and I have no right to kill it or bother it.

I think, as it's already been said, that it has a lot to do with your attitude. I don't think it's appropriate to kill an insect simply to kill it for fun, or spite. That borders on sin to me, because it reveals a heart that is inclined toward cruelty and hatred.

I'm also VERY MUCH opposed to hunting for sport. I DO believe that is a sin. It's not the same as killing for food, which is a necessity. Killing for sport is nothing more than a cruel, sadistic game that humans play. And with respect to killing animals for their meat, I believe it should be done with minimal suffering to the animal. I accept that God allows us to kill animals for food, but it must be done in a humane way.

Jacob4Jesus · May 17, 2006

All life, even that of the smallest insect, is precious. Before I became a Christian, I followed the spiritual practices of my American Indian tribe-which I still do follow to some extent. I do not kill any insect needlessly. Sometimes when a mosquito bites me, I slap it out of reflex but always feel bad about it afterwards.

As far as food goes, food is necessary but you can honor the life and the spirit of the animal that gave its life for you to live. I was a vegetarian for a long time because that was time consuming, but I honor every animal that gives its life so I can now eat.

Every life is precious.

vajradhara · May 17, 2006

Namaste knightlight,

thank you for the post.

knightlight72 said:
I'd say naturally nearly all humans have few issues with killing animals.

whilst this seems to be correct, it actually is not. though we Buddhists are not as numerous as you Christians, 300 million beings is a fair amount of beings that feel taking the life of sentient beings is unskillful, or in your parlance, wrong.

Where do you think their meat comes from?

vegetarians do not consume flesh of any sort.

Often the killing of animals and insects is for food, or because they are a nuisance/disease ridden. Example mosquitoes.

though i conclude the practice is unskillful, that does not mean that i am unaware of the reasons which beings put for to justify their taking of sentient life.

Who likes mosquitoes? How about poisoness animals such as snakes, or spiders?

all of those beings play vital roles in the ecosystem. without them, our world may not even exist in a manner which humans could inhabit.

Really, I'd feel much better with them eliminated from my yard, rather than my young child even risk being bitten.

as i say, Christians have no issues, doctrinally, taking the life of sentient beings. especially non-human sentient beings, though thank you for confirming my view.

metta,

~v

knightlight72 · May 17, 2006

vajradhara said:
whilst this seems to be correct, it actually is not. though we Buddhists are not as numerous as you Christians, 300 million beings is a fair amount of beings that feel taking the life of sentient beings is unskillful, or in your parlance, wrong. Vegetarians do not consume flesh of any sort.

To be clear, I don't think that nullifies what I said. Nearly all to me doesn't equate to all people. Maybe you'd like me to retract what I said and clarify that while not all people are meat eaters, an extremely overwhelmingly large percentage are. It should be obvious that vegetarians do not eat meat.

as i say, Christians have no issues, doctrinally, taking the life of sentient beings. especially non-human sentient beings, though thank you for confirming my view.

I was trying to put the perspective that it's a people thing, and not a command to go and kill. To be clear, you can be vegetarian and christian at the same time.

non-religious · May 17, 2006

[vajradhara]
all of those beings play vital roles in the ecosystem. without them, our world may not even exist in a manner which humans could inhabit.

Very true.....

This is going to sound kinda stupid, but I don't like spiders and whenever I see a fairly large spider crawling across my bathroom floor I can't bring myself to just squash it. If it was a tiny spider I would be brave enough to let it crawl onto something and place it somewhere more appropriate, but if it's large and I kill it I feel incredibly guilty after. I'll have no qualms pouring boiling water over a nest of ants, but when it comes to ladybirds, spiders, woodlice etc... I haven't got the heart to end their poor little lives especially daddy long legs which only live for a day anyway

Killing insects

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