Humans are animals

dfnj said:

So the essential message of the video is, "Gee we crap in our own beds, therefore, we are just crap."

I don't think we are here just to eat the sandwich. When we are happy the Earth is happy. We need to live in harmony with nature creating living systems that are sustainable and morally fair. We have way too much poverty and way too much pollution. Systems can be developed that will deliver better results. But the propaganda says we have to be isolated from each other and be self-reliant whatever that means. Well, it doesn't work that way. Happiness comes from having a community. Quality of life comes from having meaningful work. The propaganda says community costs too much but all the money we spend on the military is morally okay. Wealth inequality is at all time highs. The great suck will continue for a long time.

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If a pyromaniac is happy is the earth happy?

Everything you're talking about minus the pollution has nothing to do with making the earth "happy" not sure rocks can have feelings either.

Cacotopia said:

If a pyromaniac is happy is the earth happy?

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Psychopathy is a real science.

And another thing, the earth doesn't need saving from us.

We do.

SerenelyBlue said:

Some religions put up a divide between humans and the rest of the animal kingdom. This causes a disconnect. Believers believe that they are somehow superior and disregard the wellbeing and rights of animals.
A human city is also a part of nature. It is the habitat of the dominant animal on the planet. Cities, towns and technology are also a part of nature. We, helped by some religions, convince ourselves that we are somehow separate from nature.
What is your opinion?

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Our differences from our nearby evolutionary ancestors are genetically slight but the qualitative difference with respect to our species ability to manipulate the environment to our advantage is profound.

But in so many ways we can learn about ourselves through the practice of respectful coexistence with our living cousins and all life.

Cacotopia said:

And another thing, the earth doesn't need saving from us.

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We need to try to keep some fools from ruining the planet for all life though.

SerenelyBlue said:

Some religions put up a divide between humans and the rest of the animal kingdom. This causes a disconnect. Believers believe that they are somehow superior and disregard the wellbeing and rights of animals.
A human city is also a part of nature. It is the habitat of the dominant animal on the planet. Cities, towns and technology are also a part of nature. We, helped by some religions, convince ourselves that we are somehow separate from nature.
What is your opinion?

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I think you’re spot on, with one caveat: biblically, we are set apart from the rest of creation by the fact that humanity is the only piece of creation that contains God’s breath that makes us nephesh, or living beings. The implication of that understanding is not that we can treat creation however we want. It means that we’re supposed to care for creation as its curators. We are superior, yet still part of the created order, because we are made in God’s image. That does not give us carte blanche to exploit.

Jumi said:

We need to try to keep some fools from ruining the planet for all life though.

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That's true, I'm just sayin' this rock has been through a lot worse, like 5 catastrophic mass extinction events.

BUT

If we** want to continue to exist in the long run, we need to ditch the combustion engine as fast as we can, and ditch fossil fuel consumption.

Humanity is greedy for convenience and convenience typically is never good for the environment. Planned obsolescence is also an atrocious business model, it wastes exorbitant amounts of resources for essentially the same product with a few extra bells and whistles.

The concept of the earth being made for humans and that the life after this is the real destination worth experiencing gives people the unbright idea that they are entitled to treat the environment with reckless abandon and turn it into a cesspool.

The arrogant and selfish habit of who cares, I'm going to the afterlife party, screw all future generations.

Cacotopia said:

That's true, I'm just sayin' this rock has been through a lot worse, like 5 catastrophic mass extinction events.

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Yeah, I think life on this planet will survive even if we ruin it for ourselves and the current life on the planet. Life is pretty damn tenaciouos when it pops up. Though I would love to see us leave behind a planet that's in as good shape as we arrived, but it doesn't seem possible with people wanting the newest iPhones at any cost.

Cacotopia said:

Humanity is greedy for convenience and convenience typically is never good for the environment. Planned obsolescence is also an atrocious business model, it wastes exorbitant amounts of resources for essentially the same product with a few extra bells and whistles.

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With computers obsolescence is somewhat illusory, but sadly it isn't with other things like phones. I've long had the idea of using computers as long as I can and I've managed to give them to people who use them for an even longer time because their requirements are lower. Though it's not a problem for me, it's interesting how some regular folk always get annoyed at the thought of someone "getting a free ride" and try to convince me to consume more like it was in their interest that I had something newer and shinier.

Brickjectivity said:

I never claimed we are perfect, but we are the best so far.

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Nice use of the word best - and not in all ways in fact.

Cacotopia said:

The concept of the earth being made for humans and that the life after this is the real destination worth experiencing gives people the unbright idea that they are entitled to treat the environment with reckless abandon and turn it into a cesspool.

The arrogant and selfish habit of who cares, I'm going to the afterlife party, screw all future generations.

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And I've met several who have that position...and then they get all pissed off at me when I ask if I can have their stuff after they're gone...

SerenelyBlue said:

...Believers believe that they are somehow superior and disregard the wellbeing and rights of animals.
A human city is also a part of nature. It is the habitat of the dominant animal on the planet. Cities, towns and technology are also a part of nature. We, helped by some religions, convince ourselves that we are somehow separate from nature.
What is your opinion?

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My opinion is that human was meant to be more than animal, but it seems, many humans have reduced themselves to be like mindless animals.

But even if human is superior to animals as it seems to be, it was said:

Yahweh God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
Gen. 2:15

“Keep” in that means to preserve, protect, take care. So, if we are superior, our job is not to destroy, but to protect and take care. And if we do so, I think it shows that we are higher.

Mock Turtle said:

Nice use of the word best - and not in all ways in fact.

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I am sympathetic to that. We have a lot of beautiful species on our dear Eath. Lets keep it that way mostly, except for tapeworms and a few others that should be kept only as DNA patterns in an archive.

Humans are indeed animals. The whole point of being human is being an animal.... WITH CLASS!

Biblical scripture acknowledges that man is not greater than animal inasmuch as their fate is the same generally -but also that it is irresponsible for man to not consider the well-being of animals.

So.... Man is technically greater than animals -or other animals -inasmuch as they are able to be responsible.
We have far greater ability to consider, think and act positively or negatively.

The nature of animals is scheduled to be changed -and all harm man does may be healed -according to biblical scripture, but how to act now is no less important.

We are responsible to do what we can -and we would do well not to destroy the environment that sustains us -but we also have limited power for many reasons. We are easily overwhelmed by "nature" and our own collective nature.

No one man or group -or even a majority -is able to prevent the trouble -by destruction of environment and each other -which would leave "no flesh saved alive" if not cut short.

At the return of Christ, he will "destroy those who destroy the earth" -but it will have been shown by experience that the government of God is absolutely necessary and beneficial.

Fortunately, we will all be resurrected and have 20/20 hindsight.
Those who will do well will continue -and those who will not will be separated until they will.

When we are "faithful in little" we will then be allowed to be "faithful in much" -and will inherit not only the earth, but the entire creation which awaits liberation by the children of God from its bondage to decay