"I am NOT an animal"

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Zzyzx
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"I am NOT an animal"

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Post by Zzyzx »

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"I am NOT an animal"

Many who do not appear to have much knowledge of biology seem indignant when learning that H. sapiens are classified as animals (alternatives being plant and virus). I do not recall ever hearing a Non-Theist object. 1) Is there something about religion that causes this?
arian wrote: You see I am NOT an animal, never was and never in a billion years will I evolve to be one, my family tree all the way back to Adam don't have one ape in it.
2) Why be upset, indignant or in denial about a biological / taxonomic classification?

3) Since humans differ from other animals only in degree (some mental and physical characteristics), what is the objection to recognizing that they are animals?

4) Is anything other than religion (and possibly narcissism) involved?


In the quoted statement someone (whose theological position apparently defies description) claims knowledge of his family tree back to Adam – as though that proves the claimant is not an animal. However, if the hypothetical Adam was human (H. sapiens), he (Adam) classifies as an animal.
.
Non-Theist

ANY of the thousands of "gods" proposed, imagined, worshiped, loved, feared, and/or fought over by humans MAY exist -- awaiting verifiable evidence

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Re: I Am Not An Animal

Post #151

Post by squint »

KenRU wrote:
Dishonest people can say anything they like, and often do. Why can't dishonest people lie about scripture and its intent, all the while pretending to be open about their dishonesty? Think of it like misdirection. Magicians do it all the time.
Yer missing the point. "Evil" comes from within and "all" have the internal malady. It's a universal condition of mankind. Makes us all far worse than mere animals.
"As to the ultimate things we can know nothing, and only when we admit this do we return to equilibrium." Carl Jung

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Re: I Am Not An Animal

Post #152

Post by KenRU »

squint wrote:
KenRU wrote:
Dishonest people can say anything they like, and often do. Why can't dishonest people lie about scripture and its intent, all the while pretending to be open about their dishonesty? Think of it like misdirection. Magicians do it all the time.
Yer missing the point. "Evil" comes from within and "all" have the internal malady. It's a universal condition of mankind. Makes us all far worse than mere animals.
I get it. Man is bad and shouldn't be trusted. How does one know the prophets speak the truth then? Prophets are no more or less human than you or I, right?

"Evil" comes from within and "all" have the internal malady. It's a universal condition of mankind. Makes us all far worse than mere animals."

Why are the prophets and etc. all exempt from this supposed truth?

All the best,
"Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion." -Steven Weinberg

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Re: I Am Not An Animal

Post #153

Post by squint »

KenRU wrote:
squint wrote:
KenRU wrote:
Dishonest people can say anything they like, and often do. Why can't dishonest people lie about scripture and its intent, all the while pretending to be open about their dishonesty? Think of it like misdirection. Magicians do it all the time.
Yer missing the point. "Evil" comes from within and "all" have the internal malady. It's a universal condition of mankind. Makes us all far worse than mere animals.
I get it. Man is bad and shouldn't be trusted. How does one know the prophets speak the truth then? Prophets are no more or less human than you or I, right?

"Evil" comes from within and "all" have the internal malady. It's a universal condition of mankind. Makes us all far worse than mere animals."

Why are the prophets and etc. all exempt from this supposed truth?
Don't really know where you got that idea from.

Isaiah 6:5
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.
"As to the ultimate things we can know nothing, and only when we admit this do we return to equilibrium." Carl Jung

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Re: I Am Not An Animal

Post #154

Post by Clownboat »

squint wrote:
Clownboat wrote:
I reject this claim for being false. Dishonest people can be honest.

I said no differently, however only honesty can openly address the "evil thought" quotients that transpire within i.e. to speak of it.

Are you posting while drunk? After 4 attempts, reading this for a 5th time would be futile. I wish I knew what your point was. Assuming these words you said mean something, what is the point of such a statement?

I agree that Christianity makes man out to be evil and focuses on "evil".

A person would have to be nearly entirely blind to miss the facts of same.

Why? It seems that all it would take is for a person to be a pessimist.
"Pessimism is a state of mind in which one anticipates undesirable outcomes or believes that the evil or hardships in life outweigh the good or luxuries"

Seriously, what you focus on does not take a god or a holy book, just negativity. You may not see it, but there is beauty and goodness in this world. I have surrounded myself with others that see this too. You, for whatever reason seem to be drawn to focus on the negative from what I read. It is what it is, but I submit the evil you cannot help but see, perhaps has something to do with yourself, or more specifically your outlook on life?

You will have a hard time convincing me that life is ugly when I am able to see the beauty. Yet, here you are insinuating that I'm blind.
You can give a man a fish and he will be fed for a day, or you can teach a man to pray for fish and he will starve to death.

I blame man for codifying those rules into a book which allowed superstitious people to perpetuate a barbaric practice. Rules that must be followed or face an invisible beings wrath. - KenRU

It is sad that in an age of freedom some people are enslaved by the nomads of old. - Marco

If you are unable to demonstrate that what you believe is true and you absolve yourself of the burden of proof, then what is the purpose of your arguments? - brunumb

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Re: I Am Not An Animal

Post #155

Post by Clownboat »

KenRU wrote:
squint wrote:
KenRU wrote:
Dishonest people can say anything they like, and often do. Why can't dishonest people lie about scripture and its intent, all the while pretending to be open about their dishonesty? Think of it like misdirection. Magicians do it all the time.
Yer missing the point. "Evil" comes from within and "all" have the internal malady. It's a universal condition of mankind. Makes us all far worse than mere animals.
I get it. Man is bad and shouldn't be trusted. How does one know the prophets speak the truth then? Prophets are no more or less human than you or I, right?

"Evil" comes from within and "all" have the internal malady. It's a universal condition of mankind. Makes us all far worse than mere animals."

Why are the prophets and etc. all exempt from this supposed truth?

All the best,
Simple KenRU. You first must be able to compartmentalize and then invoke some special pleading. However you do it, you must leave logic out IMO.
You can give a man a fish and he will be fed for a day, or you can teach a man to pray for fish and he will starve to death.

I blame man for codifying those rules into a book which allowed superstitious people to perpetuate a barbaric practice. Rules that must be followed or face an invisible beings wrath. - KenRU

It is sad that in an age of freedom some people are enslaved by the nomads of old. - Marco

If you are unable to demonstrate that what you believe is true and you absolve yourself of the burden of proof, then what is the purpose of your arguments? - brunumb

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Re: I Am Not An Animal

Post #156

Post by Clownboat »

squint wrote:
KenRU wrote:
squint wrote:
KenRU wrote:
Dishonest people can say anything they like, and often do. Why can't dishonest people lie about scripture and its intent, all the while pretending to be open about their dishonesty? Think of it like misdirection. Magicians do it all the time.
Yer missing the point. "Evil" comes from within and "all" have the internal malady. It's a universal condition of mankind. Makes us all far worse than mere animals.
I get it. Man is bad and shouldn't be trusted. How does one know the prophets speak the truth then? Prophets are no more or less human than you or I, right?

"Evil" comes from within and "all" have the internal malady. It's a universal condition of mankind. Makes us all far worse than mere animals."

Why are the prophets and etc. all exempt from this supposed truth?
Don't really know where you got that idea from.

Isaiah 6:5
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.
Wait....
So you agree that the prophets cannot be trusted?
:confused2:
You can give a man a fish and he will be fed for a day, or you can teach a man to pray for fish and he will starve to death.

I blame man for codifying those rules into a book which allowed superstitious people to perpetuate a barbaric practice. Rules that must be followed or face an invisible beings wrath. - KenRU

It is sad that in an age of freedom some people are enslaved by the nomads of old. - Marco

If you are unable to demonstrate that what you believe is true and you absolve yourself of the burden of proof, then what is the purpose of your arguments? - brunumb

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Re: I Am Not An Animal

Post #157

Post by KenRU »

squint wrote:
KenRU wrote:
squint wrote:
KenRU wrote:
Dishonest people can say anything they like, and often do. Why can't dishonest people lie about scripture and its intent, all the while pretending to be open about their dishonesty? Think of it like misdirection. Magicians do it all the time.
Yer missing the point. "Evil" comes from within and "all" have the internal malady. It's a universal condition of mankind. Makes us all far worse than mere animals.
I get it. Man is bad and shouldn't be trusted. How does one know the prophets speak the truth then? Prophets are no more or less human than you or I, right?

"Evil" comes from within and "all" have the internal malady. It's a universal condition of mankind. Makes us all far worse than mere animals."

Why are the prophets and etc. all exempt from this supposed truth?
Don't really know where you got that idea from.
Um, from your previous 3 posts ... ?

And, of course, there are always these reposnes from you to make me think it as well:
Isaiah 6:5
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.
If it was not your point to say that man is evil in nature and not to be trusted (except for the prophets who speak the truth, of course), then you failed to make your point clear.

If your point was to say that, then you failed to explain why the prophets get a pass on being trustworthy.

Perhaps a more concise response is in order? That would seem to be the prudent thing to do on a debate forum, no?
"Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion." -Steven Weinberg

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Re: I Am Not An Animal

Post #158

Post by squint »

KenRU wrote:
Um, from your previous 3 posts ... ?
There was not a spokesperson of God who denied they were "sinners" other than God Himself in the flesh.
If it was not your point to say that man is evil in nature and not to be trusted (except for the prophets who speak the truth, of course), then you failed to make your point clear.
I'd suggest that it was you who brought that position in mind to the table and it was subsequently revealed.
If your point was to say that, then you failed to explain why the prophets get a pass on being trustworthy.
They get a pass because they spoke 'honestly' even if the informational data is personally derogatory.
"As to the ultimate things we can know nothing, and only when we admit this do we return to equilibrium." Carl Jung

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Re: I Am Not An Animal

Post #159

Post by KenRU »

Clownboat wrote:
KenRU wrote:
squint wrote:
KenRU wrote:
Dishonest people can say anything they like, and often do. Why can't dishonest people lie about scripture and its intent, all the while pretending to be open about their dishonesty? Think of it like misdirection. Magicians do it all the time.
Yer missing the point. "Evil" comes from within and "all" have the internal malady. It's a universal condition of mankind. Makes us all far worse than mere animals.
I get it. Man is bad and shouldn't be trusted. How does one know the prophets speak the truth then? Prophets are no more or less human than you or I, right?

"Evil" comes from within and "all" have the internal malady. It's a universal condition of mankind. Makes us all far worse than mere animals."

Why are the prophets and etc. all exempt from this supposed truth?

All the best,
Simple KenRU. You first must be able to compartmentalize and then invoke some special pleading. However you do it, you must leave logic out IMO.
Oh. Is it that how its done? I'm pretty sure squint would disagree though.

I am sensing gymnastic like logical explanations though. Perhaps I am wrong and squint will kindly clarify for me.

All the best,
"Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion." -Steven Weinberg

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Re: I Am Not An Animal

Post #160

Post by KenRU »

squint wrote: If your point was to say that, then you failed to explain why the prophets get a pass on being trustworthy.
They get a pass because they spoke 'honestly' even if the informational data is personally derogatory.
So, if an untrustworthy person says something personally derogatory while speaking of scripture and god's will, then what they say (about scripture and god's will) should therefore be trusted, despite man being untrustworthy in nature?

Did I summarize that correctly? I'd like to be sure before you accuse me again of misstating your position.

-all the best
"Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion." -Steven Weinberg

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