"I think only humans have souls."

Why not chimps, who share 99% of our DNA? Why not dolphins, who exibit intelligence, group dynamics, and higher brain functions? If a human were to be born with such mental, genetic, and physical disabilities that we was inferior to a dog, would you say he has a soul? Yes? In that case, on what criteria do we base the handing out of souls?

Also, I think you would have to admit that animals experience emotions, pain, happiness, etc. (at least the more complex mammals) What kind of cruel injustice, then, is it to deny them a soul? (assuming we have them)

"My answer to what makes a think living or not is the search for food. I think if an organism searches for food or a way of life, it is alive. Rocks do not, bacteria do."

Behavior is only part of the issue. Here's the problem: if you reduce a living thing more and more to its base components (human -> system -> organ -> cell -> organelle -> DNA chain -> amino acids -> carbon molecules) at what point does it cease to be organic? I'm saying that there is no definable point.

• 'we was' should be 'he was.' I speaks American good - stormcrow - June 6, 2002 - 03:42 UTC
• Soulman. - kc2gwx - June 6, 2002 - 15:28 UTC
  • But that's still a big assumption - stormcrow - June 7, 2002 - 04:11 UTC
    • ---uming? - kc2gwx - June 7, 2002 - 05:18 UTC
      • Ahh! - kc2gwx - June 7, 2002 - 05:19 UTC
        • Actually souls evolve - yanniru - June 7, 2002 - 14:24 UTC
          • This would explain why some here can't really be honest - carefuluniverse - June 7, 2002 - 21:56 UTC
            • You made a definite statement - yanniru - June 10, 2002 - 14:40 UTC
              • Point of view here confuses me - carefuluniverse - June 10, 2002 - 22:50 UTC
                • I did refute it - yanniru - June 11, 2002 - 15:16 UTC
                  • I do play the trumpet in our community band - carefuluniverse - June 12, 2002 - 05:04 UTC
                    • Confession-I make more noise than you - yanniru - June 12, 2002 - 14:29 UTC
                      • My Uncle Dean was a drummer, and a great Patriot - carefuluniverse - June 12, 2002 - 17:44 UTC
              • Example: Caligula - carefuluniverse - June 11, 2002 - 05:45 UTC
                • Too much - yanniru - June 11, 2002 - 15:10 UTC
                  • Bad answer...Caligula was considered a God - carefuluniverse - June 12, 2002 - 05:06 UTC
          • I like some of this and respond in that spirit - carefuluniverse - June 11, 2002 - 05:41 UTC
            • Typical - yanniru - June 11, 2002 - 15:27 UTC
      • Societal Forces - stormcrow - June 8, 2002 - 23:22 UTC
        • human brain has randomizing pause-time - carefuluniverse - June 9, 2002 - 04:49 UTC
          • ...that others do not have, or that we have to a greater degree? - stormcrow - June 9, 2002 - 05:04 UTC
            • cerebral cortex - carefuluniverse - June 10, 2002 - 04:49 UTC
              • Did you know... - luis_hamburgh - June 10, 2002 - 14:25 UTC
                • nice one! - carefuluniverse - June 10, 2002 - 22:52 UTC
        • Soul - kc2gwx - June 11, 2002 - 17:31 UTC
          • Just saying you belive something doesn't mean anything - stormcrow - June 11, 2002 - 17:48 UTC
            • Soul part II - kc2gwx - June 11, 2002 - 20:32 UTC
              • Nah - stormcrow - June 11, 2002 - 20:55 UTC
                • Yeah. - kc2gwx - June 12, 2002 - 05:10 UTC
                  • Mario gets frustrated, Part XXXIV - stormcrow - June 12, 2002 - 05:17 UTC
                    • I've frustrated you 34 times? - kc2gwx - June 12, 2002 - 05:46 UTC