Me: "I think only humans have souls."

You: "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?

You: "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)"

Your last sentence kills me. Assuming we have them?!?!? I don't think anyone can say humans don't have something more then animals. Here are two reasons I believe only humans have souls:

1. The Bible says so. God created all the animals instantly, but he 'breathed life' into man. God told Adam he had dominian (I don't know how that is spelled) over the fish of the sea and birds of the air. God obviously sets us apart from other animals.

2. I have no doubt some animals are very smart, but they do not have certain attributes humans have. I don't think they know right from wrong (unless we train them). I think they just act like whatever animal they are, just like those animals have for thousands of years. Humans are obviously different. We don't just strive to live. We make our life, we don't just do what our parents do, which is basically what animals do.

I think you will admit that there is something drastically different about humans than animals.
KC2GWX 73's

P.S. Chimps share only 97% of our DNA.

• 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