Overpopulation

[abaris]

Not necessarily. Just because someone believes human life is more sacred than other life, doesn't mean we should treat other life badly. Other life is sacred as well, and should be treated with respect.

Yeah, but that's not how it works usually. The ones being inclined to take a dump on our environment just love to take their bible as divine justification.

[Minimalist]

[Thumpalumpacus]

[Copied over from the Atheism and Children thread]

We also believe all life is sacred, but that human life is more so.

How do you define "sacred", CL?

And how dies she define "human", for that matter? I personally think other species engage in "human" behaviors.

[Thumpalumpacus]

To further clarify you are meaning to say something akin to:
"All life comes from God and thus God reveres human life more than all other life"
or
"All life comes from God and thus humans revere human life more than all other life"

Further, is it the conjunction of "coming from God" and "reverence" (from whichever source you cite) that equate to something's sanctity?  Or do you consider anything that "comes from God" sacred?

The second one. (at least more than other life on earth, not necessarily more than all life, since we don't know what else is out there)

Anything that comes from God is sacred, but He dictates their level of sacredness. A human life is more sacred than that of a flea, for example.

According to whom? What verse? Can you be sure you're not applying your own values? And how so?

[Catholic_Lady]

Not necessarily. Just because someone believes human life is more sacred than other life, doesn't mean we should treat other life badly. Other life is sacred as well, and should be treated with respect.

Yeah, but that's not how it works usually. The ones being inclined to take a dump on our environment just love to take their bible as divine justification.

I think you might appreciate this quote by Saint Francis of Assisi (minus the God part I guess). My favorite saint, and also a quote that I love:

"Not to hurt our humble brothers (the animals) is our first duty to them... but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission - to be of service to them whenever they require it. If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men."

[Catholic_Lady]

[Copied over from the Atheism and Children thread]

How do you define "sacred", CL?

And how dies she define "human", for that matter? I personally think other species engage in "human" behaviors.

The human species.

[Catholic_Lady]

Abaris, I have a question for you.

If you believe that human life is no different from that of an insect, then how would you justify using lice treatment shampoo if you ever got head lice? It would be like the equivalence of committing mass murder just to stop an itchy head. With the exception that one is legal and the other is not, they should be no different, right?

(not a rhetorical question, btw. Just genuinely interested in hearing your thoughts on this)

[Kingpin]

Yeah, but that's not how it works usually. The ones being inclined to take a dump on our environment just love to take their bible as divine justification.

I think you might appreciate this quote by Saint Francis of Assisi (minus the God part I guess). My favorite saint, and also a quote that I love:

"Not to hurt our humble brothers (the animals) is our first duty to them... but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission - to be of service to them whenever they require it. If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men."

St Francis has another one of my favorite quotes.

"Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words"

Precisely how I feel Christians ought to be and exactly why most people have problems with Christians. People don't want to be preached "at".

[Catholic_Lady]

I think you might appreciate this quote by Saint Francis of Assisi (minus the God part I guess). My favorite saint, and also a quote that I love:

"Not to hurt our humble brothers (the animals) is our first duty to them... but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission - to be of service to them whenever they require it. If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men."

St Francis has another one of my favorite quotes.

"Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words"

Precisely how I feel Christians ought to be and exactly why most people have problems with Christians. People don't want to be preached "at".

Yep!

I had also brought that one up on another thread here some time ago. I love St Francis of Assisi. So glad to have a pope who tries to emulate him.

[Minimalist]

I can safely say that there is no 'saint' who makes my favorite quote list.