CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

I thought it would be an interesting question considering some people would kill a snake/other animal yet they wouldn't kill a dog. If you are like this, why? I'm really curious. What makes one animal better than another? Especially snakes and bugs...why is it "okay" to kill them while it's not "okay" to kill a cat, besides laws?

And please don't turn this into a big, nasty fight. I really don't want this thread to be locked.

Uh, mostly because snakes are scary and potentially poisonous and not cute and likeable. And no matter how many I kill, there will always be more. I'm just trying to keep them from overpopulating the earth. *whistles innocently*

Cause we can't bear to see cute things die?

They weren't overpopulated when we came to settle America (I am an American). So they really don't need population control. I can see killing one out of self-defense, but is it honestly okay to just kill something because you don't like it? It's not their fault that you don't like them. So if it is okay to kill something because you don't like it, is it okay to be mean to a human you don't like?

Sorta Off-Topic: I like snakes...I think they're extremely cute, especially my pet snake Ezekiel. He's really sweet and loves kids. ^^ So what if I don't like cats...should I kill them? (I like cats)

Heart of Sword wrote:They weren't overpopulated when we came to settle America (I am an American). So they really don't need population control. I can see killing one out of self-defense, but is it honestly okay to just kill something wantonly because you don't like them?

Well, yeah, I mean God said to subdue the earth, and since he didn't give us a set of rules as to how to do that. . .

And God has laid down specific laws about how to treat other humans, so that is irrelevant.

But does subdue mean abuse? God has dominion over us but he doesn't kill us all over the place.

subdue:
1. To conquer and subjugate; vanquish. See Synonyms at defeat.
2. To quiet or bring under control by physical force or persuasion; make tractable.

That is what subdue means. And just because we kill spiders and snakes doesn't qualify as abuse of them. It's not like we're torturing them to death (at least I'm not), we're simply clearing them out of our yard or areas which are in our general vicintity.

Why not move them? Do they really have to die?

I kill them if I must. And that must is when I'm in danger, or any of my friends, family, or general other people around me. No other reason, I'd rather leave an animal be itself and go by its own way if I could help it.

I'm the same way Lorentz. If a bear was attacking someone, I would kill it or do whatever I needed to do, but I wouldn't kill it if it was minding its own business.

I never really met anybody who killed a snake. I'd kill any animal if I were in danger >_> If I come across a snake, I'm the one who gets scared. The idea of killing them is scary too >_> It requires you to get close to them.

Heart of Sword wrote:Why not move them? Do they really have to die?

For me, it all depends. I've never killed a snake in my life, but I kill every spider I every see, because I'm arachnophobic and they really just bother me. Basically, I'm not going to consider the spider's well-being or wishes above my own. . . because it's a spider, and I'm a human. So, that's basically pretty self-explanitory right there :-P

And as a Biblical example, Paul once killed a serpent that bit him. Why did he not just move it? He'd already been bitten, it couldn't have done him any more harm.

You're funny...

I know someone who killed a harmless, nonvenomous snake. I was really upset. He smashed it with a shovel.

Like I said, deadly snakes might be different as they hurt people.

Heart of Sword wrote::lol: You're funny...

I know someone who killed a harmless, nonvenomous snake. I was really upset. He smashed it with a shovel.

See, I don't think that that's necessary, unless he was really afraid of snakes or something or he was afraid it would nest in his yard. Just like I'm not fond of the hobby of hunting, because I just think it's a shame to kill animals for fun, unless you plan to eat them or something. I don't think it's WRONG, I just don't like it.

Bear in mind that the people of Malta had a superstitution that if anyone were beaten by a snake it was a sign that they were a murderer and were marked for death,so when St.Paul was bitten they all expected him to keel over within minutes and die.

He did it for fun...

And just because it's not in the Bible doesn't make it irrelevant. Animals can think/feel...so we really should take care of them.

I'd like to return to the topic, though.

Heart of Sword wrote:He did it for fun...

And just because it's not in the Bible doesn't make it irrelevant. Animals can think/feel...so we really should take care of them.

I'd like to return to the topic, though.

Oh, I'm not saying that because it's in the Bible means it's irrelevant, I'm just saying that Paul had a much closer relationship with God than I do, and since he had no problem killing a snake, I don't think that there's a moral problem with it. I thought it was on topic, ha ha

And just so you know, our killing of bugs and snakes but not dogs or cats is really cultural. There are a lot of countries that kill dogs and cats for one reason or another. In some countries, they are a delicacy, but I sure as heck couldn't ever stomach eating one! And I agree that we should take care of animals, but I don't think that I have to stop killing spiders in order to do so. I mean, as I said, we'll never be short of spiders, and I kill them in ways that their death is instantaneous, so they don't feel it.

(Oh, btw, I really don't think Paul just killed that snake for fun, lol. . .)

I still don't see why they have to die just because we don't like them as much because they lack fur and tails.

There really isn't one definitive reason. It's a compilation of a lot of personal reasons for different people, and it's basically just the way things are. I'm not sure if I have much more useful information to add to this discussion without it just seeming like arguing, because basically it's just going to be your ideals against mine and more than likely neither of us will convice the other of our opinions, so that's probably it for me for this discussion. Good luck in finding the answers you are looking for!

Why do we kill snakes and not kittens? Because it is to our advantage to kill snakes. At worst they can kill you, and at best we find them unpleasant. Kittens on the other hand are at best a good way to controll mice, and pleasant to have as pets. It is adventageous to keep kittens arround, that is why we do not kill them... much.

Why not just ship the snakes somewhere else? Because it would not be adventageous. Killing them is quicker, easier and cheaper. It is to our advantage as humans to not take the effort to move them.

Thats my view on the matter.

Okay, but one more thing, is it okay then for people to have abortions because they think it's alright?

Heart of Sword wrote:Okay, but one more thing, is it okay then for people to have abortions because they think it's alright?

No, but the question has absolutely nothing to do with the subject of killing animals.

Heart of Sword wrote:Okay, but one more thing, is it okay then for people to have abortions because they think it's alright?

Yeah, I have to agree with Scribs on that one. First of all, you're starting an unnecessarry debate due to the fact that the two issues really are not related. Second, humans and animals are not the same thing. Humans are of much higher value, they are created in the image of God, and God told us not to kill them, so it would be wrong. Humans and animals just aren't equals. And this thread will probably be locked if you keep going about abortion, just to let you know. (I know I said I wasn't going to say anything else here, but, I couldn't look that over.)

I know that. I was just showing it as an example...that just because someone thinks it's okay doesn't mean that it is.

Yeah, I have to agree with Scribs on that one. First of all, you're starting an unnecessarry debate due to the fact that the two issues really are not related. Second, humans and animals are not the same thing. Humans are of much higher value, they are created in the image of God, and God told us not to kill them, so it would be wrong. Humans and animals just aren't equals. And this thread will probably be locked if you keep going about abortion, just to let you know. (I know I said I wasn't going to say anything else here, but, I couldn't look that over.)

I know. I'm not talking about abortion. *points upwards into this post*

The whole thread actually seems like the same issue that keeps coming up, causing arguments and getting locked, actually. I really dont think that discussion of this topic is going to go anywhere good anytime soon, so I think that it would be good if it were left to drop into the archives.

Perhaps we should look at this question from the opposite side. Why are we obligated to preserve the lives of animals? In the Old Testament God demanded the deaths of thousands, perhaps millions of cows for purely ceremonial purposes. There is no commandment against the killing of animals. As the appointed stewards of nature, we should not abuse nature by wantonly killing animals, but there is nothing intrinsically wrong with killing of one as there would be with a human.

I think the reason people preserve cute animals while killing ugly ones is more of a matter of sentimentality than morality. Most people would never kill a kitten, but a humane society worker would be shirking on their responsibility if they didn't. I don't think we should take delight in the fact that people are killing kittens, or snakes, or anything else, but at the same time we shouldn't condemn these people either.

Heart of Sword honestly you say want to keep this debate free or whatnot but the entire point of this thread is to debate. The nature of your original post is to start a debate. And I don't think that putting words in people's mouths like the abortion comment is the way to go if you want to keep this thread civil and not locked.

i would beat off a dog or a rabid cat if it tried to attack me in the woods, just as i would a snake or a cougar. however, i don't kill snakes, dogs, cats, cougars or anything for just no purpose. there's usually a purpose in why people try to get rid of mice/snakes/etc.

(i know there a perverts, bot that's beside the point, because they don't really care what it is)

Heart of Sword honestly you say want to keep this debate free or whatnot but the entire point of this thread is to debate. The nature of your original post is to start a debate. And I don't think that putting words in people's mouths like the abortion comment is the way to go if you want to keep this thread civil and not locked.

It's not a nasty fight...yet. (That's what my first post said. Debating is different than fighting.) I hope things stay civil...

Perhaps we should look at this question from the opposite side. Why are we obligated to preserve the lives of animals?

I feel obligated to do so because they think and feel. The thought of ending an entire life because I don't think it's worth much bothers me. It's worth a heck of a lot to the animal, that's for sure. Hey, if some alien race (I don't believe in aliens; this is purely a metaphor) came and took over the Earth, I'd want them to treat me right.

HoS, I think some of the points made in this thread were well-taken, and for that reason you should continue the topic in PM. I can't see this being productive.