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Humans have long been the rulers of all creation. We are above all other animals on this Earth. We completely and totally rule over all creatures. Even though we may share some characteristics, and even some anatomical similarities, humans and animals are vastly different.

Differences Between Humans (homosapiens) and Animals (Beasts)

 

There are several things that make humans different from other animals. Most of these differences are easily seen. Here are a few small differences:

1. Humans bury their dead out of respect. When a human dies, we all feel sad emotions if we felt a strong bond with that person. We often have elaborate burial ceremonies to show respect for our dead. However, animals do no such thing. Only a few animals have been observed to throw a few leaves on their dead. But animals do not routinely bury their dead like us humans.
2. Animals are mostly driven on instincts. We humans also have instincts, however, we can control them much better. We are mostly driven on conscious. Animals are driven much more by instincts. They have it pre-programmed in their minds from birth. Isn’t that amazing. Animals from birth know what foods to eat and how to eat them. They know how to reproduce, where to migrate, and more. Even a baby turtle comes out of it’s shell and immediately knows to swim towards the ocean. Incredible.
3. Humans are aware of “self,” and contemplate the afterlife. Other animals do not think of the afterlife. They live in the “now.” They live in the heat of the moment. Their main goals all day long are to eat, sleep, mate, and survive. Humans, however, spend a lot of time thinking of the future. We think about ourselves and how we relate to life. We think of what happens when we die.
4. Humans feel a sense of right and wrong and good and evil. We all have a basic conscious. Animals kill and never think twice. They kill for food, and they kill based on instincts. However, animals do not kill out of evil meditation. They do not stop to think about if they have “sinned.” When a human kills, it is out of evil meditation. We know better, but we murder someone anyways. That is a huge difference. Animals kill purely to eat, or to defend themselves.
5. Humans have a complex language and communication method- Humans can talk, write, read facial expressions, gestures, and more. Some can even speak multiple languages. Animals do communicate, but they cannot communicate with the level of a human.
6. Humans use their brains in much more complex ways- The cognitive abilities of a  human compared to an animal is incredible. Humans can critically think, invent, find solutions to problems, and much more. Animals are much more narrow minded. They are more focused on their specific abilities. An anteater looks for ants all day. A gets in the water and slaps salmon out. They never stop to think of a more efficient way of doing things. The bear never creates a net. They find something that works, and will continue doing it. Humans will always seek out more efficient ways, and even invent complex tools.
7. Technology- We humans have the ability to quickly learn new technology, and adapt and use that technology. We can create machines and computers that help us to do work more efficiently. Even the most complex animals do not share this feature. The only tool you will likely ever see an animal use is a stick or a rock. And even then they look confused and clumsy with it.

These are just a few examples, but there are so many differences between humans and animals. These difference range from anatomical structures, physiology, and even brain power.

One thing, however, remains clear: Humans are very different from animals. Why? Humans were created in God’s image. When God created Adam, he gave a little something to Adam that he didn’t give to any other creation. He created Adam in His image. He gave Adam dominance and higher intellect. He gave us the ability to think, conceptualize, create, reason, etc.

Our minds are set up in a way so that we are radically different from every animal. Even monkeys pail in comparison to a human being, and no other creature will ever rival our human intelligence.

One thing that has always amazed me was this simple fact: Animals are ready to go out of the womb, and humans are not. Let me explain what I am talking about here.

After watching several movies about animals, one thing is clear, they are designed to do specific things for the Earth. From birth, they immediately begin doing things that have been pre programmed into their minds.

Many animals can stand and walk just minutes after birth. Yet it takes humans almost a year or more to learn how to walk. Animals can hunt and kill food almost immediately in many cases. Some breast feed for only a few days, weeks, or months. They can then go out and capture their own foods. Humans, however, must be fed for months, and then years by our parents.

Almost all animals are ready to be on their “own” very shortly after birth. Some animals are ready to go in as little as 1 day. Some require only a few days. Some a few weeks, and some a few months. But nearly all animals are ready to survive on their own within a few short months.

In contrast, most humans would die if they were not provided for until the age of about 12-16. We wouldn’t know how to do anything. How many 10 year old children do you think could survive in a forest or desert island? I can’t think of any at all! In fact, most teenagers would struggle. I always found that a bit strange considering that we are the most intelligent creatures alive!

I think the reason is because God created us to be SOCIAL. He wants us to have a strong family. He wants us to have strong bonds. He wants us to love one another.

Conclusion:

I always think about how strange it is that humans don’t have any other species or animals that are even close. We are by far more superior than any other insect, animal, or plant on this Earth.

Comparing a human to an animal is like comparing a car to a bicycle. We can do so much more. We have the brains that are superior and allow us to accomplish all of this. We were created in the image of God. Animals are very fascinating creatures. They are very interesting to observe. They are even fun as pets. But we humans have the upper hand.

 

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I don’t know all of the details about the world. I don’t know why it is here. I don’t know why we are here. These are tough questions, regardless of your spiritual or scientific beliefs. These questions have plagued the human race since our arrival.

But sometimes I hear so much about evolution and see so many people with absolutely no faith or belief in God, that I sometimes try to imagine if God really didn’t exist. Do you ever stop to think about that. I must say, when I get to feeling like this, or questioning those things,  I tend to get a little depressed.

My wife and I recently watched a movie series titled, “The Life of Mammals.” It was hosted by the famous David Attenborough. It was a really good series. It was so fascinating seeing all of these animals in their natural habitat. It had some interesting information, vivid and educational scenes, and a lot of other interesting parts. The scenery alone would make it worth watching. I particularly like the mammals that were in the snow and water scenes.

But one thing I noticed was throughout the entire movie, the host (David Attenborough) continually referred to evolution as the means by which all of these animals appeared. Especially the last volume in the series (it had 4 DVD’s), it was primarily focused on monkeys. He compared humans to monkeys several times, and talked about evolution.

This got me really thinking about evolution, the origins of man, and even the origins of our universe. I pondered this for the entire weekend.

Did Humans Really Evolve from Monkeys? Does Evolution Create Life?

 

I looked at the similarities between humans and monkeys. It is true that monkeys do have very similar appearance, and even various similarities of anatomical structures. Monkeys are also fairly intelligent creatures (the movie had a few scenes of monkeys using basic tools to open nuts).

But the biggest question is did we really evolve from these things?  Or perhaps to phrase it more accurately, did we really evolve from a common ancestor of the primate? Of course I wasn’t there when it happened, so I can only speculate.

The bible is silent on the concept of evolution. Instead, it is very vague in the details of creation. It does not offer scientific explanation. Instead, the Bible merely shows God giving the commands of waters to teem with life, and it tells how he “formed” man from the dust of the Earth (based on God’s Image), and breathed the breath of life into him.

From this account, we cannot say what methods God used to “form” man. What does it mean when he “formed” us? Was it a bunch of cells coming together from all the matter in the Earth in a way that would resemble a scene from the Mummy Returns? Was there a vast rush of millions of atoms coming together at God’s command?

Or did God simply use evolution on a fast scale, and start with one set of genetic coding, and quickly add to it until he arrived at the ultimate code: the DNA of humans? We aren’t told how God did this process. We are told it occurred within the time construct of a day. But of course, we have to remember that time is always relative. Perhaps God did use a “method” of evolution to create all the species or animals in a “fast forward” kind of way.

Perhaps God created all humans and animals exactly “as is,” but at the same time designed them in a way so that they could adapt and change within their environments. This is also a very good possibility. But one thing is for sure: we have very big differences between monkeys. When I look at a monkey, I can see a basic and carnal beast. Yet, when I look at a human I see something different.

You can call it our ability to reason. You can call it our awareness of “self.” You can call it whatever you want. But there are significant differences between humans and animals. Personally, I don’t believe in the theory of evolution as an explanation as how life originated. It just seems far to complicated to have arisen by chance alone.

After all, WHY did life decide to originate? If evolution is how life originated, why did it do so? What force drives cells to divide. What force drives animals to reproduce? If the purpose of evolution is to make us suitable for the environment, then why are there still so many different species of creatures? Why is it that we all seem perfectly fitted for the food chain? Why is it that there is even a food chain?

I don’t necessary disagree with all parts of evolution. I surely believe animals can adapt to their environments. I believe they can change colors, etc. My biggest complaint is just the part where people tend to take the theory and assume that is how life originated and they use that as a weapon to try to prove that God must not exist.

I am sure that species can adapt quite well. But at the same time, I believe God created them that way. I don’t know if one species can evolve into another, or if they can just merely adapt within pre-set extremes of their own species, and I will probably never know. But is it really important? Even if every part of the theory of evolution turned out to be true, does that disprove the existence of God? Of course not. Because you still have questions such as “why.” Why would something arrange itself, and seem to have such a complex plan for life to exist? What force drives it?

Life is Meaningless and Empty Without God: Life is Pointless!

 

Sometimes I like to take a step back from my faith and belief in God, and just ask a few questions from time to time. This past weekend, I asked myself this:

If evolution is true, and the big bang theory is true, and it is even true that this all happened on its own without any involvement from God, then what does that mean? What does it mean if there is no God, and God doesn’t exist?

I always get really depressed when I take a mental journey to imagining that this all exists without a God. Because if that is true, it means we are all just worthless creatures. Just like an ant that gets stepped on, and no one cares, so too are we humans. We exist for a brief time, and we die. Our lives are quickly forgotten by those who survive us and washed away by even more by every new generation that emerges. Only the ones who make the history books are remembered with any significance.

Life without God means that I am pointless. It means that anything I do is pointless. Sure, we can’t go around killing people or anything, since that would get us in trouble with the police (and society). But our actions really have no meaningful consequences.

It means there is no such thing as right or wrong. It means there is no after-life, no judge. No paradise or hell. No peace and happiness or eternal torment. It means we are stuck to suffer through a few good times in our life, followed by disease, poverty, hard times, fear, and sadness.

I usually sit and dwell all of the things it means if there really is no God. Needless to say, when I am done thinking of these things, I am very depressed. My energy leaves my body. I feel helpless, desperate, and empty. It makes me so bitter inside to even consider this is true. I get bitter towards this existence. I even loathe my own life.

God Must Exist: There Must Be a Creator

 

After contemplating this existence without a God, I am in a state of despair and negativity. But then, other kinds of thoughts slowly begin to enter my mind. I start to think of all of the reasons why it is likely a God does exist. I begin to think of the origins of the universe. The universe (by most scientific evidence) had a beginning. If something had a beginning, that means it was created. If it was created, it had a creator. That is fairly logical and reasonable to assume.

Then I look at all the complexities of life. I look at the fact that all of creation exists in such harmony. Some mammals eat leaves. Some eat meat. Some eat both. Some mammals eat a portion of food and throw it down. Then, another creature comes and devours the parts it is made to digest and eat. Then another comes and eats the remains the other creatures left behind. And so on and so forth. Until the entire creature has been consumed and/or turned back into dust.  Animals eat seeds and unknowingly spread them around in their waste, allowing that seed to take root and develop right back into the same plant.

I think of how the rivers lead into the ocean. How wind flows around the Earth in it’s streams. I ponder how the Earth is located just far enough away from the sun so that it doesn’t get too hot, yet is just close enough so that it isn’t too cold. I think of how the moon helps with the tide and gravity. I think of our magnetic field, and our atmosphere that filters most UV radiation. I think of the beauty of this Earth. For this incredible balance in space and Earth is what allows us to sustain our life.

I then begin to think of my wife. I think of the strong love I feel for her. I think of how devastated I would be if I lost her. I think of how real this emotion of love is. Even though we are capable of loving many people in our lives, it still amazes me how intense these feelings can be. People will die to save their loved ones. I feel lonely and empty when I am away from my wife, and so much better when I can embrace her in my arms, and kiss her sweet lips.

I begin to think of my own mind. What happens when I do something that I feel is wrong? I feel guilty. I feel sadness. I know I did something that wasn’t right. That internal sense of right and wrong we all have kicks in. Why do we have that?

I also begin thinking about the joy of life. I think of a God that loves me. I think of eternal life. I think about how I feel when I do the right thing in life. I think about how I feel when I have a deep faith in the existence of God. I think about this entire universe and creation within the context of being created by Almighty God.

After thinking about all of the reasons why it makes perfect sense to believe in God, I begin to feel better. My happiness returns. My confidence returns. My sense of self returns. My peace returns.  I feel myself growing strong in love.

It is at that exact point that a realization vividly enters into my mind and hits me like a ton of bricks: I NEED GOD. You see, God makes me happy. God makes me function with a purpose. God makes me feel loved, and it makes me feel like this life is not in vain. God gives me everything I need to carry on my life. Without God, I am merely a wandering and confused nobody.

And that, my friend, is all I need to know. I can never answer all of the questions of life (how it started, why, etc.). I can never answer all of the questions about God either. There is a lot a don’t know, and I am quite sure I will never even begin to scratch the surface of this complex thing we call life.

But what I do know is that I need GOD.  It feels so right believing in God, that I don’t care if God himself wrote in the sky these big words, “I DON’T EXIST”. I would believe anyways! My emotions are so vivid. When I feel there is no God it is like night. When I put my faith and believe in God, it is like the light has been switched on, and suddenly I can see to function. The difference in my own experience is clear.

I cannot even begin to describe the feelings I feel when I believe in God. And that is why, I often remind myself, I know there has to be a God. I fully believe that there is an actual physical God that created it all, and still actively governs the universe. Even though I sometimes journey on a the path of life without a God, I quickly realize that the path is a dead end, and I jump right back to the path that leads to my utmost happiness.

Some atheists often make the comment that people believe in God because they are weak minded. Some may very well say that about me. But if that is the case, I don’t really care. All I know is what my mind can perceive. And I know that without a doubt I am a happier person when I believe in God. And that is reason enough to believe for me. Faith makes sense. After all, no one knows all of the answers anyways. Our minds are far too small to hold all of the answers. If I believe in God, what do I really have to lose? Nothing! I have everything to gain!

 

 

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Posted under reflections