Do animals belive in God?

Discussion in 'Religion & Philosophy' started by Canell, Aug 24, 2018.

  1. Canell

    Canell Well-Known Member

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    Howdy

    What do you think, do animals believe in God?
    How do they imagine God?
    How should they worship God?
    Reincarnation, past life memories?

    I know animals are much more sensitive than humans, so they can feel spirits (deceased people for example). On the other hand, they don't give a crap about "love your enemy" and "thou shall not kill". They hunt and eat other animals 24/7, they are very territorial and very aggressive defending their territory, they are very nationalistic and even racist, one could say (you 'll never see a wolf crossbreed with a fox, or a sparrow with a stork), etc, etc.

    So, how does the whole God thing work out for animals? Do you think they see us like gods or like just other animals? Those kind of questions, you know. :)
     
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  2. Jonsa

    Jonsa Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Out of the handful of animals that enjoy sentience - self awareness/rudimentary intelligence, only humans have evolved sapience and intellect. Only humans have the capacity to create such an intellectual abstraction as a "god".

    As to various human behaviors correlating to animal behaviors observed "in the wild", I believe it is direct and compelling evidence that many underlying human behaviors are biologically driven (emotions/reflexive actions/mating drives, etc) and these biological "motivations" heavily influence our perceptions and reactions on a subconscious level despite what our intellect might tell us.
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2018
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  3. Moonglow

    Moonglow Well-Known Member

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    Oh hell no, they are all atheist..
     
  4. tecoyah

    tecoyah Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Who Knows...we do not think in a way that they will and they will not think as we do but I find it unlikely an animal (Any) would create a God myth.
     
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  5. The Wyrd of Gawd

    The Wyrd of Gawd Well-Known Member

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    Sure, there are some animals that believe in Yahweh, the God of the hebrews and the God of the armies. Other animals believe in Allah, they go on annual pilgrimages to their holy sites. some animals are Buddhists,others worship other animals. And don't forget, people are just animals.
     
  6. Kokomojojo

    Kokomojojo Well-Known Member

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    humans are animals and most are theist.
    dogs cats etc most likely have no clue, or no knowledge of God in the same terms human animals do, however they would not be in the least comparable to atheists who make a conscious decision God does not exist but much closer to agnostic of the type (no knowledge) which is the default condition. On the other hand there is the knowledge type who choose to neither believe nor disbelieve, or abstain from the vote, ie taking neither position.
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2018
  7. FoxHastings

    FoxHastings Well-Known Member

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    They can't believe in a god...they have no imagination ;) ;)
     
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  8. Canell

    Canell Well-Known Member

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    Don't be hasty, Mr. Fox, are you sure animals don't have imagination? I mean, absolutely sure? ;)
     
  9. FoxHastings

    FoxHastings Well-Known Member

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    Well, if they did they could believe in god since imagination is all it takes.

    But no, I do not believe animals are human. They do not "think" like humans or they would be humans.
     
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  10. Margot2

    Margot2 Banned

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    No.. animals don't believe in God.
     
  11. Canell

    Canell Well-Known Member

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    How about Allah?
     
  12. Margot2

    Margot2 Banned

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    Nope.. Read Genesis.
     
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  13. The Wyrd of Gawd

    The Wyrd of Gawd Well-Known Member

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    What about Mickey & Minnie Mouse and Donald Duck?
     
  14. Market Junkie

    Market Junkie Banned

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    No … animals aren't as gullible and delusional as human believers...
     
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  15. yguy

    yguy Well-Known Member

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    They don't "believe in" anything the way humans can, because belief in metaphysical things requires an investment of the soul, which animals don't have.
    Certainly such a view would explain why so many atheists act like animals.
     
  16. Canell

    Canell Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, animals have more sound mind, although a limited intellect too. They don't build sand castles. ;)
     
  17. The Don

    The Don Well-Known Member

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    Dogs, maybe.....

    Cats, hell no !
     
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  18. Canell

    Canell Well-Known Member

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    Lol, why not?
    We have cats and a dog at home. The cats are much more likely to "pray" for food, aka meowing, than the dog. The dog would sometimes bark when his dinner is late and that's it. But he, on the other hand, would bark his *** off when "praying" for a walk. :)
     
  19. The Don

    The Don Well-Known Member

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    Please bear in mind that I am both a "cat person" and an atheist so my characterisation of both dogs and believers is likely to be both inaccurate and highly unfair ;)

    It seems to me that to be a successful believer, you have to accept that there is a higher power than oneself (i.e. a pack leader) and to be obedient to that pack leader. The look that the catbeasts give me when, one again, I fail to live up to their expectations for unknown (to me) reasons leaves me in no doubt where cats place themselves in the universal totem pole and the phrase "like herding cats" is a fair representation of my understanding of their opinion on obedience.....

    Your cats were merely complaining about poor customer service much as you would if your food is late in a restaurant (expect to see zero stars on Catadvisor), your dog is unquestionably accepting of his fate knowing that "god" (i.e. you) moves in mysterious ways and His motives should not be questioned :)
     
  20. Bezukhov

    Bezukhov Active Member

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    Christopher Hitchens
     
  21. fmw

    fmw Well-Known Member

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    Animals believe in survival - food and reproduction.
     
  22. Guyzilla

    Guyzilla Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    We are animals, and, we also are pets. Of the state. We get sustenance from it, like pets do from owners. Also parents.

    The frustration of our desires, from early development, makes us opt for magic, and gods. We think we are so advanced, that we don't have instincts. We do. And, if development is harmed at a crucial point, we are just like pets that weren't properly made PETS.
     
  23. mbk734

    mbk734 Well-Known Member

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    New study shows that animals are smarter than most humans because they are atheists.
     
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  24. Market Junkie

    Market Junkie Banned

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    Actually, believers are a lot like sheep … weak, frightened sheep.

    Baaaa…
     
  25. CourtJester

    CourtJester Well-Known Member

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    Do you mean animals other than humans?
     

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