"Animals were put here for humans"?

Question

What do you think of the "argument" that animals were "put here for humans"?

Is it any more consistent or morally defensible than the once-popular notions that blacks are here to serve whites, or women to serve men?

Answer 1

I think it's pretty ridiculous. If animals were put here for humans, than why are we not designed to eat animals? Animals that are supposed to be carnivores do not need an aid to kill their prey; however, humans have to hunt. Our teeth are not razor sharp and we don't have the speed or hand-eye coordination to catch animals in the wild. We were just not designed to eat animals, but many people still do. Also, animals lived before humans, so there is no way animals were put here FOR humans. But, maybe humans were put here for animals, hmm.

Answer 2

Genesis i: 26, 27, 28.

26 ¶ And God said, Let us make man in our image after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him: male and female image, created he them.

28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Pretty straight forward huh?

Answer 3

In response to your question and other comments I read I have this to say.  No animals are not here for humans. It is a very egocentric for humans to view animals in that sense.  As far as some comments about the food chain and such.. A vast difference btwn animals and humans is that fact that humans have learned how to cultivate for their needs. Animals have not and therefore some are carnivores and others live off of the plants/ trees near them.

Answer 4

Some animals coming across humans do not hesitate but start eating without the bother of killing.  Surely we who kill first are better....... (Sorry Oysters.)

Answer 5

There were animals here long before humans so I can't see how that's possible.

Answer 6

if animals were for people...then all vegitatrians shd have been dead...so its false and cruel

Answer 7

It's just one indication that such a person cannot think for his/herself.

Answer 8

Having dominion over animals doesn't mean you have to kill them for food if there's other alternatives. Biblically mankind was not given permission to kill animals for food until after the flood. The reason being that all vegetation was killed by the food, and the earth needed time to replenish it's vegetation.

Standard definition of dominion - "The right and power to command, decide, rule, or judge."

Answer 9

God gave us the earth and its inhabitants to care for. He did not give us them to abuse and violate. Even if I wasn't a religious person I still don't think that we are here to abuse

animals and the planet and I think we are all going to pay big time for this.

Answer 10

i think this misinformed notion comes from people misinterpreting the use of the word "dominion" in Genesis......another poster has listed the full verse above, so i won't relist it, but many people assume that dominion means that we have the right to do whatever we want with animals and treat them as we please.

i would love to know the original word used in this passage, because i can't see a compassionate, loving God saying, "sure, take these creatures and beat the c**p out of them if you wish."  in my opinion, the word "dominion" means that while we do "rule" the animal kingdom, we are also given the responsibility of caring for the animals and looking after them.  think about the other ways that we use the word dominion.........for example, a king has "dominion" over his subjects, because he is responsible for their safety and wellbeing despite the fact that he is the guy in charge.  having dominion over his people doesn't give him the right to eat them.

by the way, many versions of the Bible do not use the word "dominion" and in those editions i find the passage to be far more straightfoward.

Answer 11

I don't think that animals COULD be put here for humans since we evolved from them. While you can't completely argue eating animals is wrong as it is part of many natural processes because we distinguish our intelligence as having the right to dominate over them them we think in terms of "serving" rather than "residing alongside".

All i know is that karma's going to be a *****. The chickens will get back...at all of us.

Answer 12

My stupid kid asked me this question...

" Why do the animals display such extreme fear and pain towards fulfilling their "meaning in life" to be eaten by humans? "

Answer 13

ooooooooookay. I don't eat black people or women, but I do like a good steak.

Answer 14

Free Waterfall Junior: "We're with mankind for ethical animal treatment. Popplers are little creatures. You got to stop harvesting them for food."

Bender: "Or what?"

Free Waterfall Junior: "Or we'll boycott Fishy Joe's."

Leela: "You're vegetarians. Who cares what you do?"

Free Waterfall Junior: "Shut up!"

Leela: "Animals eat other animals. It's nature."

Free Waterfall Junior: "No it isn't. We taught a lion to eat tofu."

Lion: *cough* *pause* *cough*

Answer 15

Animals were put here to fill their niche in nature.  Some people are omnivores that are high on the food chain.  Therefore we eat animals and plants.

Answer 16

I think that people will use any disgusting excuse they can in order to somehow feel less guilty about what they are doing.  I hope with the spread of vegetarian and vegan-ism there might be the spread of better ideals.  It's so disturbing when people say that because they raise their children to think the same thing.  Just like back when racism plagued our nation (it still does).  I don't think we are born to hate and disrespect we are raised that way.  I think it's absolutely horrible.  But hopefully people like you and me can spread the word.  Great question!

Answer 17

well first of all... comparing eating meat, to SLAVERY isnt cool in my book... and as far as animals being put here for humans... thats a pretty stern statement....  you could argue that prey animals are only there for predatory animals and such.  Humans are omnivores, we eat what is readily available to either hunt or harvest, whether you belive in god or evolution.. either way, thats the way (in general) we are.

Answer 18

If one assumes the Bible to be true, and that God put animals here for no other reason than for man's use- does anyone really believe that a benevolent omnipotent being would approve of factory farming?

Answer 19

The Queen of England has "Dominion" over her country, but that doesnt give her the right to confine, torture and kill people.

Just because animals dont speak ones language doesnt give humans who dont understand what they are saying or what they mean the right to treat them like inanimate objects or commodities.  They are here for their own purposes and want to live as much, if not more than humans do, and should have a right to.  They need to designate an entire country specifically for green vegans to live on!  That would be wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 20

The argument is severely flawed. It assumes everyone shares the same spiritual or religious beliefs, which is clearly not the case. Genesis (1:28) been taken as a license for humanity to do what ever they want with nature and justify the mistreatment and exploitation of animals for humans. I'm not christian and I definitely don't agree, humanity has strayed so far from nature, we now think we are above it and have the right to subdue it's creatures.