(01-22-2011, 08:01 PM)Bring4th_Monica Wrote: Does this mean I think animals are as important as humans? To the Creator, probably. But I am human and I have biases. I consider humans more important than animals. I readily admit I would save the child before the dog. Yes, we do have hierarchies when it comes to species. I consider 3D more important than 2D, because they are more invested in this incarnation.
To clarify:
I would surmise that ALL life is equally important to the Creator. Humans, however, have biases. We all talk about love here on this forum, but in reality, all of us value our own families and friends more than strangers. How much more so do most people value other humans, any humans, more than animals?
To me, it isn't so much about value as it is pragmatism. I know that 3D entities are more invested in their incarnation, because they are at a point in their evolution where they may be consciously programming their lifetime's curriculum. Whereas, 2D entities are still pretty much automatic.
Thus, a cat would likely reincarnate more quickly than a human. I've seen this happen; I've seen cats reincarnate within just a few months.
So, even species biases aside, it's pragmatic to be aware that a human has more invested in this lifetime, when faced with the hypothetical "would you save the dog or human first" situation.
Until recently, it was considered acceptable to value those of one's own race to be more valuable than those of other races. There are still those who think that way. Same goes with country of origin.
Biases regarding species and sub-categories abound and are considered acceptable. So much so, that I detected indignation at the possibility that I might actually consider animals to be as important as humans!
Why is that such an offensive thought?
It so happens, that I admit to my biases in favor of humans. But what if I did consider humans and animals equal? What then?
I don't even think I'm right in having my bias. Justified perhaps, but right? I really don't know. Does the Creator have a bias in favor of humans? Does the Logos?
I know some people whose dogs and cats are their only family. Are they wrong for valuing their dogs and cats more than other humans who are not family?
What about other 3D entities that are considered 'animals' by humans, such as dolphins? How many of us would fight just as hard to save a dolphin, as we would to save a human?
And if not, then why not?
I don't know the answers to these questions. I am just asking them, to stimulate thought. Why do we now frown upon racism, but speciesism is still considered acceptable?