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To: Liberal Classic
All humans are placental mammals. All placental mammals are animals. Therefore humans are animals.

No, no other 'mammal' thinks or writes

Man an animal We can think of man as placed halfway between God and the animals, possessing characteristics of each. Physiologically and anatomically man is an animal. He even shares the genetic code with them. Evolutionists call him a human primate. Much of his behavior is controlled by Pavlovian conditioned reflexes.

The Genesis account recognizes important similarities between man and the animals. Of man we read ‘God formed man of the dust of the ground … .’ (Genesis 2:7) And of the animals, ‘Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field.’ (Genesis 2:19) Animals are described as ‘living creatures’ (Genesis 1:20), and man a ‘living being’ (Genesis 2:7), the Hebrew word ‘naphesh’ (breath) being used for both. Concerning the effects of the flood we are told, ‘Everything on dry land that had the breath of life in its nostrils died. Every living thing … men and animals, and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds of the air were wiped out.’ (Genesis 7:22-23)

Later, it is explained that the ‘life’ (naphesh) is in the blood (Genesis 9:4). Thus breathed-in life (naphesh) is not the essential factor which distinguishes man from animals. Something further is required.

God regards man differently from the animals. The Bible account is primarily concerned with the relationship between God and man. Man was created by God, in his image, for God’s joy and glory, and exists only in the context of God. It is because God is (Hebrews 11:8) that man has being (Acts 17:28). True, the earth and animals too have a place in God’s economy, but essentially, the world was created as a place for man to live (e.g. Romans 8:19-22).

God’s attributes shared with man The main impact of the image is that God endues man with some of his divine attributes, thereby separating and making him different from the beasts. (emphasis added) What are these special Godlike qualities which man is permitted to share? I shall mention six: language, creativity, love, holiness, immortality and freedom. You will probably be able to add to this list. All can be summed up by saying that man, like God, has an intelligence, a mind.

http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v4/i1/man.asp

339 posted on 03/25/2006 2:08:58 AM PST by fortheDeclaration (Gal. 4:16)
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To: fortheDeclaration
No, no other 'mammal' thinks or writes

There is no stated limitation on the cognative or physical abilities of animals.
340 posted on 03/25/2006 2:12:10 AM PST by Dimensio (http://angryflower.com/bobsqu.gif <-- required reading before you use your next apostrophe!)
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To: fortheDeclaration
"I shall mention six: language, creativity, love, holiness, immortality and freedom.

language - Other animals communicate with formalized vocalizations and body language. A matter of degree only.
creativity - Other great apes have shown creativity in their tool use. A matter of degree only.
love - Other great apes have show 'love' for their offspring and in at least one case a kitten. Possibly a matter of degree, possibly even less than that.
holiness - This one is untestable and in my humble opinion fantasy. In any case it has no bearing in the physical world.
immortality - This is untestable and again probably fantasy.
freedom - This one is undefined and could mean anything. Until it becomes well defined it is a non-point.

Boy this guy was really reaching wasn't he?

370 posted on 03/25/2006 1:22:01 PM PST by b_sharp (Unfortunately there is not enough room left here for a tag line.)
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