>> Animals cannot be murdered, for murder only applies to humans, as we bear the image of God — to claim otherwise is to demean mankind.
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> And what an ugly image “we” have when we kill pets because of easily remedied nuisances. I’d say that kind of conduct demeans mankind.
I didn’t say that we bore the perfect image, the fall of mankind has profound impact on the inborn image of God we bear... But God still saw fit to save us — “while we were yet sinners” — and THAT is something that ought to be respected.
> I didn’t say that we bore the perfect image, the fall of mankind has profound impact on the inborn image of God we bear...
As for the religious argument for trivializing the killing of someone’s pet, I recall a passage in the New Testament that says, “And you shall love the Lord your God...[and]... love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” [Mark 12:30,31] Is killing a pet that messes up a sandbox doing that?
I’d cover the sandbox rather than kill my pet, and I’d do that for my neighbor’s pet too. Now if there were a rabid cat in my yard, or a large dog that appeared to be about to attack a child, then I’d kill somebody’s pet — not for a nuisance that’s easily remedied, though (simply by covering the sandbox).
[By the way, I myself don’t claim to love my neighbor as myself. My ethical standards are much lower. I do try to avoid killing their pets, though — on purpose, anyway. I killed a cat with my car a few months ago, as I pulled into my driveway, and still feel bad about it. Negligent owner, yes, but that doesn’t keep me from feeling some guilt. If I’d been more careful with my driving, I might have avoided killing it.]