The irony of being human: deep down we re still animals

The Daily Anthenaeum ^ | Thursday March 14, 2002 | Joshua Greene

[the_devils_advocate_666]

I know that there are plenty of individual sentences or points made here that are great sources of individual flame wars. But what I'm more intested in are views on the overall thought of human "advancement" over the centuries...

[Harp]

Never will anyone searching for peanut butter at FR ever miss this extremely important piece.

Oops?

[exmarine]

To be honest with you, I don't like this fad. There are too many people doing it these days.

Every single person who has every done it has been a muslim as far as I can recall. Is this a clue to those who say "Islam is peace"? What a lie that is.

[ScreamingFist]

This should be an interesting thread, if it doesn't get pulled.

[cake_crumb]

Oh, his veiws on human lack of cultural advancement are right on the money. Really, he's understating.

Greene just lost me with the part about the Nazi-Jews and the bit implying that exploding Palestinians would be a thing of the past, if the Israeli's would just stop bombing empty buildings. Oh, he tells us that the Jews are rounding up all the young Palestinian men, which is not true. It's hard to round them up when you phone ahead and warn them you're coming.

Yasser winning a Nobel Peace prize simply shows that ANYONE can win one...except for Bill Clinton, who I remind you was a major factor in the latest intifada.

Sharon IS wanted by the Hague. His accusors are, of course, Arabs, who are being aided by the traditionally anti-Semitic Europeans, who apparently still depend on The Merchant of Venice as their main source of information on the character of Jews.

[Colosis]

That’s a fairly pessimistic assessment of mankind. I think the author was having a really bad day when he wrote that....

[elephantlips]

It is easy to become overwhelmed with the human condition the way it is. Apparently the author is an atheist and from that point on, it is not hard to understand the hopelessness of the article. Without God there is no hope. Man was not meant to be this way but he chose sin and so he is. I am sure other atheists will read and respond to this article and "flame" away because that's all they can do. By definition there is no hope for them either. "I am the truth, the way and the life no one comes unto the Father except by me." There is a greater life to come with Jesus. A life which leaves all this behind. However, there is another life after this which makes this situation to which you refer seem like paradise. It is the continuation of sin and it's called hell. The choice is simple: choose life and you have hope, choose death and you continue in this morass. For me the answer is life.

[week 71]

This guy is no philosopher and could join the chorus of that top 40 song a couple years ago "you and me baby ain't nothing but mammals, let's do it like they do it on Discovery channel." The fruit of naturalism. What mere animals build hospitals, spend their life endeavoring to help others, will die in the place of another, write poetry, love the arts, spend time rescueing other species, ect. Sure humans are animals but, there is also the potential for nobility.

[Khepera]

Without God, without Morality, then we are just animals. You animals know who you are and I'm talking about you.

[the_devils_advocate_666]

Sure humans are animals but, there is also the potential for nobility.

You are talking about individuals. I think the author was trying to make a point on how much more (or not) civilized we have become.

Are things really different than they were say, 1,000 years ago?

[gorush]

Could't agree more. It is good to aspire toward divinity, but the reason that we need to aspire to it is that we are not...

[week 71]

If we honestly admitted we were beasts, we might behave better than those who invoke god to justify their lust and hate.

Or invoke atheism like China, Russia, and Germany and kill tens of millions more people in the name of atheism last century then all religious wars combined.

[cake_crumb]

"It is good to aspire toward divinity, but the reason that we need to aspire to it is that we are not..."

Well said.

[week 71]

Are things really different than they were say, 1,000 years ago?

Not much, there is nothing new under the sun. Do I think human are progressing towards utopia.. no. That is humanistic philosophy which I don't buy. There are Theological reasons, however I get the feeling that may not be where you want this thread to go. cheers

[Alas Babylon!]

"What a piece of work is man! How noble in reason! how infinite in faculties! in form and moving, how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension, how like a god! the beauty of the world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? Man delights not me; no, nor woman neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so."

--From Hamlet (II, ii, 115-117)

[dr gene scott]

Ah, Khepera I expected YOU to come along and make your judgments here. Why not let God judge for a change?

Every where you post the stench of unmericfulness remains. You must be a babe in the Word, and not been through the fires of suffering yourself to always come off so haughty. Pain will take the shallowness out of you. The true footsteps of Jesus lead to a cross, not self-exaltation - pray for wisdom and God will show you the meaning of mercy.

[VadeRetro]

News flash: Yasser Arafat, our enemy, he has a Nobel Peace Prize. Ariel Sharon, our friend, he's wanted by the Hague for war crimes.

News flash: The law's an ass. International Law's an international ass.

[Khepera]

You know God does Judge but he also commands us to use judgment as well. He is not the only judge as you would like for us to believe but is the final judge. He is the last court of appeal not the first. I understand you would like for me to be silenced so that you can pursue your selfish desires in peace but you will not silence me or any other Christian who uses their judgment as God commands.

[the_devils_advocate_666]

I had hoped this wouldn't turn into a bible war. So for you, Khepera, I created this little ditty so that you can go away (oh, that's right, you said you won't) and be useful:
Church vandals create an unholy mess