1)"... January 19th 1990 Pope John Paul 11 said "also the animals possess a soul and men must love and feel solidarity with smaller brethren" He pointed out that in Genesis "the way in which man was created suggests a relationship with the spirit or the breath of God. And one reads that after having created man from the dust of the earth, the Lord God 'breathed life into his nostrils and man became a living soul.'" He went on to say that animals have the breath of life and were given it by God. So, in this respect, man, created by the hand of God, is identical with all other living creatures. Although the pope's statement was reported in the Italian press it was not reported in the UK and was ignored by British Catholic publications."
http://www.eclipse.co.uk/thoughts/animalsouls.htm#4
2) death is certain for all living things.
3) pain is certain for all living things capable of feeling pain. Pain, as far as science in concerned, evolved as a warning signal. Therefore all those beings who have this warning signal can feel physical pain.
4) people are afraid of death. It is unknown. We are afraid of it.
I think that we are also very dumb. Why be afraid of death? We know that life is filled with pain and suffering. It also holds joy. I assume we are not afraid of death because we don't want to loose our suffering. so we are afraid because we don't want to loose out joy? I can understand that. But will we loose our joy? And if we do, will we be aware enough to know that we have lost our joy, and be sad? nothingness is unrecognisable from the inside, so there is no reason to be afraid. The christain god is a loving, forgiving God, and we have souls, so tell him how great he is, and you can look at him for eternity. say he sucks, and you got out of his sight for eternity. nothing about fire and such in the old testiment. that came about long after the bible was written.
either way, doesn't sound terrible to me, really. The worst thing I can imagine is that death is simply losing control of your body. you are still aware, can still see and hear, and can still feel, but cannot react. To feel the decay of your own body would be pretty bad, IMO. That would be hell for me. that and largely only that. And even that is not pure hell. you can stil learn. learn what it's like to be dead.
everything can teach you, so it can't be pure hell- there is still good in all the other options.
Would I want animal testing for a drug which would save my father's life? no. would I want to, really, really badly? yes, of course.
However, I am not just looking at his life, but at the lives of everyone and everything. if humans succeed in preventing death, then population will increase more than it already is, and overall quality of life in the long run will decrease. So I do not support much of what goes on in the research area, I don't see it as truely being helpful, simply postponing the pain which will be suffered enmass by our decendants.
But I will not be able to convise people that this is the case. people will not listen. so, I will try and make the best use of what goes on. on an individual basis, teach people how to survive on their own, without plastic, without running water, and without cars or video games. remind them that we did not evolve while living in a high rise appartment. make them feel more secure in themselves by removing their dependace on modern conveinience. Important note: not remove modern convenience, but remove the dependance on it, created by a loss of basic knowledge.
I will not take a job testing products on animals. I will try to not use products that were excessivly tested on animals, and I will try and use products which were not at all tested on animals. I will make my life and in turn the lives of those around me, including plants and animals, as good as possible. I will not push my beliefs on to others, but will leave them out in the open so that others can pick through them, and take what they want. And I will feel compassion for every being which is subjected to torchure for others, while at the same time not letting their suffering go to waste. Taiji came from the suffering of prisoners. The power of America came alot through the strength of slavery while it was young. I will put the good to use, and feel guilty for the bad, so that I do not find myself repeating it.
/annoyingly sermon-like rant over. thanks.
