More Than Animals
written by: Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski
“Then God said, “Let us make man [humans] in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. ”
Why are humans different from other animals? Phrased from a Biblical perspective, why did God give humans dominion over other animals? It seems simple, but I heard an insightful reason in a sci-fi novel I am reading, The Flicker Men. The novel’s storyline isn’t necessary; how they describe what makes us different from other animals, is: “It is our ability to observe and reflect on what we observe. It is our ability to recapitulate the world around us.” If this is what makes us different from other animals, what if humans are incapable or unwilling to observe and recapitulate the world around us adequately?
The novel’s definition of what made us different from other animals gnawed at me. It demanded I ask a follow-up question? “Do we cease to be human if we do not observe and reflect?” I believe individuals who are emotionally or physically incapable of observation and reflection remain human if they are not capable of diminishing or hurting others. Upon review, I fear those capable of observation and reflection, but who chose not to observe and reflect. I believe it is possible for at least some of these individuals who refuse to observe and reflect on devolving back into animals. Animals that act on instinct, without empathy, and with a misguided instinct for survival, make each one potentially dangerous.
Over the past few years, we have White Supremacy and Qanon conspiracists bending over backward with mental gymnastics, to believe a warped sense of observation led to a wicked sense of reflection. How else can otherwise intelligent and capable people come to believe that individuals on the other side of the political aisle are satanic, child molesters, and murderers? This disturbing observation causes many people to reflect in such a way as to act with anger, chaos, and even violence against others. White Supremacy and Qanon are an example of animalistic regression.
Today, pray for individuals to learn coherent and truthful ways to observe and reflect upon the world around them. Give each of us the faithful commitment to learn and teach observation and reflection in an honest and empathic way. Prayerfully call upon God to creatively invite us to reject false statements and reflections so we can remain open to God’s wisdom and truth. Having a faith-based set of values provides a strong foundation to stay honest to reality rather than dangerous falsehood.
