Question

[webenda]

Do some animals have the capacity to commit suicide is my question, or is that uniquely
Human .

Some people intend to kill themselves, while animals do not, due to differences in cognitive ability. The key difference is our ability to think far into the future.

Exploding aphids, exploding termites, and exploding ants are designed to defend the colony by self-sacrifice, it is not suicide.

The fact that a bee cannot pull its stinger out of a victim is a design feature. Stinging is a defensive instinct, not a suicide wish.

Reference: http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160705 ... ot-suicide

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Some animals will sacrifice themselves, to give their offspring a chance to get out of danger.

I know what you are suggesting, Roy. And Thank You. Can you give some examples. Some birds do that, right? They fly out of and away from the nest to draw the attention of a predator away from their young in the nest and redirect it to themselves.

On the show Meerkat Manor, the queen attacked, and was fatally bit, by a snake in the burrow where her young were.

I'm still not sure that kind of selfless act is suicidal in its intention. I'd call it heroic. Otherwise, every sentient being who goes to the defense of another, knowing they could be killed, would be suicidal. I don't think so. If that were so, what would that say about soldiers? Police? Firefighters who dash into burning buildings? That's not suicide in its intention. IMHO.

Thank you, so much, Roy, for the input.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Do some animals have the capacity to commit suicide is my question, or is that uniquely
Human .

Some people intend to kill themselves, while animals do not, due to differences in cognitive ability. The key difference is our ability to think far into the future.

Exploding aphids, exploding termites, and exploding ants are designed to defend the colony by self-sacrifice, it is not suicide.

The fact that a bee cannot pull its stinger out of a victim is a design feature. Stinging is a defensive instinct, not a suicide wish.

Reference: http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160705 ... ot-suicide

I would agree with you fully, Wayne. However, how about those self-beaching whales? Their intelligence level is certainly on a whole othger level than insects protecting a hive, isn't it. Some wonder if whales (and dolphins) have souls, too.

[robert.]

"I would agree with you fully, Wayne. However, how about those self-beaching whales? Their intelligence level is certainly on a whole othger level than insects protecting a hive, isn't it. Some wonder if whales (and dolphins) have souls, too."
How about this theory? Nobody sees these whales beach themselves. When the sun comes up there is a whale trapped on the beach. Maybe aliens did it.Dropped that large mammal on the shore. Ever hear of a redneck out on a Budwiser binge? Poor guy ends up naked in a cornfield 500 miles from home. All he remembers is some bright lights and little green guys with long fingers. Only explanation Jethro has is aliens got me and probed me.
Now you got some poor whale swimming in the gulf stream late at night and blammo. He awakens on a dirty jersey shore covered in needles and Coney island white fish. Somebody may need to see if these whales were probed! Damn aliens leave the whales alone

[Tom Dempsey]

I believe most higher order animals do have a soul (of sorts), and are capable of thought, but I don't humanize them. I've watched folks claiming they know what a dog or a cat etc are thinking, Bullcrap, only another dog or cat is qualified to make that statement. As to the whales, they're sick, scared, and just like a sick, scared human, not necessarily thinking lucidly. I've seen cows and deer jump right into the front of a locomotive because they were panicked, I've seen people do similarly irrational things for the same reason. Cops, firefighters, etc don't run into a burning building intending to die, they run in there because they don't intend to die, that's why they train for that precise event.

[webenda]

I would agree with you fully, Wayne. However, how about those self-beaching whales? Their intelligence level is certainly on a whole othger level than insects protecting a hive, isn't it.

Not enough information available to know why whales and dolphins beach themselves. An intelligent person would not call it suicide if they don't know what drives them ashore.

[webenda]

Some wonder if whales (and dolphins) have souls, too.

I believe most higher order animals do have a soul (of sorts), and are capable of thought, but I don't humanize them.

The concept of a soul is found in the bible. I am going to go to one of the Hebrew bibles because I feel it has had the least corruption over the centuries.

Found here: http://www.mechon-mamre.org/
With the text in Hebrew and English here: http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt3109.htm

Genesis Chapter 2:7 בְּרֵאשִׁית
ז וַיִּיצֶר יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים אֶת-הָאָדָם, עָפָר מִן-הָאֲדָמָה, וַיִּפַּח בְּאַפָּיו, נִשְׁמַת חַיִּים; וַיְהִי הָאָדָם, לְנֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה.
7 Then the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Pay careful attention to the way this is worded, “…man became a living soul.” It does not say the man received a soul, it says the man became a “living soul.” Humans do not have a soul that is separate from us, we are souls. When we die, we are no longer living souls.*

What about animals and plants?

Genesis Chapter 1:30 בְּרֵאשִׁית
ל וּלְכָל-חַיַּת הָאָרֶץ וּלְכָל-עוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם וּלְכֹל רוֹמֵשׂ עַל-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר-בּוֹ נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה, אֶת-כָּל-יֶרֶק עֵשֶׂב, לְאָכְלָה; וַיְהִי-כֵן.
30 and to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is a living soul, [I have given] every green herb for food.' And it was so.

Sounds like there is a soul in every beast of the earth, etc, etc. There is but not a spirit soul. It means “life,” the same as soul meant for humans.

Plants are not mentioned as being or having a soul in the bible, even though they have life.

So yes, humans and every beast of the earth, and every fowl of the air, and everything that creepeth upon the earth, are living souls. When you say, “I believe most higher order animals do have a soul,” you are correct in that they have life.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Thank You, Wayne. I had a feeling I could depend on you for some meaningful input. Meaningful, INDEED. I'm going to be reading what you offered, just above, several times. It is something of a revelation for me (no pun intended, though apt).

And when Jesus said, during His last moments on The Cross "...into Thy hands I commend My Spirit..." Was there a "leaving," a "sending," a "going" ?
Shall we look at that whole passage for more about the soul ?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Reads like a lot of chop logic and equivocation at a tent meeting.....

Maybe the real answer is that we don't really know, but keeping an open mind might be wise until we gain some real understanding and real knowledge.....

[Roy]

How about Emily?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

How about Emily?

Not my type,

[Roy]

She's Single! Waddaya want?

[webenda]

And when Jesus said, during His last moments on The Cross "...into Thy hands I commend My Spirit..." Was there a "leaving," a "sending," a "going" ?
Shall we look at that whole passage for more about the soul ?

To know how to answer you I need something from you. Please post The Apostles Creed, as you say it, here or via eMail, then I will answer.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

She's Single! Waddaya want?

And for good reasons - hygiene issue abound!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Here's a question to ponder - is the next financial crisis going to be the debt crisis?

Average household was just under $16k in credit card debt last year; close to $17k this year.
Average student loan was just under $49k last year; I thought the student loan game was crazy. but.........
Average mortgage debt was just under $172k
Total household debt in the 1st quarter of 2016 was over $12 trillion.

Don't people pay their bills anymore or is the entire country going to just declare bankruptcy.....