Re: "
None of the animals were created in the image of the Creator, yet man was unique from all the other creations. "
I do believe that all animals have souls, albeit lesser souls than that of a human being.
And I believe that it is man's obligation to respect animal life and do what he can to care for them.
Sometimes, however, I think that perhaps reincarnation is real, and that each animal is actually a complete human soul being forced by Ha'Shem to exist in one of the lower life forms, unable to fully express language, art, the sciences, forced to forage for food as well as be hunted by predators, yet fully aware of the fact ... hence suffering.
Can't prove it either way, but from studying wild animals up close it's clear to me that many of them are certainly intelligent in their own way, have feelings, suffer, and care for their offspring.
There are exceptions to this generality, of course, but I am unable to conclude that most of the higher animals are purely instinct driven and unable to think and plan.
There are also more than a few examples of human life which make an extraordinarily excellent case for the argument that humanity is divided into higher and lower forms - some incapable of higher thought and intellectual creativity, bestial, and completely unaware that they exist in that condition.
It's all a real puzzlement, for there are many gentle animals on Earth which are non-aggressive, vegetarian, and protect and instruct their offspring, while I have yet to learn of a human being which isn't corrupt, devious, selfish, greedy, and capable of violence every second of the day.
It makes me wonder sometimes whether mankind really is a higher life form.
Sure is difficult to accept that religious tenet as unquestionable if one looks around at the state of things in the world today.
And of course, there's always that argument stating "
Well, if G-d is so Loving, Merciful, Omnipotent, and Omniscient, why does He set up this apparently insane world and allow it to continue daily with all the horrors, genocides, wars, murders, rapes, etc. ?
We are told by religious texts that all of this is a "trial period" so that we can all use "free will" to act as we see fit, die, and then face "Judgment Day" afterwards; standing trial for our behaviors here.
But what's the point of it all?
Does G-d need to play a live video game up in "Heaven" watching us destroy and ruin everything for His own enjoyment?
And ...
If He has all the Power and Knowledge, then He surely sees that we're a pretty disgusting creation, so WHY doesn't He just put an end to this whole charade IMMEDIATELY ?
What's the POINT?!
I have yet, to date, never received a single acceptable answer to those last questions other than to have a religious leader always resort to their "final" say on the subject in a desperate attempt to silence all questioners:
"One has no right to question G-d, my son!" -- "He alone knows the reason and the purpose why we must go on living this way" -- "All part of his "Divine Plan" far beyond YOUR ability to understand, let alone to question!"
And to this "answer" the Jewish "added response" is "Only the Holy One of Israel understands why this all necessary to enable Moshiach's appearance and 1,000 Year Reign!' ... "Yours is not to question!" ... "But only to have Faith!" ... "So go away and do not ever ask questions like that again!!!
"
Any takers?
WARNING: Anyone attempting to answer these questions by "begging the question" - that is, by merely reiterating the same illogical answers I have already listed will be responded to by my calling them
MORON! .
Do not make the mistake of thinking you're going to set me straight on all this by begging the question!
DON'T YOU DARE respond with "Well of course it's all true because I
believe it's true!"
You'd better first think
very carefully about your responses or risk the wrath of MassuhD!