tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20587008.post42381164397241255..comments2024-01-25T03:56:02.403-08:00Comments on Presbyterian Bloggers: Chimps and HumansMirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16380861596539183040noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20587008.post-33395240743983068332011-02-08T09:27:16.025-08:002011-02-08T09:27:16.025-08:00Doug, Thanks for your comments.You are right about...Doug, Thanks for your comments.You are right about other animals an language. I was not clear in my first couple of paragraphs, all those things I listed at "unique" about humans are not unique to humans at all. <br />What makes us human has to do with covenant and call not biology. <br /><br />For those who are interested, I have spent much more time on this topic at my "regular" blog.Nancyhttp://www.conversationinfaith.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20587008.post-15418878531965021972011-02-07T12:59:56.298-08:002011-02-07T12:59:56.298-08:00It is not true that only humans have language - he...It is not true that only humans have language - here is an episode of Radio Lab on that topic, talking about the many ways that species not only communicate with each other, but also with other species, including human beings:<br /><br />http://www.radiolab.org/blogs/radiolab-blog/2010/oct/18/wild-talk/<br /><br />In short, I like your answer a lot. The difference is not something ontological (humans are magically special and animals are not) it is covenantal - humans have a special calling and responsibility that animals do not.<br /><br />There is just no real evidence anymore for the ontological view. Whatever you say makes humans special - dreams, cognitition, language, memory, grief, art - it is possible to find examples in the animal world that throw a wrench in the works of humane exceptionalism.<br /><br />So we are made in the image of God, not because we are constructed any differently from animals, but because, like God, we are powerful creators. Like God, we consciously 'make' the world, and our call is to make it better.Douglas Underhillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02215736448645573566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20587008.post-28873030092597621202011-02-04T18:47:19.073-08:002011-02-04T18:47:19.073-08:00In correlation with this bio-sphere 'conscious...In correlation with this bio-sphere 'consciousness' and its attempted trangression of natural law by the saught impeding of the autonomy of man. Is a program to further undermind man and his actual consciousness by genetic determinism and biological mechanization.Mr. Mcgranorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12851136550476241757noreply@blogger.com