Quote:
Originally posted by scottmandue
As I hoped it would, I only pose the question to promote thought in relation to to the idea that humans are nothing more than a walking bag of water and chemicals.
On one hand I can understand the pragmatic secular humanist view that we are nothing more than highly evolved animals. However f you look at human society and all the altruistic behavior you see I have to wonder if there isn't more to life.
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I think that on a technical level, the "operation" of our bodies and minds is a big, giant, complex naturalistic process (we're a walking bag of chemical reactions). But...and it a huge *but*...we - as a species - have evolved to a point where we have the intelligence and a consciousness about us to contemplate things. We have the ability to enjoy music and art. We have the ability to perform altruistic acts. We have the ability to stare at the night sky and wonder at the awesome size of the Universe.
Does this mean we have a "soul" and there is an afterlife and all that? No, I don't think so. Other animal species demonstrate emotions and altruistic behaviors that we commonly attribute only to humans, but I haven't seen anyone argue that they have souls and enjoy the benefits of an afterlife.
We are simply highly evolved animals, but that shouldn't fact shouldn't diminish the fact that we are able (as a result of evolution) to wonder at the world around us.
Not a very well thought-out response, but it's the gist of what I think.
Mike