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Question to the "God gave us dominion over animals" crowd:?

I'm an atheist, so I freely admit that any kind of divine explanation for eating meat is bunk to begin with. However, there seems to be a lot of people who use this odd argument of "God gave us dominion over the animals!" to justify eating meat.

You do realize that you have dominion over your children, too, right?

18 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Especially since they forget the next part about god having dominion over people... It's a good thing god isn't as ruthless or shallow as human beings when it comes to carrying out "dominion."

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    Because men wrote the bible. If dolphins had written it, it would say dolphins had dominion. As usual, people use "god" as a justification for their actions. Edit: Gavnjo, we're not destroying the planet. The planet will be fine whether there are humans on it or not. We might be destroying our ability to live here. But the earth still be here, and new species will rise to take our place, just as humans showed up after the dinosaurs were gone.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    LMAO re: dominion over children. Good point ... this is the kind of stuff that happens when the fundamentalists believe in a literal understanding of the Bible.

    Quite frankly, I'm never clear why people who eat meat have to seek biblical justification to eating meat. I happen to like meat. I eat it. Others like only veggies .. that's fine with me.

    Crissakes aren't there more important issues than whether or not we are carnivores, ominivores, or herbivores?

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    >>You do realize that you have dominion over your children, too, right?<<

    I applaude you for that comment! Since when is dominating equal to digesting? I'm not an atheist, not religious either, spiritual though, but what I think is that religion here is just an excuse. If god is good and kind, and if he created animals, why would he want them to suffer? Where is the logic? Btw, werent Adam and Eve vegans, which was part of being perfect? According to the Bible, consumption of meat started after the flood. I'm not christian, but even I know this.

    If ppl really wanted to be good christians, they wouldnt be afraid to face the truth. You could use your religion to do good, instead of making lame excuses.

    EDIT; for damo who said "Many many animals naturally eat meat."

    well, many many animals are herbivores. Veganism is natural too, what is your point? Since human intestines are long like in other herbivores', what would be the logical conclusion?

    Source(s): vegan for life
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  • 1 decade ago

    Well, a king or queen has "dominion" over their people....and back in the day it was considered divine ordination...so, I agree, anyone living under a monarchy should be sent to slaughter and all the children too! Yay!

    On another note...have you ever checked out Leviticus?? Probably not, being an atheist and all...but my point is, there are lots of rules about what people can and can't eat in there (pigs being one forbidden food), but Christians pick and choose what parts of their "sacred book" they feel like followinf on any given day. Ask them about eating certani foods...they say that Jesus said the old testament doesn't count, ask them about evolution and all of the sudden the old testament matters again. Pathetic.

  • 1 decade ago

    See why I love the Atheists! Bingo, you are very correct.

    Dominion does not mean exploit. Dominion means protect.

    Dear Artsy: Are you aware the the Book of Leviticus is instruction for Levite Priests? Yes. Not instructions for the average joe. No one is picking and choosing.

  • 1 decade ago

    Excellent, Excellent, Excellent point. Dominion means in the charge of, in the care of, in the rule of. What if King John had assumed authority to slaughter all the nobles that he had dominion over? It would have altered the entire course of the

    Western world.

    Dominion does not give anyone the right to trespass against the rights of another or to rape, mame and slaughter.

    Someone will argue that farm animals have never presented

    a magna carta or bill of rights, but neither has anyone's

    children.

    I'm starring this question and you can expect several more I'm

    sure.

  • 1 decade ago

    Agreed. And for those who say the Bible tells us what meat we can and cannot eat... it also tells us it's okay to sacrifice our firstborn children and that we should be put to death for crimes such as adultery (aka an affair) and theft. Anyone care to follow THOSE rules?

    *not saying those behaviors shouldn't have consequences... obviously they deserve punishment, but I think death is a bit extreme*

  • 1 decade ago

    You can't expect a Christian to have a valid explanation for ANYTHING. It's based on beliefs.

    There is a teacup floating in the sky that presides over all of us. Why do I believe this? Well, because a person said so and then subsequent people said so, and then a book was written and other people believe it and so, therefore, it is true. (LOL)

  • Joka B
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago

    I am an atheist, too. hehe and am not eating meat.

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