Discussion Are animals religious? Do animals believe in God?

[Fadeaway_bankz]

Are animals religious? Do animals believe in God? How come humans are the species on earth that is religious and believes in God? No other plant or animal on earth is religious or believes in any god. We don't see animals pray and worship God. We don't see animals attending church voluntarily. How come animals don't sense God's presence and existence? Animals aren't dumb. Animals can easily sense another animal or human presence and existence. Does that mean that God and religion is man made by humans and only for humans?

 

[darksouls]

I am not religious
I am more like a dog

 

[LastLoveSong]

Elaborate?

 

[Fadeaway_bankz]

Elaborate?

Why are only humans religious?

 

[Alexandra0]

Because only humans have intelligence

 

[LastLoveSong]

Why are only humans religious?

Well this is a very vague question but to answer: humans are the only species (at least currently living and that we know of) that can contemplate their own lives and are sentient beings. We are the only ones with consciousness deep enough to be able to contemplate our place in the world. There are other highly intelligent beings that are self aware that they are alive such as elephants, dolphins, orangutans, etc.. but none of them have intelligence great enough to contemplate their place in the world, they just continue being wild animals. Humans are different. Religion is something that relies on a deep history of stories and teaching, therefore we are the only ones that follow religions.

 

[locked*n*loaded]

Because only humans have intelligence

With the risk of offending a whole bunch of people, I'd say it's because humans, as a whole, are unintelligent, or just plain stupid.

 

[25dRvS9Ka]

The day animals learn to blame shifting, they will be religious, I guarantee that!

 

[Forveleth]

Are animals religious? Do animals believe in God? How come humans are the species on earth that is religious and believes in God? No other plant or animal on earth is religious or believes in any god. We don't see animals pray and worship God. We don't see animals attending church voluntarily. How come animals don't sense God's presence and existence? Animals aren't dumb. Animals can easily sense another animal or human presence and existence. Does that mean that God and religion is man made by humans and only for humans?

Never seen an animal species commit genocide, so I am gonna say no.

 

[theboy]

No

 

[Worndown]

We have evolved to a higher level.
(wouldn't know it by watching the news)
Most animals just get by. Eat, sleep, shelter, make more animals. They are not known to look for explanations on the mysteries of this world.
We do. Sometimes we get really creative with our theories.

 

[locked*n*loaded]

Found these on YT.

 

[LeavingEarly]

Never seen an animal species commit genocide, so I am gonna say no.

Some species of monkeys slaughter each others tribes.

 

[Worndown]

Yes. I think those were the monkeys in Wizzard of Oz.

 

[ginko0]

We're the only species capable of imagining inexistent beings and "beyond the natural" realities.

 

[PI3.14]

Well, cus animals are smarter than this lol.

God, in my humble and a bit offending opinion, is a concept meant to help the miserable get through life.

I know some individuals with miserable life. What helps them keep going? The idea that there is a heaven waiting for them after death where they can enjoy the best possible existence ever where they live every enjoyable thing they wanted in this life but never got to.

The poor will imagine finally being rich in haven, the ill being healthy, the old becoming young, the lonely being in love...etc. everyone imagine heaven as the place where their wishes finally come true. It's a painful thing to see people cling to the idea of God. They're hopeless against life unforgiving nature and thus need to feel safe, protected, and watched over by something that is loving and compassionate and all powerful. They, from the bottom of their heart, want God to be real.

Haven't you all watched videos of some moms who have lost multiple if not all their kids in the current Palestinian crisis? Some of them are "accepting" of what happened cus they believe their kids are now in heaven and they will get to see them later when they die too. Imagine the sorrow they would feel if they didn't have such a belief.

 

[Alexandra0]

With the risk of offending a whole bunch of people, I'd say it's because humans, as a whole, are unintelligent, or just plain stupid.

The human world is far from ideal. It would be better if people stayed in caves and their brains did not evolve at all. Then there would not be so much pain and suffering. There was harmony on the planet until man was born 3 million years ago. And what do we see now? Chaos in every corner of the world.
Evil is even worse than stupidity. There is no limit to human evil. Many people want to live, but they are simply driven out, some people deliberately ruin the lives of others. This happens out of envy or unrequited love, many reason like this: "If I don't get you, then no one else will," and we can continue indefinitely. A person only wants to put money in his pocket, he does not care that someone will suffer or die because of it. People rape the planet, destroy forests, pollute the oceans, harm animals and children. Poor whales and rhinos, etc. How can you mock living beings like that? They feel everything :,( How can you even think about harming a small child? You have to be a monster! There are cruel people who have power and money, such people really should be feared, many use their official position.
I regret that the man was born at all. He brought so much horror and the further, the worse. Now I write these lines and I want to lie down on the floor, curl up and sob. A cry from the heart

 

[Forever Sleep]

I've also pondered on this as an atheist argument. If praise, worship and obedience are so important to our God(s,) which they seem to be- why isn't there more evidence of a dinosaur version of Jesus, Moses, Muhammad type figure? Dinosaurs were here for a massive 165 million years compared to our measley 6 million. Why even get rid of the dinosaurs to begin with? Because God suddenly wanted a bunch of 'groupies' to adore them? (Assuming that animals don't or can't.)

I'd agree with others that humans do appear to have a particularly strong capacity for self awareness and an enquisitive mind for trying to figure out our place in this world. I suspect it's one thing leading to another though. Having enquisitive minds that learnt how to use tools, that were accutely aware of death and that figured out we could exploit our surroundings and other creatures gave us an evolutionary edge- no doubt. Once we'd tamed or slaughtered the things that posed a threat to us. Once we'd figured out ways to spend less time simply surviving, there must have been more time to set our minds on other things. Philosophy, writing, reading, telling stories. I suspect most animals are so worried about just remaining alive, there's less time to contemplate other stuff.

Funnily enough though, a friend of mine once bought a ceramic frog model for the garden. They noticed that all the real frogs would gather around it. Like it was their God.

Some animals do seem to participate in rituals which suggest a sort of respect and reverence. Elephants will cover their dead with leaves and branches. Maybe that isn't exactly spiritual but, it's interesting. Why would they do that? Do they want to try to prevent them becoming carrion? It does seem like a form of protection. They will also study the bones of dead elephants. That clearly shows a fascination/ understanding and a respect for one another- dead or alive, if not for a God.

I tend to agree though- that religion and God could well be man-made . There's that brilliant quote:

"God created man in his own image. And man, being a gentleman, returned the favor." Henri Rousseau

 

[Romanticize]

Bro really asked if animals believe in God xD

Animals do not have the capacity for abstract thought the way humans do. Belief in God requires not just abstract reasoning, but a theory of metaphysics, causality, symbolism, language, and future speculation — all of which are completely absent in animal cognition. Even our closest relatives, like bonobos or gorillas, don't ask why things happen — they respond that they happen. Abstract belief systems, religious rituals, symbolic thought is Purely human.

Animals cannot even "think about death". Yes you can say that some species show behaviorla mourning, like grieving elephants or dogs, but thats emotional memory, not philosophical thinking. Animals don't even know the concept of mortality or the idea of permanent end. Zero evidence that any animal understands its own future. This level of self-reflective thoughts is uniquely human (and this is why humans "created" gods in the first place)

 

[glossble]

Because animals don't have concept of death and don't aware of their own mortality. Humans are the only ones truly conscious of their own mortality that's why people created God, animals simply don't need to cope with their inevitable death
It's easier to believe that you're going to heaven and/or will be rewarded for all your suffering and hardships. Accepting that "shit just happens" for no reason is pretty depressing