|
Do Apes have 'Morals, Values and Ethics' (mv&e)? If what animals have in their society is not related to mv&e, this puts Mankind into an entirely different species. The word species, may not be adequate to describe our true separation from our alleged "relatives". On the other hand, if animals have the roots of mv&e, then what true worth are mv&e. The net outcome has got to be existentialism; men are left to their own view of morality. Mankind has therefore simply evolved with a set of mores, that in themselves have no intrinsic worth. Neither do mv&e have any universal claim on Mankind . There will be no Natural Law; of course no absolutes. No God. And a little closer to home- No beauty, only vain perceived beauty; a biological, or social response to those things our culture finds attractive. There would be no Love and no desire that isn't rooted in selfishness. “Well then”, you might say, “shouldn’t Christians, who profess to know the God of mv&e, be entirely different from those that insist that our nature is no different from an apes? Surely God helps these people.” No and yes, religion is not exempt from man's corruption. If man is there, he will twist, contort, rewrite and confuse any attempt that God makes to change the status quo. You see, God is not the problem. Neither is Faith. If you would throw a diamond to a pig, he will quickly cover it in mud. Only those that want God’s will -will see the stone for what it is worth. This, though generally apparent, is not easily determined on an individual basis. Not all that claim to know God know him or respond to him. To examine how two natures may exist in mankind, let us for the sake of our discussion conclude that both Creation and Evolution are true. It then might be possible that the "sub-species" of man, was man himself , but - without the spirit of Man. This, I think, is not so outlandish: If we were to take a great ape and shave him (except for the top of his head) Put cloths on him. Teach him some social skills. To some, for perhaps several minutes, he may pass for a quiet, though odd, ‘man’. But soon, even if he never opened his mouth, we would notice something missing in his spirit. This may be a picture of man's sub-species. What if God breathed into the life of a sub-species, a unique spirit; A spirit totally different from any other species? And along with this spirit `a knowing' , and an internal inclination for things that are eternal. But alas, what if man were given a choice to follow his passions and base instincts, or follow higher principles which God had endowed him? And where would man be if he became more and more sophisticated in intelligence and lifestyle, yet still ignored his God given destiny? I believe he would be somewhere between man and animal. Sometimes exhibiting the characteristics of one and some times the other. Exactly as we see mankind now. If we would insist that there is only existentialism, then as I see it, we have no room to complain when some respond to their own instincts, and invade our perceived rights; He is simply doing what it takes to survive. He is reinforcing the long established code, ‘the law of the jungle’. And any argument to dissuade his instincts are undermined by the overriding argument that existentialism provides. On the other hand, if man is created in the image of God, and at some point God endowed man with a higher nature than that of an animal, then it must be concluded that we have a responsibility to turn from any instinct that is contrary to God’s character. We cannot have it both ways. We must choose a standard of one nature or another. But if we choose the higher standard, then we are obliged to it. Some cannot suffer that conclusion because it means that we are accountable to One who might hold us responsible to a standard above what our desires can tolerate. Some would rather choose to be “good”. They will resolve to live above nature and be, at least in most points, very human. I will have to agree that some are very skillful at it. But I will have to remind them, ‘it is very arrogant to disagree with the Son of God’; He said, “There is none good but God” (Matthew 19.17 ) ;And we should know that it is not ‘good’ to avoid acknowledging it. To attempt to live without giving God His due is the most damnable evil there is. |