Bugs, insects and reptiles have just as much right to be on earth than you do. God created us all. And who says bugs don't have souls. How the hell do we know. \n\nYou can't kill humans ("Murder")\nYou can't kill dogs   ("Animal Cruelty")\nYou can't kill cats   ("Animal Cruelty")\n\nBut you kill a innocent ant, spider, lizard, mouse, etc...\n\nI hate people who step on bugs for the fun of it too.
207626
This is a really good and very legitimate question. I recently posted a question of my own on how best to get rid of an invading army of tiny brown ants that are very definitely making my kitchen their personal playground (and worse). But the reality is that I do not want to kill them at all. I want them to go away, ideally outside where they belong. But insects don't tend to think in such terms. They go where the food is, whatever that food source may be. And I imagine they prefer my nice, warm, dry kitchen to the elements they have to contend with outdoors. Vexing.\n\nAnyway, your point is both thoughtful and thought-provoking. How is it that we rationalize the degrees of murder we commit? Killing humans is wrong, except in times of war or self-defense (kill or be killed). But is even that moral? Killing some animals is perfectly okay (so-called livestock is slaughtered without further examination of the morals -- or lack of same -- involved). Hunters are legally permitted to shoot up the woods (in season) for deer, rabbits, what have you. But kill a cat or dog and you're pure evil, right? It's okay to hunt, torment and ultimately kill that terrified fox (pip pip, what!) but if you dare to harm one of the hounds doing the chasing and tearing apart of said fox, you're up on charges for animal cruelty, right?\n\nAnd the so-called vermin (rodents, bugs, etc.), well, they evidently don't deserve to live in the first place, do they? Says who? There are degrees of cruelty even as there are degrees to the pecking order that determines which creatures are worthy of life and which are marked for death. People who go out of their way to step on bugs are sick, even evil. But what of exterminators doing the job they're paid for? And, even more disconcerting, what about me trying to find the best method to rid myself of (a euphemism for KILL) these pesky ants in my kitchen? I can tell you it doesn't make me feel very good about myself when I reflect upon it... but I can also tell you I am determined to have them removed. I'm not proud of that but I am, at least, being honest with myself.\n\nAgain, a nice provocative question and one that has given me pause... Thinking is a decidedly good thing. Thanks.
451226
I think its sad.\n\nEvery animal expresses love and understands fear.\n\nHumans are out of control on this earth. \n\nWe are more like a parasite than an intelligent being.\n\nIntelligent beings don't abuse and overwork their resources until there is nothing left.\n\nLike the ant and the grasshopper... we are ravenous like the grasshopper when we should be conserve and ration like the ant... with our air, with our metals, with our food resources, with the animals in the world....\n\nBut your right, no living creature should live in a cage until it's body grows to become a part of that cage, be forced fed, tortured and forced to watch its fellow specie die before it is brutally murdered.\n\nThey know pain and murder. Kill a cow in front of another cow and see if it doesn't understand.
629094
I hate spiders!  Let me know if you find any mutant ones, so I can start preparing for an infestation at my own house which isn't an old one, but mutant spiders may not care about that!
476990
Way to go, Sue!  I agree, the laws should be much tougher.  We need to extend our much-vaunted compassion to other living beings...of course, since it's apparently now acceptable AND legal to torture other humans, I'm afraid we're losing ground rather than gaining in the compassion department.  Doesn't bode well for any creature living on this planet.
588060
There is no such place as heaven.  When I kill a spider, it either goes into the trash or down the toilet.
51954
In some countries spiders are considered good luck, and killing them is inviting trouble.\n\nThere are special insecticides for spiders that could be sprayed in corners and along baseboards, usual happy dwellings for spiders.\n\nBear in mind that if you have spiders, they aren't going to spin webs where there isn't a food source, so they are killing insects to survive.\n\nIf you have someone in your household who isn't afraid of spiders and you want them out of your house, the kindest thing is to catch them in a jar and let them loose outside where they can either respin a web or become food to lizards and birds.
279032
Living creatures are souls.  Animal life exhibits will all of time.  I have horses.  Sometimes they do not want to come in from the pasture.  It is fascinating to observe just how willful they really are.  Animals, though, vary in their thought processes depending on the species and their individual instincts that God gave them.  \n\nAlthough animals are living souls, they do not have individual moral responsibility to God.  It is the spirit of God's intelligent creation (angelic beings and mankind) that sets them apart from the animal kingdom.
464484
Well Dr. Lifemaker, may I ask why you are so bitter?  Do you agree that murder is wrong?  Is your argument simply that you do not believe a fetus is life?\nI just wondered because you seemed really angry in your answer, but did not explain your views.\n\nIn my view, I agree that abortion is murder.  I had a choice once, when I was a teenager.  Thank God and all that is decent in the world, I decided on adoption, not murder.\n\nI can honestly say that I have never murdered anyone.
544060
No, God has put animals under the dominion of man. However it talks about dealing with them kindly. That would include if we killed them for food, for example, to do it in a humane way, and not to promote their suffering. (I know I'm gonna hear from vegetarians on that one, but I stand by it.)
387177
I don't know how appropriate the answer was, but why bother with anyone who doesn't like cats anyway?  I'm christian, I love cats, have 3 of them. Have dogs too.  Have no patience for people who don't like animals whether they're christian or not.  We are to be good stewards to the creatures God gave us, I take that to mean to respect and care for them.\n\nCourse, that doesn't really apply to snakes, aligators and bugs for the simple reason they kinda gross me out.
28455
Spiders are so ugly because they are arachnids! They have 8 legs and are meant to creep you out! But they are the only reason in which this planet is not been taken over by all them dumb bugs and instects!
112762
Here:\nAnimals have as much right to live as a human, but animals taste so much better. Therefore, we shall only eat the non-cute or best tasting animals.\n\nDelicious!\nYou know, this topic bugs me. Animals eat other f*cking animals every day for food, yet it's a problem when humans eat an animal. There are certain nutrients that are needed in order to survive that we get for meat, and they haven't invented Soylent Green yet. Until they do, I'll continue to eat meat.
302255
Some people do care about animals but its the ones that dont or dont know that  are hurting the enviroment. The people that do know what people are doing to animals dont take action and do something to stop it. Those who dont either dont know whats going on about these problems or just dont care. killing animals that are on the verge of extinction is illegal but people do it anyway. what are people doing to stop this?  People have a job to do to keep these animals alive. Are you doing yours? Or do you care less about the balance of nature? people should be doing there part. Please try to do yours or the balance of nature is affected by what humans do! So are you going to do your role or do you care less about what happens?
644301
Oh, no.  We are all God's creatures and equal in worth and ability.  Cooooom by ya, my lord, cooooooom by ya.\n\nThanks for the points.  :D
251048
Actually, ALL species of the animal kingdom engage in homosexual behavior...so yeah it IS nature intended. Christians have a problem with anything they can't control. They're also brainwashed and can't think for themselves.
571063
why you want to kill any animal or bird for fun, it`s different if you have to kill for food, but a defenceless creature doing you no harm, i really hope that some day,  someone puts you  under fire and you get to experience the `THRILL` from being hit. you sick B*****d
580501
The Lord gave man dominion over the Earth and the things thereof. First we must define the word "dominion".\n\nIt means lordship. And THAT mean we were commanded to take care of the earth and all its creations the SAME WAY God would take of it, ie, with nurturing love, with care for the life of all creatures.\n\nDoes this mean to be like the Jains, so afraid of causing harm that they gently sweep the path before their feet so as not to crush a bug, that we wear a mask over our face so as not to breathe in and thereby kill a microscopic creature?\n\nNO. It means that we take from earth and its creations that which we need for survival, that we do so in as humane and painfree a manner as possible, that we do NOT destroy life for the sake of sport, or games, or cruelty.\n\nI have no problem kicking bugs outta my home. I don't share my home with bugs. They got the rest of the planet to play in. I will NOT wantonly kill them, just make it in their best interests NOT to want to live in my home. 20-Mule Team Borax does that quite well, btw.\n\nI am an unabashed, unashamed omnivore. Preferably beef. I try not to get animal tissue from those who butcher them with fear and cruelty. I agitate for legislation which makes cruelty to animals a felonious offense, rather than just a mild misdemeanor slap on the wrist.\n\nI do NOT kill for the fun of it, just to watch a living creature die.\n\nFor THAT is domination. And domination is Satan's way. Unfettered control over all with every intention to use that power to hurt whenever the mood strikes. Utterly evil.