NationStates Jolt Archive

This is not an abortion topic, although it does relate well to it.

I am just wondering about all the Right-to-Lifers who say LIFE IS SACRED.

Just wondering where the line is drawn.

I read title I thought this was about when does Sanctity of Life begin.

I was going to say Heaven.

I'm not a right to lifer so I guess this doesn't apply to me.

I'll answer anyway, when the child takes his first breath and the soul is breathed into him like Adam.

so i guess that means only human life?

If it is alive, it is life. If it is an integral part of a living life-form, it is life.

Life is something more, though, for humans. Human beings are a very specific kind of life-form that involves a level of consciousness and brain activity sufficient for self-awareness and self-conception. The definition of a living human being includes a body and a mind.

Your typical extremist Right to Lifer will say Life begins at Conception, when it's just a bunch of cells trying to multiply and form something much larger.

Going by that logic, those same extremists should be protesting Cancer Treatment but they don't bomb Radiation Clinics. Go figure.

:D

Regarding your poll question, what is "sacred" is a subjective assessment for individuals.

For me, it's life (all life-forms), so that's what I clicked.

I don't really understand a world view that can say something like "All life higher than fungus is sacred". It's either all or none.

I AM NOT ASKING WHEN HUMAN LIFE BEGINS.

I am asking what FORMS of life you consider sacred.

And by SACRED i mean that it becomes wrong to kill it.

I'd say it would be determined by brain function. If a fetus' brain has reached the stage of development where it can form thoughts and emotions, I'd say it should have the rights of any human being. If a person is severely brain damaged enough to be unable to think and form emotions, that person might as well be a lump of meat as far as I'm concerned.

EDIT: In answer to your question, I'd say that when a life form reaches a certain level of intelligence I wouldn't needlessly kill it. I wouldn't kill a dog, or a monkey or ape for no reason.

I don't really understand a world view that can say something like "All life higher than fungus is sacred". It's either all or none.

Well, in my world view, it's okay to kill fungus, microbes, bacteria and viruses.

I don't think 'sacred' is the right word for it. In the natural order of things humans ar predators as are many other creatures (we can be utterly veggie but we have developed s hunter-gatherers).

I wouldn't kill needlessly but where I define 'need' is entirely subjective.

I don't consider any life sacred, because that implies a religious quality. However, that doesn't mean all things shouldn't be respected.

By removing the sacred part, I'm covering my ass for the bugs I've squished.

I AM NOT ASKING WHEN HUMAN LIFE BEGINS.

I am asking what FORMS of life you consider sacred.

And by SACRED i mean that it becomes wrong to kill it.
Don't get angry at people, they're just answering the question you asked. ;)

Anyway, "sacred" is a religious term meaning that something is "of the god," venerated, made holy. "Wrong to kill" is a different thing, entirely.

For all of you who check 'all life is sacred' please explain to me how you live without using soap (which kills microbes and bacteria).

okay, sorry for the semantics problems.

first of all. ALL CAPS is used for emphasis, not anger. just wanted to call everyone's attention to it.

secondly, please assume the question is "AT WHICH LEVEL OF LIFE DOES IT BECOME ACCEPTABLE TO KILL IT?"

thank you.

Well, in my world view, it's okay to kill fungus, microbes, bacteria and viruses.

Well, yeh, in my world view it is too - it's also "okay" to kill human beings, kittens, 1000 year old redwoods etc. But I'm not talking about morality. I'm talking about a general metaphysical statement - all life is sacred, that life is metaphysically more significant than non-life. Whether you can kill it or not is not an issue.

For all of you who check 'all life is sacred' please explain to me how you live without using soap (which kills microbes and bacteria).
Sure!

Life feeds on life. All life is sacred in that it "belongs" to god. "Wrong to kill" is another matter, entirely. Life feeds on life, there is no way around that. We eat to live; the microbes eat us to live; killing them is not "wrong."

At what point does it become wrong to kill?

It becomes wrong to kill when the one you're killing is either a loved one (a pet, or a favoued species), or a human being (it's kind of against the law).

well, i can see now that i need to re-start this thread with more specific wording.

the semantics police are messing it all up.

Ah, but choosing all life is sacred doesn't say you can't kill in self defense. Not to get on abirtion tangent but that is why supreme court will not allow a Abortion law that doesn't allow Self-defense of mother over fetus,

God gave us dominion overall life. We are not allowed to kill without mercy or reason.
We kill in self defense (soap, danger), food, (meat, vegetables), etc.

Sacredness doesn't take away out needs.

Ants are bad because they steal/defoul food, but killing them shouldn't be done without good reason.

Though getting religious here: All things have intelligentia. This what is commanded to move if one has the faith of a mustard seed. This is what is turned from water to wine.

well, i can see now that i need to re-start this thread with more specific wording.

the semantics police are messing it all up.
It's not a matter of policing. It's a matter of being understood.

We kill in self defense (soap, danger), food, (meat, vegetables), etc.
Yes, I rip my vegetables out of the garden in an act of self-defence. ;)

i was going to say that it begins and ends with human life but lets face it, not all HUMAN life is sacred. its FINE to kill murderers. its FINE to kill your enemy in war, its FINE to kill civilians who are too close to the action, its FINE to let starving children in other countries die. its FINE to wish death on a billion moslems. it goes on and on

so i guess only some human life is sacred and the rest of all living things are fair game.

i draw the line at fungi

...those little bastards make my toes itch from time to time

DEATH TO FUNGI!

(and yes, i hate mushrooms)

well, i can see now that i need to re-start this thread with more specific wording.

the semantics police are messing it all up.

Not only that but with a more understandable poll. Its not clear here what it means if I choose mammal for example. Does that mean that I think the life of all mammals is sacred or does it mean the life of humans is sacred the life of mammals is not? the wording on the poll is terrible.

I strongly believe that all life is sacred.
I myself tend to not adhere to that all the time, though.
I consider fungi, bacteria & microbes as well as viruses as "low life". (By definition, viruses aren't even alive to begin with, but need a "host" to live)

I usually try to treat plants and insects with respect. That said, I kill flies & mosquitos without a second thought when they bug me enough, and I kill plants if it serves a reasonable purpose.

I haven't killed anything higher on purpose (the car did it!) and I object animals and plants being treated as "things".

Then again, I love meat (and I usually eat my veggies as well).

What I definitely don't like is when people are cruel just out of fun or stupidity.

Everyone who's saying "all life is sacred", why aren't you dead? We don't eat things that weren't at one time alive - plants are alive, your lamb shop was alive. We don't eat dirt or rocks.

Me, I'd say only human life and any other pet I've formed an emotional bond with is sacred. Everything else is lunch.

Everyone who's saying "all life is sacred", why aren't you dead? We don't eat things that weren't at one time alive - plants are alive, your lamb shop was alive. We don't eat dirt or rocks.

Me, I'd say only human life and any other pet I've formed an emotional bond with is sacred. Everything else is lunch.
Because we eat things, not dispite their being sacred, but because they are sacred.

ive scrapped this poll in favor of a better worded one.

check out The Right to Kill thread.

thanks.

Everyone who's saying "all life is sacred", why aren't you dead? We don't eat things that weren't at one time alive - plants are alive, your lamb shop was alive. We don't eat dirt or rocks.

just because something is "sacred" doesn't mean you can't eat it. Sometimes it means the exact opposite - ever heard of the Eucharist?

unfortunatly,NO species life is sacred. now i'm not saying its ok to kill stuff, but nothings life is inherently sacred(i think anyway). something has to 'earn' it, or do something that merits being sacred, for example, ghandi's life's could be considered sacred, as he did something for the betterment of others when they had no reason to, at grewat personal risk. so therefore only sentient life can be considered sacred, as otherwise its no better than a rock that can move, bite you ectect.

ive scrapped this poll in favor of a better worded one.

check out The Right to Kill thread.

thanks.


.

unfortunatly,NO species life is sacred. now i'm not saying its ok to kill stuff, but nothings life is inherently sacred(i think anyway). something has to 'earn' it, or do something that merits being sacred, for example, ghandi's life's could be considered sacred, as he did something for the betterment of others when they had no reason to, at grewat personal risk. so therefore only sentient life can be considered sacred, as otherwise its no better than a rock that can move, bite you ectect.
No life is inherently sacred, no. "Sacred" is a subjective assessment. Therefore, all life is sacred to me; but that last bit is inherently implied.

All life merits being sacred by virtue of being edible, as opposed to the rest of things that are inanimate and yucky-tasting. Inanimate objects are not sacred --they don't run fast enough for me to bother catching them.

I was a cat in a former life.