tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14667609.post2874071673451260303..comments2023-12-22T11:43:46.678-05:00Comments on One More Thing: LifeRyanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02455778871683941763noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14667609.post-23652624364448928202013-05-31T23:09:49.365-04:002013-05-31T23:09:49.365-04:00I certainly agree. Part of our role as caretakers...<br />I certainly agree. Part of our role as caretakers of creation, at least in our current state, involves a relationship to animals and death that is inherently different.<br /><br />I think the line of reasoning I've used here absolutely applies to human life - as we move beyond the human, I think it could apply, but things do indeed get more complicated.<br /><br />There's a lot more to learn and think through when it comes to how we've arrived where we are and what that means for us going forward.Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02455778871683941763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14667609.post-88029445303198231452013-05-31T15:11:09.082-04:002013-05-31T15:11:09.082-04:00I agree...the physical is essential. I'm incl...I agree...the physical is essential. I'm inclined to go where you want to go in some ways. However, I'm not sure that death was never intended to be a part of this created order. Human death seems to have arrived as a consequence of sin, but it is not clear that death in the animal world originated there. Though I understand the peril here, and it may be one you're trying to mitigate, I am persuaded that, biblically, we do need to distinguish between human life and other life--not divide them, mind you, but distinguish them.J. Thomas Johnsonhttp://shadowofthecross.org/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14667609.post-73368017262567143002013-05-31T13:15:03.639-04:002013-05-31T13:15:03.639-04:00I'm saying the physical is an essential part o...<br />I'm saying the physical is an essential part of the human. Humans cannot exist without both a spiritual and physical component. Our physical component (and, I suspect our spiritual one) are not entirely independent, but connected to all of creation.<br /><br />Essentially what I'm saying is when we choose to end life, in whatever way we do, it's like cutting off a finger. There may be a justifiable reason to do so, but we have to face the reality that even a justified, necessary amputation is not a "good" thing. It's a concession.Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02455778871683941763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14667609.post-48499312236040149612013-05-31T12:23:58.892-04:002013-05-31T12:23:58.892-04:00Ryan,
First, I think the question of 'life'...Ryan,<br />First, I think the question of 'life' in the abortion debate is a constitutional one. So, it is natural for the idea of 'human life' to be central since that is the life assumed to be protected under the constitution. I'm aware that you've simply used the question to expand the scope of what is being asked, but there it is anyway.<br />Second, some of your description of life here seems quite materialistic. I do believe in a metaphysical self in a qualified way (not extreme Greek dualism, immortality of the soul sort of way). Are you arguing that there is no metaphysical component to the human that is not present in animal life generally?J. Thomas Johnsonhttp://shadowofthecross.org/blognoreply@blogger.com