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Can animals be religious?

over 9 years

Can animals experience such a thing?

debate

deletedover 9 years

NicoIe says

If a tree falls and no one is there, does it make a sound?


of course it makes a sound. this has to be the dumbest philosophical question i've ever heard and i've never understood it.
deletedover 9 years
it's not really tho, but it might probably be pretty damn pretentious.
over 9 years

Sirius says

what's that quote about there being a greater divide between human genius and human normality than between human normality and animal normality?


that sounds like a really dumb quote
deletedover 9 years

Satan says


Slow says


Satan says


Slow says

religion is socialized. that's like asking if animals can be transgender.


Spirituality isn't


that wasn't your question


religion is a type of spirituality


all squares are rectangles but not all rectangles are squares
deletedover 9 years
what's that quote about there being a greater divide between human genius and human normality than between human normality and animal normality?
over 9 years

Slow says

i mean, i'm not normally a big meanie about this, but this isn't an opinion question. this is categorically answered with no.


lol
deletedover 9 years
i mean, i'm not normally a big meanie about this, but this isn't an opinion question. this is categorically answered with no.
over 9 years

Slow says


Satan says


Slow says

religion is socialized. that's like asking if animals can be transgender.


Spirituality isn't


that wasn't your question


religion is a type of spirituality
over 9 years

Magneton says

Dogs can learn how to sit by being rewarded with some sort of treat when they do the right movements, and they learn based off of that. I guess you could reward a dog by obeying the commandments but the dog would not understand and will not be able to comprehend religion.


so are monotheistic religions the only kind of religion?
deletedover 9 years

Satan says


Slow says

religion is socialized. that's like asking if animals can be transgender.


Spirituality isn't


that wasn't your question
over 9 years
wild animals probably do experience religion. domesticated animals probably not.
over 9 years
Dogs can learn how to sit by being rewarded with some sort of treat when they do the right movements, and they learn based off of that. I guess you could reward a dog by obeying the commandments but the dog would not understand and will not be able to comprehend religion.
over 9 years

Slow says

religion is socialized. that's like asking if animals can be transgender.


Spirituality isn't
deletedover 9 years

Sirius says

dogs are actually fascinating tbqh. i could probably write 10,000 words on all my dogs interesting quirks


So can I. My dogs are insanely socially aware. It's kind of unreal to watch.
deletedover 9 years
dogs are actually fascinating tbqh. i could probably write 10,000 words on all my dogs interesting quirks
deletedover 9 years
religion is socialized. that's like asking if animals can be transgender.
over 9 years

Twist says


Satan says


Sims says




they did an experiment where they put spots on dolphins and they would touch those spots on them


That's not the same as being self-aware.


uh yeah it is they know they are looking at themselves in the mirror, and are touching the spots they see in the mirror on themselves
over 9 years
Animals do not have the same mind as humans. My opinion is that they do not experience religion.
deletedover 9 years

NicoIe says

I know, I said that to sound mysterious! x}

Anyway, I do think animals have opinions, for example, if they THINK someone is dangerous, they will attack, etc. So a belief system would be possible for them, however I don't think their mental capacity extends beyond object permanence and simple social understanding.


ur wrong tho. for example, in the video i posted above, u have a dog who not only knows fish need water to survive, which is quite the insight for an animal, but also with a will to provide them with that necessary water. this is considerable world building and thought beyond simple surviving
deletedover 9 years
no
deletedover 9 years

Satan says


Sims says




they did an experiment where they put spots on dolphins and they would touch those spots on them


That's not the same as being self-aware.
deletedover 9 years

Twist says


NicoIe says

If a tree falls and no one is there, does it make a sound?


Yes.


I agree!
deletedover 9 years
of dogs*

btw
deletedover 9 years

NicoIe says

If a tree falls and no one is there, does it make a sound?


Yes.
deletedover 9 years
I know, I said that to sound mysterious! x}

Anyway, I do think animals have opinions, for example, if they THINK someone is dangerous, they will attack, etc. So a belief system would be possible for them, however I don't think their mental capacity extends beyond object permanence and simple social understanding.