Was the animal genocide of Noah's day justified?
Many Christian and Catholics justify the killing of the human population of Noah's day, including the innocent children and babies as a judgment against an evil population.
I recognize that the genocide of man has been argued forever and believers have no problem with that particular genocide and I do not want to rehash that particular issue. All one need do is recognize that the notion of free will did not exist back then for the population and move on.
Having killed many animals, even by hand, and not being bothered by it, I can tell you that at a certain number, even my hard stomach and heart begins to be upset and I have to take a break from the slaughter of these food animals.
I just cannot find any justification for the slaughter of the earths animal population at the time of Noah. Some say that animals have souls the same as humans but frankly I cannot see God putting souls into what He has said is meat to us.
It cannot be said then that animals are evil because they cannot discern good and evil. Only man and God can do such.
The only reason I can think of for the slaughter and genocide of the animals is then cruelty. God could have easily spared all of them and did not.
Deuteronomy 32:4
QUOTE |
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. |
Message Edited... Persephone: Please look at how we use the Quote Tags here. When you do not use these tags source material that is not your own may appear to be yours when it is not. See our Constructive Posting Policy. |
First I will express my opinion:
Animals indeed have souls (spirits and bodies combined).
With spirits, they enjoy a place in the hereafter, because they are innocent and have fulfilled the measure of their creation.
They will be resurrected at some future date (as in adam all die, in Christ all are made alive).
If this is true then, death is not a bad thing for an animal as the future holds a much better life for it. Death under this view is just a transition to another life and is not cruel when taken through the eyes of an eternal perspective.
According to those who hold the view that there was a universal flood, some believe that it was meant to cleanse the earth (baptism). If one believes that baptism must be by immersion, then by necessity all life not protected in the ark would be destroyed. Animals as well as human life were treated the same.
It is held be some that the earth will soon be baptised by fire at the Second Coming of Christ.
That whole Noah story just never made sense to me its like something you would be expecting to read in a fairytale book. Wouldn't it make more sense to just send a plague or something for the bad people than drown absolutely everyone!