Superiority complex

I am hoping to have some conversations to discuss who wrote the bit in the Bible that claims God gave us humans dominion over other creatures? That was quite convenient for them to decide that’s what God thought. Did God simultaneously tell other creatures the same? Or does God only reveal Godself to humans? It seems to me that as a species we’ve declared ourselves overly important and use it to justify the suppression of other life, rather than realise we’re an integral part. 

The other day I was cycling past a group of hunters and their dogs and really had to bite back the urge to shout rude things at them. I know it’s not the way things change so I’m glad I wasn’t rude but it did get me thinking. I find it so hard to understand how people can kill creatures for sport and eventually concluded that it’s just a different mindset. For me a fox’s life is sacred but others don’t see it that way and it doesn’t mean I’m right and they’re wrong. Especially as my understanding of life and what is sacred has its own limits. 

I’m taking my time reading ‘The hidden life of trees’ and that’s definitely giving me much to muse upon. I’ve learned that there are more life forms in a handful of forest soil than there are people on the planet. Where is my righteous anger over that life? I also noticed a sense of relief when finding out that research tends to say that plants don’t have feelings as we understand them, even tho Peter Wohlleben the author suggests they might. I was wondering what I was going to do about eating, and what it means for my failed growing attempts. It does have me think about being more grateful for the life of the food that sustains me. I once learned that if ever I had to remove part of a tree I could apologise to it, and I practice this. I have however fallen out of the habit of giving thanks for my food, and when I do, I focus on those who have grown transported and cooked it. 

So as is often the case, it comes down to how we love - relationship and respect. I am reminded of the importance of gratitude, as well as humbly remembering that my perspective is just one of many, many, many. And today especially I’m aware that it is a human one and other non-human perspectives exist too.