Are the groans of agony a prayer regardless of species?
What Is the theological purpose of animals vocalizing their terror?
Groans Of Agony
Moderator: Moderators
- BrotherBerry
- Student
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Wed Jul 17, 2024 11:56 am
- Has thanked: 10 times
- Been thanked: 3 times
-
- Guru
- Posts: 1030
- Joined: Thu Jun 04, 2020 12:18 pm
- Has thanked: 48 times
- Been thanked: 253 times
Re: Groans Of Agony
Post #2[Replying to BrotherBerry in post #1]
Groans of agony are not inherently a prayer for any species.
All animals, including humans, can vocalize terror without any theological significance.
For such vocalizations to be a prayer the sounds must be intended for God. Humans are the only animals capable of that intent.
Groans of agony are not inherently a prayer for any species.
All animals, including humans, can vocalize terror without any theological significance.
For such vocalizations to be a prayer the sounds must be intended for God. Humans are the only animals capable of that intent.
Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge.
-Charles Darwin
-Charles Darwin
- BrotherBerry
- Student
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Wed Jul 17, 2024 11:56 am
- Has thanked: 10 times
- Been thanked: 3 times
Re: Groans Of Agony
Post #3bjs1 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 22, 2024 10:33 am [Replying to BrotherBerry in post #1]
Groans of agony are not inherently a prayer for any species.
All animals, including humans, can vocalize terror without any theological significance.
For such vocalizations to be a prayer the sounds must be intended for God. Humans are the only animals capable of that intent.
Psalm 147:9-11 "He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry...the LORD taketh pleasure in those who hope for His mercy."
Joel 1:20 "the beasts of the field cry also unto Thee..."
Romans 8:21,22 "for the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption...for we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now...waiting for redemption..."
God views their cries and groans as a supplication for the world's redemption. Scripture assures us God will rescue all of creation from the woeful consequences of a fallen world, Isaiah 11:6, 65:17-25.
Unfortunately, many Christians have a low view of God and scripture, and don't care about animals or their cries, but that would be a separate debate.
Anyway, thanks for commenting
- onewithhim
- Savant
- Posts: 11097
- Joined: Sat Oct 31, 2015 7:56 pm
- Location: Norwich, CT
- Has thanked: 1578 times
- Been thanked: 467 times
Re: Groans Of Agony
Post #4Animals can be miserable and groan, but they cannot understand what is making them miserable or appeal to God for mercy. A lot of poetic license is used in the verses. The same as the trees clapping their hands at Isaiah 55:12---"For with rejoicing you people will go forth, and with peace you will be brought in. The mountains and the hills will become cheerful before you with a joyful outcry, and the very trees of the field will all clap their hands."BrotherBerry wrote: ↑Wed Jul 24, 2024 8:40 ambjs1 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 22, 2024 10:33 am [Replying to BrotherBerry in post #1]
Groans of agony are not inherently a prayer for any species.
All animals, including humans, can vocalize terror without any theological significance.
For such vocalizations to be a prayer the sounds must be intended for God. Humans are the only animals capable of that intent.
Psalm 147:9-11 "He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry...the LORD taketh pleasure in those who hope for His mercy."
Joel 1:20 "the beasts of the field cry also unto Thee..."
Romans 8:21,22 "for the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption...for we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now...waiting for redemption..."
God views their cries and groans as a supplication for the world's redemption. Scripture assures us God will rescue all of creation from the woeful consequences of a fallen world, Isaiah 11:6, 65:17-25.
Unfortunately, many Christians have a low view of God and scripture, and don't care about animals or their cries, but that would be a separate debate.
Anyway, thanks for commenting
- BrotherBerry
- Student
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Wed Jul 17, 2024 11:56 am
- Has thanked: 10 times
- Been thanked: 3 times
Re: Groans Of Agony
Post #5Welp, I love animals and God does too. Paul viewed their groans as meaningful in the passage I quoted.onewithhim wrote: ↑Wed Jul 24, 2024 3:02 pmAnimals can be miserable and groan, but they cannot understand what is making them miserable or appeal to God for mercy. A lot of poetic license is used in the verses. The same as the trees clapping their hands at Isaiah 55:12---"For with rejoicing you people will go forth, and with peace you will be brought in. The mountains and the hills will become cheerful before you with a joyful outcry, and the very trees of the field will all clap their hands."BrotherBerry wrote: ↑Wed Jul 24, 2024 8:40 ambjs1 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 22, 2024 10:33 am [Replying to BrotherBerry in post #1]
Groans of agony are not inherently a prayer for any species.
All animals, including humans, can vocalize terror without any theological significance.
For such vocalizations to be a prayer the sounds must be intended for God. Humans are the only animals capable of that intent.
Psalm 147:9-11 "He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry...the LORD taketh pleasure in those who hope for His mercy."
Joel 1:20 "the beasts of the field cry also unto Thee..."
Romans 8:21,22 "for the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption...for we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now...waiting for redemption..."
God views their cries and groans as a supplication for the world's redemption. Scripture assures us God will rescue all of creation from the woeful consequences of a fallen world, Isaiah 11:6, 65:17-25.
Unfortunately, many Christians have a low view of God and scripture, and don't care about animals or their cries, but that would be a separate debate.
Anyway, thanks for commenting
I cannot fathom why you would say, "animals can be miserable...but cannot understand what is making them miserable." I'm sure they're aware of starvation, abuse, thirst, and the like, but you believe they're unaware of the particulars? Super bizarre! Anyway, thanks for commenting.
- JehovahsWitness
- Savant
- Posts: 22890
- Joined: Wed Sep 29, 2010 6:03 am
- Has thanked: 900 times
- Been thanked: 1338 times
- Contact:
Re: Groans Of Agony
Post #6The suffering of animals is meaningful in that it represents man's mismanagement of the ecosystem and the general malaise and disharmony living things have experienced since the fall of Adam. That does not mean however that animals can offer God intelligent worship, since that would require free will and a spirituality that animals were not endowed with.BrotherBerry wrote: ↑Wed Jul 24, 2024 3:14 pm Paul viewed their groans as meaningful in the passage I quoted.
RELATED POSTS
Was Jesus kind to animals?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 55#p992555
Does the bible teach God will burn up all the animals ?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 90#p964790
Will there be pets in heaven?
viewtopic.php?p=1027090#p1027090
To learn more please go to other posts related to...
.THE PURPOSE OF LIFE, ANIMALS and ... ANIMAL CRUELTY
INDEX: More bible based ANSWERS
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
- onewithhim
- Savant
- Posts: 11097
- Joined: Sat Oct 31, 2015 7:56 pm
- Location: Norwich, CT
- Has thanked: 1578 times
- Been thanked: 467 times
Re: Groans Of Agony
Post #7Of course animals are aware of starvation and abuse and so forth, but they can't reason on it and understand that men are so selfish that they have deprived the world of plenty of food for everybody, and that they are evil, abusing helpless animals. Stop putting words in my mouth.BrotherBerry wrote: ↑Wed Jul 24, 2024 3:14 pmWelp, I love animals and God does too. Paul viewed their groans as meaningful in the passage I quoted.onewithhim wrote: ↑Wed Jul 24, 2024 3:02 pmAnimals can be miserable and groan, but they cannot understand what is making them miserable or appeal to God for mercy. A lot of poetic license is used in the verses. The same as the trees clapping their hands at Isaiah 55:12---"For with rejoicing you people will go forth, and with peace you will be brought in. The mountains and the hills will become cheerful before you with a joyful outcry, and the very trees of the field will all clap their hands."BrotherBerry wrote: ↑Wed Jul 24, 2024 8:40 ambjs1 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 22, 2024 10:33 am [Replying to BrotherBerry in post #1]
Groans of agony are not inherently a prayer for any species.
All animals, including humans, can vocalize terror without any theological significance.
For such vocalizations to be a prayer the sounds must be intended for God. Humans are the only animals capable of that intent.
Psalm 147:9-11 "He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry...the LORD taketh pleasure in those who hope for His mercy."
Joel 1:20 "the beasts of the field cry also unto Thee..."
Romans 8:21,22 "for the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption...for we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now...waiting for redemption..."
God views their cries and groans as a supplication for the world's redemption. Scripture assures us God will rescue all of creation from the woeful consequences of a fallen world, Isaiah 11:6, 65:17-25.
Unfortunately, many Christians have a low view of God and scripture, and don't care about animals or their cries, but that would be a separate debate.
Anyway, thanks for commenting
I cannot fathom why you would say, "animals can be miserable...but cannot understand what is making them miserable." I'm sure they're aware of starvation, abuse, thirst, and the like, but you believe they're unaware of the particulars? Super bizarre! Anyway, thanks for commenting.