Feeding animals

[Rahn127]

I grew up on a farm and as part of my chores, I had to feed our cows and horses. They both can eat grass out on the land, but we still gave them hay and oats and the horses liked the occasional carrot and apple. My grandfather also raised cattle and some pigs. We always knew where our meat came from.

I also grew up with cheery trees, apricot trees, apple trees, vegetable gardens, and various other fruits like strawberries, raspberries and mulberries.

We had dogs and cats that required dog and cat food, but the cats also ate just about anything they could catch. They killed for their food and so did we.

There are lots of predatory animals out in the world that must kill other animals in order for it to survive. They must cause another animal to suffer and then hopefully die a quick death so that they can continue to live. This is also true for much smaller forms of life. Parasites, insects, bugs of all kinds. I could even mention the much smaller forms of life but we don't need to go that far. This is all nature.

But those that believe in a god, also believe that the wisest, most powerful being in the universe couldn't figure out a better way.
 
God "Hey, this is how it has to be. My plan is create as much suffering and death as possible and this is what I came up with. And hey, it works right ? "

Those that believe in a god however don't want to think that this is the plan. In their minds the plan is mysterious.

Believer "I cannot fathom why a loving god would create a system of suffering and killing of other animals for some animals to survive. It's beyond my tiny brain to contemplate the ideas of a god."

It all becomes very clear when you understand biology and natural processes. It's all nature.....There are no gods.

[Inkubus]

Rahn127, I see your point but how many Christians have any sort of understanding of what they are supposed to believe compared to what they do actually believe?
The vast majority of Christians are cultural Christians, they go to church on Sunday mornings because of the mind virus that was implanted at age one. It isn't the power of Christ that compels them, it's childhood indoctrination, which in most cases will linger until death. This is the power of priest craft, this is the grip the church still has on the human psyche.

Christianity is the biggest disaster in human history.

[pattylt]

Hi! Have you come to the conclusion that all is nature recently or have you undstood this for a long time?

While the cruelty of nature wasn’t what made me lose any belief in gods, it happened a long time ago. Everything I’ve learned since (I was a biology and chemistry major in college) has just reinforced my lack of belief.

[jerry mcmasters]

For some reason I was driving home today looking at and thinking about ants. Mainly rural area, ant beds everywhere, and I was thinking about "success" and evolution. I guess humans might look to be successful to an alien, but there they are, every view my eyes took in included one or more little dark piles of ants. God must like them, they're doing just fine.

[pattylt]

For some reason I was driving home today looking at and thinking about ants.  Mainly rural area, ant beds everywhere, and I was thinking about "success" and evolution.  I guess humans might look to be successful to an alien, but there they are, every view my eyes took in included one or more little dark piles of ants.  God must like them, they're doing just fine.

It’s said cockroaches are the most successful and could likely survive nuclear explosions.  Climate change won’t affect them much and they’ll likely be here long after we’re gone.  Tough little buggers…

[Fireball]

Eh, push comes to shove, we'll be eating them.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Eh, push comes to shove, we'll be eating them.

Or vice-versa.

[SYZ]

... It’s said cockroaches are the most successful and could likely survive nuclear explosions.  Climate change won’t affect them much and they’ll likely be here long after we’re gone.  Tough little buggers…

(my bold)

Fortunately, it's completely false. According to online
fact-checking site Snopes this myth originated in a 1993
article in PC Professional magazine compiling a list
of "facts" circulated in email chains at the time.

Cockroach can only survive between six and 15 times the
lethal radiation dose for humans, but the heat of the blast
would kill them instantly—as it would for humans.

Scientists have pointed out how fanciful this idea is in light
of human and arachnid biology.

I have to admit, I unthinkingly accepted this cockroach myth
as reality until you mentioned it Patty, and I checked it out.

[Rahn127]

Hi!  Have you come to the conclusion that all is nature recently or have you undstood this for a long time?

While the cruelty of nature wasn’t what made me lose any belief in gods, it happened a long time ago.  Everything I’ve learned since (I was a biology and chemistry major in college) has just reinforced my lack of belief.

It's always been nature for me. I wasn't raised with any kind of religion and I'm very thankful for that. Unless you count Santa Clause. I was a firm believer when I was a child that a fat man in a red suit using a sleigh and flying reindeer was how we all got presents under the tree.

I grew out of that myth when I was about 10.

Growing up I saw how animals had sex and I was able to witness the birth of calves and piglets. My grandparents did give me a children's bible when I was young. It had lots of pictures and the stories were just stories. It was made no different than any other book in our house and given no special treatment either. I grew up with a set of encyclopedias that explained the world around me.

My parents explained the nature of the world to me. They never once mentioned any kind of magic to life. Once a year we would pray over the Christmas dinner and while everyone closed their eyes and bowed their heads, I kept mine up and my eyes opened. I never could find a reason to bow to anyone or anything. I felt it was more respectful to meet anyone eye to eye.

All of that said, nature is cruel and often very messy. We are lucky to have survived and for that, I thank all my ancestors who struggled so that I may live.