The Souless Human Animal

I think that one of the single most important realizations the modern human being can have is the simple realization that you are in fact a species of animal among many others on this planet. Not just one of many species of animals on this planet right now at this very moment or within your lifetime, but one of billions, probably trillions of species of living organisms over billions of years on this planet! This will immediately give those reading this a reaction. Some will detest this statement saying how it is false. We are much more than animals, we are created in the image of God, we are beings with souls. Some will agree with this statement but also say we have a special purpose or some sort of role in the great cosmic plan. We can split hairs and play language games about this, but the core principle of human = animal is HUGE. You have to really grasp that. Not just biology majors, everyone! We are wired to not step out of our own heads to see ourselves in nature. We have big brains that have big imaginations and throughout human evolution we invented many different beliefs about ourselves and our origins.

When I used to be religious I remember feeling elation at times when I prayed or thought about the majesty of God and his love for me. I used to reflect on my purpose which was of course His will which of course was me talking to myself in my own head. That same elation times a million is something I feel when I realize that simple fact that I am a human animal on this beautiful planet. I am here and I am lucky enough to live in such a wonderful and free country that I can be free to study this natural world around me and the cosmos. How amazing. I'm here through a long line of genetic "winners" through natural selection. How precious life is and how abundant at the same time. I have to say as well that death and grieving of loved ones or friends can be dealt with much more honestly thinking this way too. It's real and it's final but it's natural. Thinking about one's own death by thinking this way helps me be more at peace with my own death someday (hopefully far far away). It's natural comfort in a pitiless, indifferent universe that is so grand and so vast.

Live life! Be happy! I mean come on, just look at all of this! What the fuck?! Seriously, what the fuck? haha! Look up at the stars! Look at yourself. We're all made of the same things. That simple fact is worth more than all the stories in old books combined.

*Originally written 5/3/2012