Insects: What?

[Puguni]

Has anyone felt obligated not to kill insects because you feel like you are killing God's creation?

If we're supposed to do that, then I guess I failed. >> I am not too fond of bugs and spiders and the like.

[Shadowchild]

Everyone has killed soemthing even if they may not even know it. ^-^

[Arbre]

I've felt that way about bugs for a few years.

But in the last couple of weeks, there have been huge spiders appearing in my bathroom. If it's on the floor, I throw a shoe at it. If it's in the tub, I wash it down the drain.

Squishing it makes me feel worse, though. ._.


I don't go out of my way to squish bugs anywhere else, though... just if they're in my bathroom and horribly scary-looking.

[shooraijin]

Actually, the Indian sect of Jainism preaches an extreme form of this conviction: http://www.jcnc.org/jainism/reference_detail.asp?category=Non%2Dviolence+%2D+Questions+%26+Answers

For them, even vegetables have lives. Even eating honey is considered himsa (violent). You can read their justification above.

Ultimately, I think this comes down to our mandate that God gave us, as dominion as His highest created beings over all others. Our mandate is to rule, but not to abuse. People's personal convictions will need to apply strongly in this case as to the line between cruelty and getting rid of a nuisance, just as in the related topic of vegetarianism whether one would consider meat itself to be unethical.

This is a controversial topic because it touches many different issues over where we stand in God's creation. As long as it stays civil, though, it can stay open.

[termyt]

Bugs serve a purpose in God's creation and they serve it well, offering up their lives in simple praise to their Creator.

Their purpose, however, does not include attempting to eat the food that, thanks to the grace of God, I have prepared for myself. It does not include weakening the foundation of the home the Lord has granted me.

The bugs are not wise or smart enough to understand why some dead plants are "bad" and need to be "recycled" and other dead plants are "good" and being used for shelter or sustenance for those creatures made in the likeness if the Creator.

I do not feel remorse for removing these lost and confused insects before they can cause harm. They do not intend to do harm, nor do they intend to do good. They don't know of such concepts. They simply do what they do. If they are doing it in such a way as to cause harm to those creatures made in the Creator's image, then they ought to be removed.

[Technomancer]

Has anyone felt obligated not to kill insects because you feel like you are killing God's creation?

If we're supposed to do that, then I guess I failed. >> I am not too fond of bugs and spiders and the like.

I was brought up to believe that if it wasn't doing you any harm, you should leave it alone. Of course, if you've got ants or mice in the house, it's a different story.

[Ky Kiske]

it's hard to believe some bugs even offer their lives up as praise,
many female spiders eat their mates when they are "done" with them.
and some eat their young.

[ChristianKitsune]

here is my view God created animals for us to enjoy..

...... I DON'T ENJOY MOST BUGS..AND SPIDERS JUST PLAIN SCARE ME!!!

*takes deep breath*

I don't usually kill beetles or regular bugs...but spiders..i don't care what they are for... I dislike them...STRONGLY.

I am serious guys, I see a spider I start to cry...especially if it is on my bed or somewhere close to me...the other day there was one on my hand! MY HAND! ugggggg....

so.. nope I have no problems killing spiders...because spiders can be deadly...

>.> <.< I just told you guys my deepest darkest secret...so no telling alright? SHHHH!

[Syaoran]

Insects are cool....so I don't realy kill them unless they attack me first then I go for the kill.

[Azier the Swordsman]

If I ever see a snake/spider/mosquito/scorpion (yes, I found out the other day that there ARE scorpions in Texas o_O) it's dead. It's far better to take them out rather than risk serious injury due to them. But good insescts or bugs that aren't causing any harm I would feel bad about killing. Basically, if they pose no threat to me, they'll live.

[Kkun]

I don't know how it is for anyone else, but I sort of felt convicted about this about a year ago when a roach made its way into my house and I was presented with a choice: I could pick it up and flush it down the toilet, like I'd done in the past, or I could pick it up and take it outside. Now, it wasn't doing anything to me. It was just sitting there. I looked at it for a minute and started to feel bad about the idea of killing it, so I picked it up and set it outside and watched it go on its way.

Since then, I haven't been able to just haphazardly kill insects. I just feel bad about it, like I'm ending this little life that isn't going to live very long anyway. If it's a pest of some kind, like ants, as Technomancer said, then that's a different story but I don't see the point in killing flies or anything like that. If there's a fly in my house, it's a small feat to usher it outside. It's easier than trying to kill it. Of course, that's how I feel. If anyone else feels differently and wants to mash every bug they see, God bless 'em. I just don't do that, myself.

[IZ&Trigun4life]

I'm not trying to say that killing little biuggies is mean, I love all God's creatures but you know..He put em outside for reason...so they should either stay outside or I'm gonna have to squish em!

[ChristianKitsune]

IZ&Trigun4life!! that was great!

[Syaoran]

LOL that is good.

[the_lizardqueen]

Since then, I haven't been able to just haphazardly kill insects. I just feel bad about it, like I'm ending this little life that isn't going to live very long anyway.

I agree with you totally. I always go out of my way to catch any insects in my house (even spiders) in a jar/box/ect and set them loose outside. I'd feel awful if I ever squished a bug deliberately, um, that is unless it's a mosquito. I figure moquitos attack first, and they leave ya with a nasty itchy welt and a possible case of West Nile disease..

Some bugs are so cute though, I've always thought that moths look like fluffy little lions, and don't even get me started on bumblebees. And I'm against squishing spiders, after all, they do cut down on the overall bug population. I've never had to deal with roaches though.

[Puguni]

IZ&Trigun4life!! that was great!

I second that.

[Sonic_13]

eck, I dont like bugs. From what I understand they dont really feel pain, they have no ability to think... etc etc.
Its so hard to think of them as decent creatures, IMO. I dont really feel guilt after killing one.... maybe thats bad =P

[Godly Paladin]

I kill any insects I see in the house. When they're outside, though, it really comes down to whether or not I'm feeling merciful.

[Slater]

If you go down into the original language that the Bible was written in (Hebrew), one can see that a word was used (forget what the word was exactly) which suggested that certain animals have a certain aura in them similar to the soul of a human... and for other types of animals (such as microscopic organisms, insects, fish, and spiders) this word was not used, suggesting that they don't have souls. So it's not like you're committing murder if you kill an insect. Afterall, John the Baptist ate loci.

[mitsuki lover]

I'm still gonna squish to death any mosquito that tries using me as a blood
bank!

[heero yuy 95]

Has anyone felt obligated not to kill insects because you feel like you are killing God's creation?

If we're supposed to do that, then I guess I failed. >> I am not too fond of bugs and spiders and the like.

Heck, no!!!!! I squish them all the time! I hate bugs. Except for bees, they're cool. I personally don't think you should feel guilty about smashing some bug.

[FadedOne]

lol...depends on the bug.

spiders? DIEEEEEEEEEE (although usually i have to have someone else kill them)

mosquitos? do you even have to ask?

but um...other than that, I really can't bring myself to kill stuff unless i'm feeling particularly violent. I just watched an ant crawling across my floor and I just left him. no need to worry...besides, the squish sound is gross!

but yeah, it's kind of odd that I'm really pacifict when it comes to killing things, because i'm also the only one in the family who seems to believe in mercy killing and can do it. (er..we're talking animals here. no Kevorkian(sp?) habits just yet. ) like...when a cat gets a mouse or a baby rabbit and mortally injures but doens't kill it. i usually have to kill them.. it's more humane. and er yeah...now i'm wandering off topic. *backs out of thread*

[termyt]

(although usually i have to have someone else kill them)

So. You have some one else do your dirty work.

[Heart of Sword]

I have never killed anything according to my knowledge. (I’ve also never had termites or ants in my house.)

Of course, if you've got ants or mice in the house, it's a different story.

Ants are one thing, but mice are totally different. You can get rid of mice without killing them. It’s called a humane trap—they’re boxes with trapdoors. Once mice get in, they can’t get out. You let them outside away from your house. Note that they’re called “humaneâ€

[Markus]

This is interesting to see... I never thought about it that way at all. The idea that killing bugs could be bad... huh

I think that bugs are somrthing that has a short enough life span that they wouldn't be missing much if i stepped on them... and it kinda fulfills a bit of a bloodlust that I have... I guess that makes me evil... he he... *smiles*:brow:

[Shadowchild]

I killed a cockroach in my friend's bathroom the oter day. He went down the toilet.

Some people wish that death never had to happen, but the truth is that if we didnt have death we wouldnt be saved. Jesus had to die on the cross for us. We would all go you know where if he didnt die for us.

[Nate]

My stance on this issue comes from the wisdom-filled brain of the wonderous Homer Simpson:

"Stupid bug! You go squish now!"

[Ingemar]

me = does not have a fondness for bugs. Wasps and yellow jackets that find their way into my home are dead. Same goes for any nests they try to build (TRY to build--I'm fortunate that a completed wasp's nest has never been found in my home). However, I'm very inconsistent with these little rules of mine. I rarely kill spiders unless they're crawling up my limbs, and when we used to have cockroaches, I'd pretty much leave them alone.

BTW, grasshopers, locusts and crickets are all considered kosher.

[Heart of Sword]

BTW, grasshopers, locusts and crickets are all considered kosher.

*stomach flip-flop*

Well, do as you like. I'm walking on the safe side. I can rest KNOWING that I'm not going to be judged for killing bugs. You, however, cannot. It will be interesting to see if God considers mindless killing a sin. But until then, respect each other's convictions. If you are against killing basically everything you consider to be inferior, great. But if you are for killing...well, we'll just have to see.

[Nate]

I can rest KNOWING that I'm not going to be judged for killing bugs. You, however, cannot. It will be interesting to see if God considers mindless killing a sin.

And I can rest KNOWING that I am saved by grace, not by works, and that any sin can be forgiven by Him, and that I will live in His kingdom for all eternity just like you will.

Please don't pull this "holier-than-thou" stuff on me because of your personal convictions. All have sinned and fallen short of His glory, and you're no better than me just because you don't swat a mosquito.